Alexandria Clinic Offers Urgent Care to Heartburn Patients

Do you feel a burning sensation or pain in the chest after eating, especially when you bend or lie down? If yes, then you are suffering from heartburn. An occasional heartburn is no matter of concern. You can manage it through some lifestyle change or OTC pills. But, if this has become an almost daily affair, then you must seek medical help.

Frequent heartburn is a symptom of an underlying condition. You must not ignore it.

Please consult a doctor if:

• You experience heartburn several times a week.
• You find it difficult to swallow.
• Your heartburn continues despite taking OTC medications.
• You feel constant nausea or experience vomiting.
• Your appetite has gone down due to this and it has affected your weight.

Alexandria clinic offers urgent care to patients with common ailments, including heartburn. You can walk down the clinic and consult a doctor regarding the issue.

When to rush to a hospital

You must remember that urgent care clinics deal only with patients suffering from non life threatening conditions. If your chest pain is severe accompanied with pressure or tightness in the chest, pain in the jaw or arm, and difficulty in breathing, you must rush to a hospital. This could be a heart attack, not a heartburn.

Cause of heartburn

When acid from the stomach enters the food pipe (esophagus) you feel a burning sensation or burning pain in the chest area, just beneath the breast bone.

Esophagus features a band of muscle at the bottom that relaxes to let food and fluids in the stomach. Then, it contracts. This happens in normal condition.

However, when the muscle (called the esophageal sphincter) stays relaxed due to weakening and does not contract, acids from the stomach flow up to the esophagus. This is called acid reflux. This causes heartburn. The reflux is worse when you lie down or bend over after eating.

If your heartburn is causing you too much discomfort, search for “urgent care near me” and contact a doctor at your nearest clinic.

Foods that trigger heartburn

• Citrus
• Spicy foods
• Onions
• Tomato products like sauces
• chocolate
• peppermint
• Fried and fatty foods
• Big and rich meals
• Caffeinated drinks
• Carbonated drinks
• Alcohol
• Tea and coffee

Not all foods trigger heartburn in all people. It can vary. Some people hardly experience heartburn, even if they eat the above mentioned foods.

Pregnant people and overweight people have more chances of experiencing heartburn.

GERD

Frequent heartburn that meddles with daily life is medically called GERD or Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. This requires medical treatment. In some cases, it may require a surgery or such other procedure.

If left untreated, GERD can damage your esophagus. It can also trigger precancerous alterations in the esophagus. This is referred to as Barrett’s esophagus.

So, do not ignore frequent heartburns. Consult a doctor at your nearest Alexandria clinic for urgent care. Timely treatment can save your esophagus. The doctor will prescribe you medications or appropriate medical procedure to tackle with your problem. Eat well, stay well for a happy and productive life.