Q How do I tell whether my indigestion and abdominal pain are a functional problem or something more serious?
A Blood in stool or black stool, unintended weight loss (over 5% within six months), abdominal pain severe enough to wake you at night, a family history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, and new digestive symptoms appearing after age 50 are warning signs that absolutely require gastroenterology examination. Without these symptoms, a functional cause can be considered first.
Detailed Answer
The most important diagnostic principle of functional gastrointestinal disorder is first excluding organic causes (cancer, inflammation, ulcer, infection, etc.). Blood in stool or black stool, unintended weight loss within six months, new digestive symptoms after age 50, a family history of colorectal cancer, and abdominal pain that wakes you at night or persistent vomiting are red flags that may not be functional problems. If you have even one of these symptoms, you should receive gastroenterology endoscopy and blood tests before Korean medicine treatment.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At our clinic too, if warning signs are confirmed, we immediately recommend internal medicine examination. Combining Korean medicine treatment after organic causes are excluded is the safest and most effective approach.
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