Assessment
Questionnaire
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See what questions
a doctor would ask.
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Heartburn. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.
Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:
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Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
Why: typically heartburn is a burning discomfort behind the sternum (breastbone) that radiates to the throat, associated with acid reflux, aggravated by heavy meals, swallowing hot and cold fluids, stooping, lying flat and lifting and straining, more likely to occur at rest than with exertion. Heartburn may be due to gastro-esophageal reflux, oesophagitis, hiatus hernia, peptic ulcer, scleroderma, pregnancy, obesity, smoking and alcohol, caffeine and some medications.
Why: can help distinguish gastro-esophageal reflux (heartburn) from other causes of abdominal discomfort e.g. eating food may aggravate a gastric ulcer; eating fried or fatty foods will aggravate biliary disease, esophageal disorders and functional dyspepsia ( dyspepsia when no specific cause can be demonstrated); bending over will aggravate gastro-esophageal reflux; alcohol will aggravate gastro-esophageal reflux, oesophagitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer and pancreatitis.
Why: Gastro-esophageal reflux is usually relieved by antacids within several minutes.
Why: if discomfort is relieved by food and antacids may suggest duodenal ulcer, hiatus hernia and oesophagitis. If discomfort is brought on by food may suggest cholecystitis, gastric ulcer or reactions to toxins in food such as MSG or sulfites.
Why: aggravate gastro-esophageal reflux.
Why: aggravate gastro-esophageal reflux.
Why: aggravate gastro-esophageal reflux, gastritis and peptic ulcers.
Why: chest discomfort precipitated by exercise may suggest angina as cause of discomfort if brought on by exertion. Exercise may also precipitate heartburn.
Why: aggravate gallstones.
Why: aggravate gastro-esophageal reflux, gastritis and peptic ulcers.
Why: would suggest gastro-esophageal reflux.
Why: may suggest gastro-esophageal reflux or peptic ulcer.
Why: suggests gastro-esophageal reflux.
Why: may aggravate indigestion due to affecting motility and suggests gastro-esophageal reflux, peptic ulcers.
Why: may aggravate indigestion.
Why: pregnancy increases the risk of gastoesophageal reflux due to a relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.
Why: e.g. scleroderma (rare but important cause of oesophagitis), irritable bowel syndrome, gallstones, chronic pancreatitis, achalasia, hiatus hernia, pernicious anemia (may increase the risk of stomach cancer).
Why: e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (2-4 times the risk of gastric ulcers), anticholinergics, aspirin, calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids, digitalis, lipid lowering medications, narcotics, slow release potassium supplements, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants and tetracycline - may all cause gastro-esophageal reflux.
Why: cigarette smoking is an important cause of reducing the pressure of the lower esophageal pressure and thus increasing the risk of gastro-esophageal reflux. Smoking also increases the risk of peptic ulcers.
Why: alcohol is an important cause of reducing the pressure of the lower esophageal pressure and thus increasing the risk of gastro-esophageal reflux. Alcohol may also increase the risk of peptic ulcers.
Why: suggests gastro-esophageal reflux, hiatus hernia, gastritis or previous gastrectomy (surgical removal of stomach).
Why: may suggest gastro-esophageal reflux, hiatus hernia or peptic ulcer.
Why: most likely diagnosis is gallstones, cholecystitis or chronic pancreatitis.
Why: should suggests peptic ulcer.
Why: may suggest oesophagitis (especially if with hot and cold fluids) or stomach cancer.
Why: e.g. -a common mistake is to attribute the discomfort of angina or a heart attack to a disorder of the gastro-intestinal tract. Must consider heartburn symptoms to be ischemic heart disease until proved otherwise.
Why: if associated with upper abdominal discomfort and indigestion may suggest stomach cancer, intestinal or mesenteric ischemia, pernicious anemia, chronic pancreatitis, chronic gastritis. Should also consider renal failure, cirrhosis of the liver and congestive heart failure.
Why: e.g. intermittent symptoms of gnawing or burning-type pain in the epigastrium (midline, under the ribs) which can be located by finger point, pain is worse before meals and relieved by taking antacids or food. Pain may waken the person at night.
Why: e.g. deep boring upper abdominal pain, often radiating through to the back, fatty stools that float in toilet and are difficult to flush, possibly symptoms of diabetes.
Why: e.g. sudden onset of severe constant epigastric pain which may pass into the back. Symptoms are induced by a fatty meal.
Why: e.g. tiredness, dizziness, muscle weakness, headache, shortness of breath on exertion - may suggest chronic oesophagitis, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer or stomach cancer.
The following list of conditions have 'Heartburn' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Heartburn or choose View All.
The following list of medical conditions have 'Heartburn'
or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.
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