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| Indigestion and Heartburn |
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| Standard Definition |
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" Indigestion" refers to any number of gastrointestinal complaints, which can include gas (burping or flatulence) and upset stomach. It may be a symptom of irritable bowel disease or food intolerance. " Heartburn" refers to a burning feeling, which may be caused by acid refluxing into the oesophagus from the stomach, by gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach), or by a peptic ulcer. |
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| Underlying Disruption in Function |
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Digestive function is affected by three modern problems – worry, hurry and fatigue. The result of these is that we overburden and stress our digestive system and its capacity to digest, absorb and eliminate. Many cases of indigestion result from inadequate digestive secretions including hydrochloric acid in the stomach and enzymes from the liver, small intestine and pancreas. |
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| Possible Causes, Triggers & Exacerbating Factors |
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- Low or high stomach acid
- Hiatus hernia
- Stress
- Eating too much or too fast
- Food allergy or sensitivity (eg. Lactose intolerance)
- Pregnancy
- Gastritis, peptic ulcer
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| Common Signs & Symptoms |
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- Burning sensation just under the chest plate
- Abdominal bloating and pressure
- Burping and flatulence
- Nausea
- Colic pain
- Constipation or diarrhoea
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| Possible Additional Integrative Medicine Diagnostic Tests |
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This is additional information that does not replace nor negate conventional diagnosis. Other tests may be useful depending on the individual circumstance.
- Blood, saliva, breath and/or stool tests for Helicobacter pylori
- Digestive function assessment
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