Should I see a doctor for heartburn?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Occasional heartburn: no - antacids and habit changes (smaller meals, not lying down after eating, less late alcohol and coffee) handle it. Heartburn most days, heartburn resisting pharmacy treatment, or heartburn with food sticking, frequent vomiting, or unexplained weight loss: yes, per the NHS. Frequent acid can inflame the food pipe, and a doctor can prescribe stronger suppressors and look for a driver. The swallowing-and-weight-loss pattern deserves a prompt visit, not an eventual one. And chest pain with exertion, breathlessness, sweating, or spread to arm or jaw is a heart emergency until proven otherwise - not indigestion. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you tell the difference.
What to do
- Start with the pharmacy: antacids plus the standard trigger fixes.
- Most days for weeks? Book it: frequent reflux deserves treatment and a look.
- Food sticking or weight dropping? Go soon: that pair needs checking.
- Chest pain on exertion? Emergency: treat it as cardiac until cleared.
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