If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
If you have any of the following
symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.
| Yes | Do you have
heartburn pain? See
significance of heartburn pain if you need information
to help you answer the questions below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Do you have
moderate pain that does not get better when you take
medicines or use home treatment for the heartburn? |
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Have you had
moderate pain for longer than 1 week that goes away
when you take medicines or use home treatment, but comes back after the
treatment wears off? | | YES | Have you had
mild pain for longer than 1 week that does not get
better when you take medicines or use home treatment for the heartburn? |
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Have
you had
mild pain that comes and goes for longer than 2
weeks? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you have
blood in your vomit? See
significance of blood in vomit if you need information
to help you answer the questions below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Do you have more than a small streak of bright red blood in your
vomit? | | YES | Do
you have material that looks like coffee grounds in your vomit? |
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Have you had a streak of bright red blood in your vomit, and you are not
sure whether the blood is coming from your nose or your mouth when you
vomit? |
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Have you had streaks of blood in your vomit for 24 hours or longer, and
you are sure the blood is coming from your nose or your mouth when you
vomit? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you have heartburn and
trouble swallowing? See
significance of trouble swallowing if you need
information to help you answer the questions below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Are you unable to swallow food or fluids? |
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Are
you unable to eat normally because it is hard for you to swallow? |
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Have you lost more than
5 lb (2 kg) during the past 3
to 6 months for no known reason?
| | YES | Are you able to
eat normally most of the time? | | YES | Are your
swallowing problems slowly getting worse? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Has your
heartburn pain continued after using prescription or
nonprescription medicines for the pain? See
significance of heartburn not relieved by medicine if
you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Note: Heartburn
that occurs once a month is considered mild. Heartburn once a week is
considered moderate. Daily heartburn is considered severe. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Do you
have
severe heartburn after taking medicines to relieve
your heartburn? |
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Do you have
moderate heartburn after taking medicines to relieve
your heartburn? |
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Have medicine and lifestyle changes prescribed by your health
professional not relieved your mild to moderate heartburn after 1 week? |
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
any of the following questions. | YES | Have nonprescription medicines and lifestyle changes not relieved your
mild to moderate heartburn after 1 week? | | YES | Have nonprescription medicines and lifestyle changes not relieved your
mild heartburn after 2 weeks? |
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you think that your heartburn
may be
caused by a medicine? See
significance of heartburn caused by a medicine if you
need information to help you answer the question below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Do you think that
your heartburn may be caused by a medicine? | Note: | If your answer is "Yes": - Call the health professional who
prescribed the medicine before you take the next dose to find out if you should
stop taking the medicine or take a different one. An appointment may not be
needed.
- If you are taking any medicine that was not prescribed by a
health professional, stop taking it. Call your health professional if you feel
that you need to continue taking the medicine or need help controlling your
symptoms.
|
|
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
| Yes | Do you have heartburn and a
weight loss that you cannot explain? See
significance of weight loss if you need information to
help you answer the question below. Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to
the following question. | YES | Have you lost more than
5 lb (2 kg) over the past 3 to
6 months for no known reason?
|
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
|
Other Symptoms to Watch For
Do you have any of the following symptoms?
If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.
Last Updated:
September 6, 2007
