Symptoms of indigestion include the following signs:
- Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen
- Belching and gas
- Bloating (a feeling of overcrowding)
- Abdominal pain
- Rumbling stomach
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sour taste in the mouth
Under stress, these symptoms may increase.
Together with the stomach disorder, people often suffer from heartburn (a burning sensation in the chest). But heartburn itself is just a symptom which could be evidence of another problem.
Who is at risk of indigestion?
Indigestion may threaten all age groups and both sexes. Indigestion is very common disease. With use of medications that can irritate the stomach (such as aspirin), excess alcohol consumption, other disorders which disturbances the functioning of the digestive tract (such as ulcers), and emotional problems (such as anxiety and depression), the risk increases.
What causes indigestion symptoms?
Indigestion can be caused by many reasons such as:
Disease:
- Ulcers
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Stomach cancer (rare)
- Paresis of the stomach (a condition when the stomach is not filled properly, this pathology is common in patients with diabetes)
- Thyroid disease
- Infection of the stomach
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Pregnancy
Medications:
- Aspirin and many other pain relievers
- Estrogen and oral contraceptives
- Steroids
- Certain antibiotics
- Drugs for treatment of thyroid abnormalities
Lifestyle:
- Overeating, too fast eating, very fatty foods and eating during stressful situations
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- Stress and fatigue
Excess stomach acid does not cause acid indigestion symptoms. If during the meal you swallow too much air, belching and bloating symptoms, usually associated with indigestion, may increase.
Sometimes people suffer from constant indigestion caused by not none of the above factors. This type of indigestion called functional, non-ulcer dyspepsia.
How to diagnose indigestion?
If you have detected some symptoms of indigestion, you should consult your doctor to avoid the development of more severe symptoms. Since the term “stomach indigestion” is very wide, you should describe to the physician discomfort that you feel as accurately as possible. In describing the symptoms, try to determine where exactly you usually feel uncomfortable. If you just say about abdominal pain, your doctor is unlikely to be able to identify and help you to cure your problem.
First of all, your doctor will need to determine the cause of the disorder. He may conduct some blood tests, may also need X-ray examination of the stomach and small intestine. Your doctor also may use the instruments in order to closer examine your stomach from the inside. This procedure is called an upper endoscopy. In this procedure he uses an endoscope, a flexible tube with a flashlight and a camera for image transfer.
Treatment for stomach troubles
Since indigestion is a symptom rather than disease, treatment usually depends on the reasons for the disorder.
Usually indigestion symptoms disappear themselves, without the intervention, in a few hours. However, if you see a deterioration, you should consult your doctor. The best way to treat illness is to avoid foods and situations that lead to it. Here are some tips to relieve symptoms of indigestion:
- Try not to chew with your mouth open, not to talk while eating and do not eat too fast. These actions lead to swallowing a lot of air, which could aggravate stomach problems.
- Drink liquids after meals, not during it.
- Do not eat at night.
- Avoid spicy foods.
- Quit smoking.
- Do not drink alcohol.
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