Occasional heartburn that responds to antacids or lifestyle changes usually doesn't need medical attention. A few patterns suggest it's time to see a doctor rather than continue managing it alone: heartburn more than twice a week, symptoms that persist despite over-the-counter treatment for 2–4 weeks, difficulty or pain swallowing, unintentional weight loss, or symptoms that started later in life without an obvious cause. These can point to something that needs a closer look — from GERD requiring prescription-strength treatment to, less commonly, complications like esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus that are worth catching early. Chest pain that's new, severe, or comes with shortness of breath is a separate, more urgent situation and always warrants immediate care rather than a wait-and-see approach. Self-treating occasional symptoms is reasonable; self-treating a persistent, worsening pattern usually isn't.
