EDUCATION
Indigestion
and heartburn:
what's the difference?
Indigestion and heartburn are both gastrointestinal issues experienced by many people
Indigestion -
the medical
term for
which is
dyspepsia
- includes a
number of
symptoms
and can
often be a
sign of some
other health
condition
A
lthough patients often talk about problems are often caused
indigestion, and heartburn as a single by lifestyle decisions rather
problem, they are in fact separate than simply the food we
conditions. Or more specifi cally, indigestion eat. “This includes how
is a condition, while heartburn is a symptom.
Indigestion (dyspepsia) is a functional condition in
much food we eat, how
fast we eat it ,and
which the gastrointestinal organs, primarily the how late at night we
stomach and fi rst part of the small intestine (and eat. The stomach is
occasionally the esophagus), function abnormally. the most sensitive
Heartburn is a symptom caused by refl ux of acidic stress reactor.
stomach contents into the oesophagus, resulting in Therefore stress is
irritation and burning. another common
Heartburn can be a symptom of indigestion (since
cause for heartburn
indigestion is a collection of symptoms) however or indigestion.” As a
heartburn is also its own distinct symptom. Indigestion, result, by changing eating and
on the other hand, isn’t related to stomach acid. lifestyle habits patients can manage
Dr Abram Eisenstein, Director of Gastroenterology at the conditions and alleviate the pain
Cooper Clinic, explains that one can distinguish between that accompanies their symptoms.
indigestion and heartburn by the fact that they happen “Other causes for both conditions
in completely diff erent parts of the body. Heartburn is a may be the medications we take, both
symptom which manifests as pain in the throat or neck, prescription and over-the-counter
an d a burning in the chest area. Indigestion on the other (OTC). Important risk factors to
hand causes chronic burning pain in the upper and lower note for heartburn include obesity
abdomen and a feeling of fullness after just a few bites. and use of tobacco.”
The good news explains Eisenstein is that both
Continued on next page...
Pharmacy Magazine MAY 2017 |
21