Causes and Remedies of Indigestion

Indigestion is often a sign of an underlying problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease  ulcers, or gallbladder disease, rather than a condition of its own.

Also called dyspepsia, indigestion is a term used to describe a feeling of fullness or discomfort during or after a meal. It can be accompanied by burning or pain in the upper stomach.

Indigestion (dyspepsia) occurs when acid from your stomach irritates the lining of your stomach, oesophagus (gullet) and top part of your bowel. 
In most cases, there is no underlying medical reason for indigestion. It is usually caused by a process known as acid reflux, where acid from your stomach escapes and is forced back up into your oesophagus.




However, indigestion can also be caused in other ways, and it can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, particularly if you experience recurrent bouts. Some possible causes are explained below.

•  Indigestion has many causes, including:Diseases:
• Ulcers
• GERD
• Stomach cancer (rare)
• Gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach doesn't empty properly; this often occurs in diabetics)
• Stomach infections
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Thyroid disease

Medications

You may have indigestion if you take certain types of medication. Some medicines, such as nitrates (taken to widen your blood vessels) relax the oesophageal sphincter (ring of muscle between your oesophagus and your stomach), which allows acid to leak back up.

 

Other medicines, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can affect your digestive tract and cause indigestion.

Do not take NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, if you have stomach problems such as a peptic ulcer or have had this in the past.

 

Children under 16 years of age should not take aspirin. Never stop taking a prescribed medication unless you are told to do so by your GP or another qualified healthcare professional who is responsible for your care.

Obesity

If you are very overweight, you are more likely to experience indigestion because of increased pressure inside your abdomen (tummy). This can force open your oesophageal sphincter after a large meal, causing acid reflux.

 

Hiatus hernia

A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body, such as an organ, pushes through a weakness in the surrounding muscle or tissue wall.

A hiatus hernia occurs when part of your stomach pushes up into your diaphragm (the sheet of muscle under your lungs), preventing your oesophageal sphincter from closing. This can allow stomach acid to travel back up into your oesophagus, leading to heartburn.

Helicobacter pylori infection

You may have recurring bouts of indigestion if you have an infection with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria. H pylori infections are common, and it is possible to become infected without realising because the infection does not usually cause any symptoms.

However, in some cases an H pylori infection can damage your stomach lining and increase the amount of acid in your stomach. It is also possible for your duodenum (the top of your small intestine) to be irritated by excess stomach acid if you have an H pylori infection.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common condition and one of the main causes of recurring indigestion. It is caused by acid reflux. This occurs when the oesophageal sphincter fails to prevent stomach acid from moving back up into your oesophagus.

 

Acid reflux becomes GORD when the sensitive lining of your oesophagus is damaged by repeated irritation from stomach acid.

Peptic ulcers

A peptic ulcer is an open sore that develops on the inside lining of your stomach (a gastric ulcer) or small intestine (a duodenal ulcer).
                          

If you have a peptic ulcer, you may have indigestion as a symptom.
Peptic ulcers form when stomach acid damages the lining in your stomach or duodenum wall. In most peptic ulcer cases, the lining is damaged as a result of an H pylori infection.

Stomach cancer

In rare cases, recurrent bouts of indigestion can be a symptom of stomach cancer.
Cancer cells in your stomach break down the protective lining, allowing acid to come into contact with your stomach wall.

• Aspirin and many other painkillers
• Estrogen and oral contraceptives
• Steroid medications
• Certain antibiotics
• Thyroid medicines

Lifestyle:

• Eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Cigarette smoking
• Stress and fatigue

Swallowing excessive air when eating may increase the symptoms of belching and bloating, which are often associated with indigestion.

Sometimes people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of these factors. This type of indigestion is called functional, or nonulcer dyspepsia.

During the middle and later parts of pregnancy, many women have indigestion. This is believed to be caused by a number of pregnancy-related factors including hormones, which relax the muscles of the digestive tract, and the pressure of the growing uterus on the stomach.

Remedies of Indigestion

If you are experiencing symptoms of indigestion, make an appointment to see your doctor to rule out a more serious condition. Because indigestion is such a broad term, it is helpful to provide your doctor with a precise description of the discomfort you are experiencing.

 

In describing your indigestion symptoms, try to define where in the abdomen the discomfort usually occurs. Simply reporting pain in the stomach is not detailed enough for your doctor to help identify and treat your problem.

First, your doctor must rule out any underlying conditions. Your doctor may perform several blood tests and you may have X-rays of the stomach or small intestine. Your doctor may also use an instrument to look closely at the inside of the stomach, a procedure called an upper endoscopy.

An endoscope, a flexible tube that contains a light and a camera to produce images from inside the body, is used in this procedure.

Because indigestion is a symptom rather than a disease, treatment usually depends upon the underlying condition causing the indigestion.

Often, episodes of indigestion go away within hours without medical attention. However, if your indigestion symptoms become worse, you should consult a doctor. Here are some helpful tips to alleviate indigestion:

• Try not to chew with your mouth open, talk while chewing, or eat too fast. This causes you to swallow too much air, which can aggravate indigestion.
• Drink fluids after rather than during meals.
• Avoid late-night eating.
• Try to relax after meals.
• Avoid spicy foods.
• Stop smoking.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages.

If indigestion is not relieved after making these changes, your doctor may prescribe medications to alleviate your symptoms.

Prevention of Indigestion

The best way to prevent indigestion is to avoid the foods and situations that seem to cause indigestion. Keeping a food diary is helpful in identifying foods that cause indigestion. Here are some other suggestions:

• Eat small meals so the stomach does not have to work as hard or as long.
• Eat slowly.
• Avoid foods that contain high amounts of acids, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes.
• Reduce or avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.
• If stress is a trigger for your indigestion, re-evaluating your lifestyle may help to reduce stress. Learn new methods for managing stress, such as relaxation and biofeedback techniques.
• Smokers should consider quitting smoking, or at least not smoking right before or after eating, as smoking can irritate the stomach lining.
• Cut back on alcohol consumption because alcohol can irritate the stomach lining.
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting garments because they tend to compress the stomach, which can cause its contents to enter the esophagus.
• Do not exercise with a full stomach. Rather, exercise before a meal or at least one hour after eating a meal.
• Do not lie down right after eating.
• Wait at least 3 hours after your last meal of the day before going to bed.

Raise the head of your bed so that your head and chest are higher than your feet. You can do this by placing 6-inch blocks under the bedposts at the head of the bed. Don't use piles of pillows to achieve the same goal. You will only put your head at an angle that can increase pressure on your stomach and make heartburn worse.

Because indigestion can be a sign of a more serious health problem, visit the doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Vomiting or blood in vomit (the vomit may look like coffee grounds)
• Unexpected weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Black, tarry stools or visible blood in stools
• Severe pain in upper right abdomen
• Pain in upper or lower right abdomen
• Discomfort unrelated to eating

Symptoms similar to indigestion may be caused by heart attacks. If indigestion is unusual, accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, or pain radiating to the jaw, neck or arm, seek medical attention immediately.