What Your Digestive Symptoms are Trying to Tell You

Heartburn

A burning sensation creeping up from your stomach into your chest can be alarming, especially if you've never experienced it before. Heartburn happens when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, and while the discomfort can feel intense, it's usually manageable. Some people use the term "acid reflux" to describe the same experience.

Heartburn often strikes after large meals, especially if they're heavy on fatty or spicy foods. Lying down too soon after eating can also trigger it, which is why many people notice symptoms at night. You might also experience heartburn more frequently during pregnancy, if you're carrying extra weight, or when taking certain medications. If heartburn becomes a regular visitor (showing up more than twice a week), you might be dealing with GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is chronic acid reflux that needs medical attention.

When heartburn hits, over-the-counter antacids can provide quick relief by neutralizing stomach acid. Beyond immediate relief, you can take steps to prevent future episodes. Smaller, more frequent meals put less pressure on your stomach than three large ones. Pay attention to which foods trigger your symptoms and consider limiting them. The timing of your meals matters too. Give yourself at least three hours between dinner and bedtime, and if nighttime heartburn is an issue, try elevating the head of your bed by a few inches.

Most heartburn responds well to these measures, but there are times when you should talk to your primary care doctor. If you're experiencing heartburn more than twice a week, over-the-counter treatments aren't providing relief, or you're having difficulty swallowing, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. Persistent nausea or vomiting alongside heartburn also warrants a conversation with your doctor.

One critical distinction: if your chest discomfort comes with shortness of breath, pain radiating to your jaw or arm, or sweating, this could be cardiac in nature, rather than digestive. These symptoms require emergency care, not a wait-and-see approach. Go directly to your nearest emergency room if you’re experiencing these symptoms.

Nausea

Few things can disrupt your day quite like feeling queasy. Nausea is the sensation that you might vomit, even though you haven't yet. It often comes with loss of appetite, increased saliva production, and a general sense that something isn't right in your digestive system.

The challenge with nausea is that it can stem from dozens of different causes. Viral infections like a stomach bug are common culprits, but so are motion sickness and anxiety. Certain medications list nausea as a side effect, and food sensitivities can trigger that queasy feeling hours after eating. Pregnant women know nausea well: "morning sickness" can strike at any time of day. Migraine headaches can also cause significant nausea, sometimes even before the headache pain begins.

When nausea strikes, your best approach is gentle and gradual. Sip clear liquids slowly rather than gulping them down. Ginger has genuine anti-nausea properties, whether you get it from ginger tea, ginger ale, or ginger candies. If you can manage eating, stick with bland foods in small amounts. Crackers and toast are classics for a reason. Fresh air can help, and avoiding strong cooking odors or heavy fragrances often makes a difference.

While nausea often resolves on its own within a day or so, certain situations require medical attention. If nausea persists for more than 48 hours, you should see an urgent care doctor. The same applies if you can't keep down any liquids for 24 hours. Watch for dark urine, dizziness, or a very dry mouth, as these point to dehydration.

Nausea accompanied by a severe headache and stiff neck requires immediate emergency care, as this combination can indicate meningitis or other serious conditions. If you're experiencing persistent nausea without an obvious cause, schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor to investigate what's going on. Pregnant women should discuss any ongoing nausea with their obstetrician, as treatment options exist that are safe during pregnancy.

Vomiting

Vomiting is your body's forceful way of expelling stomach contents, and while it's miserable to experience, it usually serves a protective purpose: your body is trying to get rid of something harmful or responding to significant irritation in your digestive system. Most (but not all) episodes of vomiting are preceded by nausea.

The most common vomiting trigger is viral gastroenteritis, often called “stomach flu”. Food poisoning produces similar symptoms but typically comes on more suddenly after eating contaminated food. Overindulgence in alcohol or simply eating too much can also lead to vomiting. Migraines can cause vomiting even without stomach issues, and certain medications can irritate your stomach enough to trigger it. Motion sickness is another common cause, particularly during car rides or boat trips.

After you vomit, give your stomach a chance to settle before trying to eat or drink anything. Wait at least an hour or two with nothing by mouth. When you're ready, start with small sips of clear liquids like water or flat ginger ale. If those stay down, you can gradually progress to bland foods. Skip dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol until you've fully recovered, as these can irritate your stomach further. Rest helps your body direct energy toward recovery.

Vomiting becomes a medical concern in several situations. Some require urgent same-day care, while others need emergency attention.

Seek urgent care if:

• You've been vomiting for more than 24 hours (or 12 hours in children)
• You can't keep down any fluids at all
• You notice signs of dehydration like decreased urination, extreme thirst, or lightheadedness

Go to the emergency room if:

• You see blood or coffee-ground-like material in your vomit
• You have severe abdominal pain alongside the vomiting
• You develop a stiff neck with fever
• You've had a recent head injury before vomiting started

When you're vomiting repeatedly, your body loses fluids faster than you can replace them. Urgent care can provide IV fluids and prescription anti-nausea medication to break the cycle and help you start feeling better.

