You can only know if you test the acid contents of your stomach. This testing can be done by means of the Heidelberg Capsule Test, a state-of-the-art diagnostic tool for measuring pH levels and detecting imbalances in the digestive tract. The Heidelberg test is like a window into the digestive system. It tells us about food absorption and digestion by obtaining an accurate measurement of the pH balance of the stomach. The Heidelberg pH Capsule is a high-frequency radio transmitter and pH sensor encapsulated within a special polyacrylate (plastic) covering. The capsule is about the size of a multi-vitamin and is designed to be swallowed. It measures and transmits the pH levels in the digestive system and the re-acidification time of the stomach’s parietal cells. The Heidelberg Capsule system is one of the most valuable tools a doctor can have for safely and accurately determining disorders of digestion. Mal-absorption, stomach gas, belching, bloating, flatulence and irritable bowels can be addressed more thoroughly when the pH of the stomach is monitored. This test will accurately diagnose a patient who may have hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid), hyperchlorhydria (high stomach acid), achlorhydria (no stomach acid), pyloric insufficiency, or heavy mucus. The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine is one of the very few clinics in the United States able to perform this highly accurate Heidelberg test to assess the root cause of digestive symptoms. At The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM), we are committed to bringing you the most advanced and scientifically proven medicine. If you are suffering from fatigue, depression, malnutrition, acid reflux, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, chest pain, or neurological disorders, you may be a candidate for this test. Based on your test results, the doctors will recommend individualized supplementation to help rebalance your stomach pH. Call The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM) to set up an appointment to determine if you are properly digesting and assimilating the foods you eat, so you can prevent all the adverse effects of stomach acid imbalance. We serve patients from Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, all of South Carolina, Nationally, and Internationally. Patients routinely fly into Charleston to be evaluated by COEM and to enjoy this beautiful city which is a Condé Nast and Travel and Leisure Top Domestic and International Tourist Destination. References: 1. Wright JV and Lenard L, Why Stomach Acid Is Good for You, Natural Relief From Heartburn, Indigestion, and GERD, Chapter 5. M. Evans and Company, New York City, 2001. 2. Dial S, Delaney JA, Barkun AN, Suissa S. “Use of gastric acid-suppressive agents and the risk of community-acquired Clostridium difficile-associated disease.” JAMA 2005 Dec 21;294(23):2989-95. 3. Yang YX, Lewis JD, Epstein S, Metz DC. “Long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy and risk of hip fracture.” JAMA 2006 Dec 27;296(24):2947-53. 4. Laheij RJ, et al. “Risk of community-acquired pneumonia and use of gastric acid-suppressive drugs.” JAMA 2004 Oct 27;292(16):1955-60. 5. Andres MR, Bingham JR. Tubeless gastric analysis with a radio-telemetering pill (Heidelberg capsule). Can Med Assoc J 1970;102:1087.