We often call it indigestion when we experience upper abdominal pain, discomfort (dyspepsia) or burning pain behind the sternum (sternum).
Dyspepsia and heartburn can occur together or separately.
Symptoms usually occur shortly after eating or drinking, although they may occur later.
Heartburn is caused by acid coming from the stomach into the esophagus.
Common associated symptoms include:
- We feel overly bloated or full
- We feel nauseous, nauseous
- We burp
- We vomit
- Return of food or liquid from the stomach (reflux)
- We experience bloating
Indigestion is a common problem that affects many people, but in most cases it is mild and occurs only occasionally.
It is often possible to use supplements that contain substances that help For fast digestion and elimination
Why is digestion disturbed?
Indigestion can have many different causes, but it is rarely due to a serious medical condition.
It's normal for your stomach to produce acid, but sometimes this acid can irritate the lining of your stomach, upper intestine (duodenum), or esophagus.
Indigestion can be caused by stomach acid coming into contact with the sensitive, protective lining of the digestive system (mucosa). Stomach acid breaks down the lining, causing irritation and inflammation that can be painful.
Most people with indigestion do not have inflammation of the digestive system. Therefore, it is believed that their symptoms are caused by increased sensitivity of the mucous membrane (to acidity or stretching).
In most cases, indigestion is related to eating, but it can be caused by other factors, such as smoking, alcohol, pregnancy, stress, or the use of certain medications.
Medicines
If you take certain types of medication, you may have indigestion. Some medications, such as nitrates (used to dilate blood vessels), relax the esophageal sphincter (the ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach), allowing acid to flow back up.
Obesity
If you are very overweight, you are more likely to experience indigestion due to increased pressure in your stomach (abdomen).
Increased pressure, especially after a large meal, can cause acid reflux into the esophagus.
Stress and anxiety
Feeling stressed or anxious on a regular basis can contribute to indigestion symptoms.
Here is how stress affects the body – Effects of stress on the body
Anxiety is often a seasonal thing— Anxiety and everything you need to know about it
Hiatus hernia
A hernia occurs when an internal body part, such as an organ, pushes through a weakness in the surrounding muscle or tissue wall.
A hernia occurs when part of your stomach is pushed into the diaphragm. This can partially block the reflux of stomach acid from the esophagus, which can cause heartburn.
Helicobacter pylori infection
Helicobacter infection is very common. It can cause stomach ulcers or, rarely, stomach cancer. However, in most cases it does not cause any symptoms.
Some people can get bouts of indigestion due to helicobacter infection and antibiotics can help in these cases.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common condition and one of the main causes of recurrent indigestion. This is caused by acid reflux, which occurs when the esophageal sphincter fails to prevent stomach acid from flowing back into your esophagus.
Some acid reflux is normal and rarely causes any symptoms. It becomes a disease when there is a large amount of reflux, and the sensitive lining of the esophagus can become "inflamed" by repeated irritation of stomach acid. This can cause heartburn, regurgitation or painful swallowing.
Stomach ulcers
A stomach ulcer that develops on the lining of the stomach or small intestine (duodenal ulcer). If you have a stomach ulcer, you may experience indigestion as a symptom.
Stomach ulcers occur when stomach acid damages the lining of the stomach or duodenal wall. In most cases, the lining is damaged by H pylori infection (see above).
Stomach cancer
In rare cases, repeated attacks of indigestion can be a symptom of stomach cancer.
Cancer cells in the stomach break down the protective lining, allowing acid to come into contact with your stomach wall.
Diagnosis of indigestion
For most people, indigestion (dyspepsia) is mild and infrequent and does not require treatment.
However, if you experience the disorder regularly or if it causes severe pain or discomfort, consult a health professional.
They will ask about the symptoms of your disorder, as well as:
- any other symptoms you have – which may indicate an underlying medical condition
- any medicines you are taking, as some medicines can cause indigestion
- your lifestyle, as some lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol or being overweight can cause problems
Depending on the type of indigestion symptoms you are experiencing, a health professional may refer you for a more detailed evaluation of the cause.
Research available
Endoscopy
You may be advised to go to hospital for an endoscopy.
An endoscopy is a procedure used to examine the inside of the body using an endoscope, a thin, flexible tube about the width of a little finger with a light and a camera at one end. A camera is used to transmit images of the inside of your body to a TV monitor.
An endoscopy is often needed to assess the digestive system, but your GP may suggest it is also worth having if:
- doctors need to examine the inside of your abdomen in more detail
- you have received treatment for indigestion that did not work
- you have any severe symptoms of indigestion
Read more about endoscopy.
When taking certain medications to improve digestion, some problems may not be seen during endoscopy because they may be hidden by the effects of the medications. Therefore, you will need to stop taking certain medications for at least two weeks before the endoscopy.
Your GP may also recommend changing other medicines. However, you should only stop taking the medicine if you are advised to do so by your GP or another healthcare professional responsible for you.
