What is "stomach heat"?
"Stomach heat" is not a clinical term, but rather a descriptive way for patients to tell their health care providers what they are experiencing. The xcessive production of heat inside the stomach as the result of a faster digestive process is sometimes called stomach heat. It is usually characterized by bad breath and swollen gums.
What causes stomach heat?
There is no one typical cause of a raised stomach temperature. This is because the heat tolerance level and basal metabolic rate (BMR) is different for each individual.
Some common causes of stomach heat related to the digestive system include:
- Eating large amounts of spicy food
- Overeating
- Late night meals
- Living a sedentary lifestyle
- GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Peptic ulcer disease - gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer
- Delayed gastric emptying - passing stools after 2, 3 days
- Taking too many painkillers (NSAIDs), which can cause stomach ulcers that produce heat
- Overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics
While digestive disorders can cause a raised stomach temperature, other systematic disorders can lead to the same problem. Some disorders that may raise the stomach temperature include:
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Thyrotoxicosis: Hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis is an endocrine disorder that is characterized by abnormally raised levels of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones play an important role in the proper functioning of the body. Abnormally low or high thyroid hormone levels can cause various symptoms, including those related to the digestive system. Raised thyroid hormone levels also cause stomach heat because this increases the basal metabolic rate (BMR).
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (SC). Multiple Sclerosis is also known to cause heat intolerance. This is why patients who complain of raised stomach heat are tested for multiple sclerosis too.
Diagnosis - How to find the cause of your overheating stomach?
Whenever a patient complains of stomach heat, the doctor should perform a full physical examination. Palpation of abdominal organs is performed to see if any organs are swollen (called organomegaly).
A trial of antacids (acid lowering agents), H2 receptor blockers, and PPIs are typically given to see if the symptoms resolve. The symptoms usually resolve after the patient changes their eating habits and begins using prescribed drugs. However, there are cases when the symptoms persist. In such cases the following tests are performed:
- Ultrasound abdomen
- Chest x-ray
- Thyroid hormone levels - T3, T3, and TSH
- 24-hour Gastric acid PH monitoring
- CT scan MRI to rule out Multiple Sclerosis
Treatment of stomach heat
If there is no systemic disease involved, the goal of the treatment is to decrease the stomach acid levels. The stomach heat will spontaneously decrease as soon as the stomach acid reaches normal levels.
Home remedies can be extremely effective. However, medical treatment may be needed if the problem persists.
Home remedies for decreasing stomach heat would include:
- Drink a glass of water as soon as you get up in the morning
- Take 5 to 6 small meals rather than three large meals
- Eat a lot of non-citrus fruits - apple, banana, watermelon, etc.
- Eat or drink some yogurt for immediate relief
- Avoid overeating
- Avoid fast food
- Avoid spicy food
Medical treatment for decreasing stomach heat
The most common medications that your doctor would recommend or prescribe when you complain of stomach heat would include:
- Antacids - sucralfate
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
- H2 receptor blockers
If the symptoms do not fade away with home remedies, it is better to visit your doctor rather than trying medical treatment at home. "Stomach heat" is a vague description, but when you are able to describe your symptoms in as much detail as possible, you help your doctor rule the most common causes associated with this sensation in or out, allowing them to procede with diagnosis.
- Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth