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Heartburn and indigestion treatment

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Need to know more about Heartburn and indigestion treatment? We’ve got you covered.

What are heartburn and indigestion?

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid goes up into your esophagus. It is synonymous with acid reflux and can cause indigestion.

Both heartburn and indigestion can also be known as:

  • Acid reflux
  • Dyspepsia
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD for short)
  • Reflux
  • Upset stomach

Occasionally, heartburn can be dangerous. Heartburn that comes back day after day can cause long-term health problems. With treatment, heartburn can be controlled and is unlikely to cause any serious problems. Your MinuteClinic® provider can discuss your symptoms and create a treatment plan for you.

 

What symptoms can occur with heartburn?

Pain or burning in your chest, upper abdomen and throat is the most common symptom of heartburn. Unfortunately, this same kind of pain can be caused by heart problems. Unless you know for certain that your chest pain is caused by heartburn, you need to get emergency medical care. If you suspect a heart attack, it is better to be safe and get emergency care by calling 911 immediately.

Pain and burning are not the only symptoms of heartburn. Other symptoms include:

  • Bad breath
  • Nausea
  • Pain with swallowing
  • Problems swallowing
  • Tooth damage
  • Trouble breathing
  • Vomiting

After a COVID-19 infection, some people may experience heartburn and indigestion symptoms that last weeks to months. This is sometimes called long COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 syndrome. If you’ve had COVID-19 and have new or ongoing symptoms weeks to months after your initial recovery, a MinuteClinic provider can help. A MinuteClinic provider can create a customized treatment plan based on your symptoms and refer you to a specialist if needed.

Getting help

Talk to your MinuteClinic provider about when and where you’ll be traveling. They can help you evaluate the risks for infection. If necessary, they can also prescribe preventative anti-malarial medication that will work best in that region. This might include pills or oral medication.

  1. You may have to answer a few questions to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

  2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment.

    If you made your appointment online
    Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

    If you made your appointment in the clinic
    Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

    If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment
    To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and zip code to join the visit.

  3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
  4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for the visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
  5. At the end of your visit, you will provided with a visit summary, a receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

Heartburn and indigestion causes, symptoms and treatment

Heartburn happens when stomach acid backs up into the swallowing tube (esophagus) that connects your mouth to your stomach and causes pain. Normally, your stomach clamps shut when you are not swallowing to keep acid from backing up. Certain foods, injuries and inherited tendencies can make the clamp weaker and allow acid to escape upward into your esophagus.

Some people have constant problems with heartburn while others only have it some of the time. Certain foods and actions can cause heartburn to get worse.

You may want to keep a diary of what you eat and what you do, along with symptoms, to figure out what makes your heartburn worse. Sometimes, people can treat heartburn simply by avoiding the things that cause their symptoms. Your MinuteClinic provider can help you track and understand your triggers for heartburn.

The symptoms above can occur with or without pain. Just because you do not have pain does not mean you do not have acid reflux. If you have any of the symptoms above, with or without pain, visit a MinuteClinic provider to get a full evaluation and a treatment plan. Sometimes, patients will be referred to another health care provider for evaluation.

Heartburn is uncomfortable, and it can cause health problems if it goes untreated for a long time.

MinuteClinic providers can discuss your symptoms and health history. They can develop a treatment plan that may include changes in diet, over-the-counter medications and/or prescription medications.

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IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ: This material is for reference only and should not be used to determine treatment for specific medical conditions. Please visit a health care provider for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911 or visit your local emergency department.