Diarrhea

Loose, watery stools that occur more frequently than normal signal diarrhea, which is often accompanied by cramping, urgency, and bloating. Most cases are acute, meaning they come on suddenly and resolve within a few days. Chronic diarrhea, which lasts for weeks, points to a different set of underlying issues that need medical evaluation from your primary care doctor.

Viral or bacterial infections are frequent culprits of diarrhea, as is food poisoning. Food intolerances can trigger diarrhea hours after eating the offending item. Lactose intolerance is a common example, but other foods can cause similar reactions. Medications, particularly antibiotics, can disrupt your normal gut bacteria and lead to diarrhea. Stress and anxiety affect your digestive system more than you might realize. Chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, or celiac disease can cause recurring episodes.

When you have diarrhea, your top priority is replacing lost fluids. Your body is losing more water than usual, so drink throughout the day. Water works, but clear broths and electrolyte drinks can help replace what you're losing. Once you feel ready to eat, the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) is gentle on your system. Temporarily avoid caffeine, alcohol, dairy products, and fatty foods. Over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications can provide relief, but avoid them if you have a fever or notice blood in your stool. These symptoms suggest a bacterial infection that requires medical evaluation rather than symptom suppression.

See your urgent care or primary care doctor if diarrhea lasts more than two days, or if you're experiencing severe abdominal or rectal pain. Bloody or black stools require evaluation, as does a high fever above 102°F. If you've recently finished a course of a and develop diarrhea, contact your prescriber, as this could indicate a C. diff infection. Recent travel to developing countries, followed by diarrhea, also warrants medical attention. An urgent care clinic can test for infections, provide IV hydration if needed, and prescribe appropriate medications to help you recover.

Abdominal Pain

Pain anywhere in your belly region can range from mildly annoying to genuinely alarming. However, the type of pain matters. Cramping feels different from sharp, stabbing sensations, and dull, constant aches suggest different causes than intermittent pain that comes and goes. Location provides important clues, too. Pain in your upper abdomen might point to one set of issues, while lower abdominal pain on the right side raises different concerns.

Many cases of abdominal pain have straightforward explanations. Gas, bloating, and constipation are common and usually resolve on their own. Indigestion or heartburn can cause upper abdominal discomfort, while a stomach virus often brings cramping along with other symptoms. Women experiencing menstrual cramps know this pain well. Muscle strain from exercise or lifting can cause abdominal wall pain that feels internal. Food intolerances might trigger cramping after eating certain items. However, more serious conditions like appendicitis, gallstones, kidney stones, or ulcers can also cause abdominal pain and need medical evaluation.

When abdominal pain strikes, observe what's happening and what makes it better or worse. A heating pad can soothe cramping pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers might help, though avoid aspirin or ibuprofen if you suspect the pain is stomach-related, as these can irritate your stomach lining. Stick with light, bland foods if you can eat. Keeping track of patterns helps your doctor understand what's going on if you need to seek care.

Some types of abdominal pain require prompt medical attention:

Go to the emergency room if:

• You have severe, sudden pain, especially in your right lower abdomen
• Your abdomen is tender, hard, or distended
• You see blood in your stool or vomit
• You have abdominal pain following an injury

Seek urgent care or call your doctor if:

• Pain wakes you from sleep
• Pain gets progressively worse over several hours
• You have pain with fever, vomiting, or inability to pass stool or gas
• You're experiencing persistent pain lasting several days without improvement

Sharp, localized pain that comes on suddenly needs immediate evaluation. Trust your instincts. If the pain feels different from anything you've experienced before, is severe, or seems to be worsening, getting it checked out is the right move. When in doubt about whether to go to urgent care or the emergency room, err on the side of caution and choose the ER.

Practical Tips for Managing Digestive Symptoms

Digestive symptoms are incredibly common, and most resolve on their own with simple home care and time. The key is knowing which symptoms warrant medical attention and which ones you can manage at home. Trust your instincts. If something feels seriously wrong or different from what you've experienced before, getting it checked out is always the right choice.

Schedule with your primary care doctor for chronic or recurring issues that need investigation over time. Frequent heartburn that might indicate GERD, ongoing digestive problems that affect your quality of life, or unexplained symptoms that have persisted for weeks are best addressed in primary care where your doctor can develop a comprehensive treatment plan.

Go to urgent care for acute symptoms that need same-day attention but aren't life-threatening. Persistent vomiting that's causing dehydration, diarrhea lasting more than two days, or moderate abdominal pain that's worsening over hours can be evaluated and treated at urgent care. You can walk in without an appointment and receive IV fluids, medications, or testing as needed.

Go to the emergency room for symptoms that could threaten your health or life. Severe sudden abdominal pain, vomiting blood, rigid or distended abdomen, severe pain after an injury, or symptoms like stiff neck with fever require immediate emergency care. When you're uncertain whether something is an emergency, choose the ER. It's always better to have serious symptoms evaluated quickly.

At MedHelp, we offer both urgent care and primary care to meet your needs. Our urgent care clinics are open seven days a week with walk-in appointments when you need immediate care. Our primary care doctors can help you manage ongoing digestive concerns and develop a treatment plan that works for your specific situation. Whether you need care today or want to establish a relationship with a provider who knows your health history, we're here to help you feel better.