Diagnosis of H pylori infection
If your GP thinks your symptoms may be due to an H pylori infection, you may need to be tested for it, such as:
- stool antigen test – A pea-sized sample of stool (poop) will be tested for H pylori bacteria
- exhaled air test
- blood test - the blood sample will be tested for antibodies against H pylori bacteria (antibodies are proteins produced by the body to fight infection)
Antibiotics can affect the results of a breath test or stool antigen test. Therefore, these tests may need to be delayed for up to four weeks after you last took antibiotics.
Other diagnostics
If your GP thinks your indigestion symptoms may be caused by another underlying medical condition, you may need to have some additional tests.
For example, abdominal pain and discomfort can also be caused by conditions affecting the bile ducts in the liver. Your bile ducts are a series of "tubes" that carry bile (a fluid the digestive system uses to break down fat) from your liver to your gallbladder (the sac that contains bile) and your intestines. If your GP thinks you may have this condition, they may suggest you have a liver function test, which is a type of blood test used to measure how well your liver is working.
You may also need to have an abdominal ultrasound. An ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the inside of your body.
Treatment of indigestion
Treatment will vary depending on what's causing it and how severe the symptoms are.
Dietary and lifestyle changes
If you only experience occasional problems, you may not need treatment. It may be possible to relieve symptoms by making a few simple dietary and lifestyle changes:
Optimal weight
Being overweight puts more pressure on the stomach, making it easier for stomach acid to push back up into the esophagus. This is known as acid reflux and is one of the most common causes of indigestion.
If you are overweight or obese, it is important to lose weight safely and steadily through regular exercise and eating a healthy, balanced diet. There is a lot of useful information in the category – Weight control and slimming
Smoking
If you smoke, the chemicals you inhale can contribute to indigestion. These chemicals can cause the ring of muscle that separates the esophageal ring from the stomach to relax, causing acid reflux.
Nutrition and alcohol
Write down any particular food or drink that seems to upset your digestion and avoid it if possible. This can mean:
- eat less rich, spicy and fatty foods
- cutting down on drinks that contain caffeine, such as tea, coffee and cola
- avoiding or reducing alcohol
Before sleep
If you tend to experience disturbances at night, avoid eating for three to four hours before going to bed. Going to bed on a full stomach means there's an increased risk that the acid in your stomach will be forced up into your esophagus while you lie down.
When you go to sleep, use a couple of pillows to prop your head and shoulders up, or ideally, raise the head of the bed a few inches by placing something under the mattress. The slight slope that is created should help prevent stomach acid from entering the esophagus while you sleep.
Stress or anxiety
Feeling stressed or anxious on a regular basis can contribute to indigestion symptoms. Effects of stress on the body
Changing medications
Your pharmacist may recommend a change to your medication if they think it may be contributing to your indigestion.
You may need to stop taking certain medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, just to be safe. If necessary, the pharmacist can advise you to contact your GP to prescribe an alternative medicine that will not cause problems. However, never stop taking any medication without first talking to your pharmacist or GP.
Immediate relief of the disorder
If you have a condition that requires immediate action, your pharmacist can advise on the best way to treat it. In addition to lifestyle changes and a review of your current medications, your GP may prescribe or recommend:
- antacids
- alginates
Treatment of persistent indigestion
If you have a persistent or recurring disorder, treatment with antacids and alginates may not be effective enough to control symptoms. Your pharmacist may recommend a different type of medication that will be given at the lowest possible dose to control your symptoms. Possible medications include:
- proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
- H2 receptor antagonists
Possible complications
In most cases, indigestion (dyspepsia) is mild and occurs only occasionally. However, severe indigestion can cause complications, some of which we describe below:
Esophageal stricture
Indigestion is often caused by acid reflux, which occurs when stomach acid leaks back into the esophagus and irritates its lining. If this irritation builds up over time, the esophagus can become scarred. Scarring can eventually cause your esophagus to become narrowed.
If you have an esophageal stricture, you may experience symptoms such as:
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- food stuck in the throat
- chest pain
Esophageal stricture is often treated with surgery to dilate the esophagus.
Pyloric stenosis
Like esophageal stricture, pyloric stenosis is caused by long-term irritation of the lining of the digestive system from stomach acid.
Pyloric stenosis occurs when the passage between the stomach and small intestine (known as the pylorus) becomes scarred and narrowed. This causes vomiting and prevents proper digestion of any food you eat.
In most cases, pyloric stenosis is treated with surgery to restore the pylorus to its proper width.
It is important to rememberthat everyone's health is individual and there is no common recipe for everyone!
So, if you want to know what nutrients your body might be lacking right now, health professionals recommend a guide – "Your Day".
- In time, pay attention to the signals sent by your well-being
- Replenish the body with natural minerals, vitamins and nutrients necessary for health.
- Enjoy energy and good mood everyday!
The information is prepared based on comprehensive publication.
