Indigestion

Overview

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a common illness that can often result in intense pain, struggle in bowel movements and consistent discomfort. It manifests itself as pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen, often leaving you feeling like you've overindulged, even when you haven't. Although occasional indigestion is nothing to fret about and is something that everyone deals with, frequent occurrences may raise a need for you to discuss with your local doctor.

Most often, indigestion is caused by stomach acid irritating your stomach lining or throat, also known as acid reflux. This irritation can also stem from various lifestyle factors like overeating, fatty or spicy foods, and even stress. In more intense cases, however, indigestion can be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition like ulcers or gallbladder disease.

Symptoms of indigestion include a burning sensation in your upper abdomen (heartburn), feeling uncomfortably full after eating, bloating, belching, and nausea. These symptoms typically arise after a meal, when your digestive system is working its hardest.

Thankfully, strategies for managing occasional indigestion is widely accessible due to how common it is. Try going for more smaller and consistent meals rather than larger portions, limit foods that may irritate your stomach like spicy and fatty foods and try not to lie down for a while after eating. Indigestion may also be caused by stress and by smoking, so consider those as potential risk factors to look out for as well. Lastly, if nothing else works, you can always try over-the-counter medications like antacids.

While indigestion is a common complaint, do try to listen to your body. If your indigestion continues to show persistent symptoms that rise in intensity, alongside more severe symptoms like vomiting blood or difficulty swallowing, you may want to consult a medical expert.

Symptoms of Indigestion

Heartburn, a burning pain typically behind the breastbone, is often explained as stomach acid backing up into the oesophagus, the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach. This acidic reversion can create an intense discomfort that radiates up the chest and leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

Bloating: Feeling uncomfortably full, even after a small meal, points to bloating, another common symptom. This distended sensation arises from excess gas trapped in your digestive system. Accompanying this tightness may be frequent burping, the body's attempt to release the built-up air.

Nausea: The churning unease of nausea, the urge to vomit, can also accompany indigestion. In some cases, the discomfort may progress to actual vomiting, bringing up undigested food or sour liquid. This forceful expulsion offers temporary relief but signifies a more intense digestive struggle.

Pain in Your Upper Abdomen: another potential symptom may appear in your chest region, particularly after a meal. Additionally, indigestion can sometimes trigger a sore throat or a feeling of tightness in your chest, mimicking heartburn's discomfort.

Do remember that if you’re experiencing any of these, the intensity and combination of symptoms can vary from person to person. If you experience any of these signs, especially with concerning frequency or severity, immediately consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying conditions.

Causes of Indigestion

The causes behind indigestion are almost always based on lifestyle or diet, such as the following:

i) Eating excessive amounts, eating too quickly, or overindulging strains your stomach, which may cause acid reflux and uncomfortable fullness.
ii) Foods high in fat, such as fried food or creamy sauces, slow down the digestive process and cause food to remain in your stomach, creating pain.
iii) Spicy foods like chilli peppers might irritate your digestive tract's delicate lining, causing inflammation and discomfort.
iv) Acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, and even coffee can upset sensitive stomachs, particularly when ingested empty.
v) Gas-filled carbonated beverages, such as soda, cause pressure and pain in your stomach.
vi) Drinking too much tea, coffee, or energy drinks might aggravate indigestion by irritating the lining of your stomach.
vii) Smoking weakens the muscle valve that separates your oesophagus and stomach, known as the oesophageal sphincter, which permits acid to reflux back up and result in heartburn.
viii) Stress and anxiety can throw off the regular rhythm of your digestive system, resulting in indigestion and other gastrointestinal problems.
ix) People who have a gluten sensitivity or a lactose intolerance may experience dyspepsia.

Prevention for Indigestion

As this is a day-to-day condition that can affect almost anyone, the steps required in preventing indigestion are often linked to lifestyle or diet changes based on the two categories outlined above, such as:

Dietary Changes

i) Limit fatty, greasy, and spicy foods, common indigestion triggers. Opt for lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

ii) Avoid overeating by listening to your body's hunger cues and opting for smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.

iii) Chew thoroughly. This aids digestion by breaking down food particles and allows for better nutrient absorption.

iv) Beware of beverages: Carbonated drinks, citrus juices, and excessive coffee can worsen indigestion. Stick to water, herbal teas, and moderate amounts of milk.

v) Include more ginger in your diet. Ginger is a natural digestive aid. Try sipping ginger tea, sucking on ginger candy, or incorporating ginger into your cooking.

vi) Stop indulging in late-night snacks. Give your digestive system time to rest before sleep. Avoid heavy meals close to bedtime.

Changes To Your Day:

i) Firstly, stress can wreak havoc on digestion. Practice relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation to keep calm and collected.

ii) Try simply sleeping on your left: This basic switch can help prevent stomach acid from refluxing into your oesophagus, a major cause of heartburn.

iii) Regular exercise aids digestion, but avoid strenuous activity right after eating. Aim for a walk or light activity an hour after a meal.

iv) Lastly, try to avoid smoking if you can. Smoking weakens the esophageal sphincter, the valve that keeps stomach acid down. Kicking the habit can significantly improve indigestion.

v) Try to identify your triggers: Some triggers may often lead you to experience more stress or overeat, which may in turn exacerbate the issue. Pay close attention to foods and drinks that seem to worsen your indigestion and limit or eliminate them from your diet.

Tests and Treatment for Indigestion

In most cases, your healthcare provider is likely to start with a close look at your health history and a physical examination to validate the functioning of your digestive system. These tests should be enough to provide a substantive overview behind the cause of your indigestion. However, if your condition is more illusive or severe, your doctor may even run the following tests:

Stool Tests: These are taken to ensure that your indigestion isn’t being caused by specific bacterial groups like Helicobacter pylori, which can create peptic ulcers in your system.

Endoscopy: In an endoscopy test, a bioscopy (tissue sample) may be taken from your body, as an endoscope’s inserted to give the doctor a direct look into what may be causing the issues.

Imaging Tests (CT Scans or X-Ray Tests): In a case where your indigestion’s being caused by intestinal obstruction, you might have to take a CT Scan or an X-Ray test to get a better visual at what’s happening internally.

Types
Although most types of Indigestion tend to resolve themselves, this may not be the case depending on the root cause of the condition, whether it be your diet or another component of your digestive system that isn’t functioning quite right. Some forms of indigestion include:

i) Occasional Indigestion: The most common variant, under Occasional Indigestion, you may experience indigestion for a few minutes or hours, usually during or after your meal. This form of indigestion often resolves itself and isn’t a major cause of concern.

ii) Chronic Indigestion: This kind of indigestion is caused most often by some other underlying condition that exacerbates the issues present in your digestion system. You may experience multiple episodes of indigestion over several weeks or months and it warrants a visit to your doctor to better understand whether your diet requires any changes or shifts.

iii) Functional Indigestion: In cases where the root cause of your indigestion is unknown, it’s known as functional indigestion, especially if it persists over a large period of time. Current estimates place that 75 to 80% of people fall under this category.