Is It Heartburn Or Something Worse? When To Go To Urgent Care - Legacy ER

Heartburn is a burning sensation you experience in your chest if you have a gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, anyone can experience heartburn if they’re sensitive to certain foods.
Unfortunately, there are other diseases and illnesses that can mimic the appearance of heartburn. Here are some examples that might result in you visiting emergency medical physicians.

Heart disease

Heart disease is the lack of blood flow making its way toward the heart, also known as angina. However, this symptom can often mimic the feeling of heartburn in some people.

The key to identifying whether your symptoms are heartburn or angina lies in when the onset occurs. Angina typically results in the feeling of heartburn following strenuous activity, especially if you’re over the age of 50 or have hypertension. If you’re worried about having heart disease because of your chest pain, don’t hesitate to visit a 24-hour emergency care clinic.

Heart attack

Serious restriction of blood flow to the heart can result in a heart attack. Many don’t recognize when they’re first experiencing a heart attack since it mimics the feeling of a bad heartburn. But if you’re experiencing these symptoms after a large meal or other strenuous activity, it’s best to get to the closest urgent care location possible. Luckily, there were more than 7,357 urgent care centers across the U.S. in 2016.

Pancreatic cancer

Your pancreas is located near your stomach and plays an important role in your digestion. A pancreas that isn’t working properly, either due to failure or cancer, can create difficulties in the digestive process leading to heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion. This makes it difficult to diagnose since it often hides behind other symptoms of heartburn.

Gallstones

Gallstones are hardened stones of bile that block your ducts and cause pain. A person with gallstones usually feels this sharp, cramping, or even dull pain in the middle or upper-right of the abdomen directly following a meal. If your symptoms persist after taking an antacid, it’s best to visit your local emergency medical physicians.

If you suspect your heartburn might be something worse, don’t hesitate to visit the emergency care physicians at LegacyER. We offer 24-hour emergency care to ensure you get the best help when you need it. Look for our multiple locations online today when you need help.