What Is Acid Reflux?
6. When Should You See a Doctor?
Not all acid reflux cases require a visit to the doctor. If you only experience a few cases of reflux a year and are able to treat it with at-home remedies such as antacids or acid reducers, you can probably wait until your next annual physical to bring up your concerns. If you find yourself frequently taking medicine or suffering from symptoms a special appointment may be necessary. Symptoms that do not respond to over-the-counter or at-home remedies should also be disclosed to your doctor.
As a general rule, if you are experiencing symptoms more than twice a week, are not responding to first-line treatment or are experiencing severe symptoms that are affecting your quality of life, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to begin a treatment plan. Your regular doctor may choose to refer you to a Gastroenterology for diagnosis since some of the diagnostic tools involve specialized training.
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