Indigestion is very common and has become a regular part of many people’s lives. It is even known as dyspepsia. Indigestion symptoms can occur from unhealthy practices like over-eating, eating too quickly, and spicy food. Besides these other examples of dyspepsia are excessive caffeine intake, alcohol, smoking and eating and drinking simultaneously.
An Inflammed stomach lining can also cause discomfort in the stomach. However, sometimes, dyspepsia can be due to diseases of the stomach.
Dyspepsia can result from psychological factors such as stress and anger. These factors can disturb the mechanism that controls the contraction of the muscles and intestinal muscles. The undigested food ferments in the intestines producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases.
What is Indigestion?
Indigestion or dyspepsia is a general term used to describe discomfort in your upper abdomen or chest. In addition, it is often an underlying symptom of other conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, or gall bladder disease.
Dyspepsia is relatively common, although one must pay attention to persistent stomach pain affecting the quality of life.
What Does Indigestion Feel Like?
Namely, indigestion may cause the following symptoms:
- Stomach or upper-abdominal burning
- The discomfort in your upper abdomen
- Gassiness (full feeling)
- vomiting and nausea
- sour flavour
- Acid reflux
What Causes Indigestion?
Although usually, dyspepsia can result from harmful eating habits, sometimes it can also act as a warning sign and should not be ignored. Some of the digestive conditions that can cause dyspepsia are:
1. Gastritis
Gastritis is a medical condition when the stomach’s lining becomes inflamed. Usually, the stomach releases strong acid and enzymes to digest the food. However, a stomach has built-in defences that protect the stomach lining against these acids and enzymes.
But, when built-in protection fails to function correctly, acid damage the stomach lining and causes inflammation. Gastritis has symptoms like a burning sensation in the upper abdomen, nausea and pain after eating. Hence gastritis symptoms can mimic indigestion symptoms.
2. Gallstone
A gallstone can be of different types and cause sudden pain in the upper right abdomen. The gallstones block the ducts of the biliary tract and cause pain known as a gallbladder attack or biliary colic. There are two types of gallstones:
Indigestion symptoms are usually considered a symptom of an underlying problem and can even be the symptom of a gallstone. In addition, gallstone is a condition in which hard particles develop in the gallbladder. These hard particles are known as gallstones. The gallbladder is an organ sitting in the upper right abdomen.
- Cholesterol stones: are mainly of hardened cholesterol and are usually yellow-green.
- Pigment stones: are made up of bilirubin and are dark in colour.
3. Celiac disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs because of consuming gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye foods. A person with celiac disease’s immune system responds abnormally, causing inflammation and damage to the small intestine lining. The severity and the symptoms may differ from person to person.
Gluten intolerance attacks and damages the small intestine, leading to gastrointestinal problems. In some cases, celiac disease can also lead to infertility in both sexes. Osteoporosis and anaemia are the common diseases that are associated with celiac disease.
However, some common symptoms of celiac disease include deficiency of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, constipation, diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness, and bone problems.
4. Pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is a disorder in which the pancreas becomes inflamed and irritated. Acute pancreatitis can cause severe pain in the upper abdomen that goes through the back. In addition, it makes the pancreas unable to produce digestive enzymes to break down fats and proteins.
Therefore, this results in indigestion symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal swelling and tenderness, fever, rapid pulse rate, and fast breathing.
Gallstone is one of the most common causes of pancreatitis. These gallstones form in the gallbladder. The pancreas and the gall bladder share a passage into the small intestine known as the common bile duct. When the gallstone blocks the duct, fluid can’t leave the pancreas, and this backup of fluid can cause pancreatitis.
5. Stomach cancer
Stomach cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the tissues that line the stomach. Therefore, this type of cancer often begins from the stomach’s inner layer cells responsible for making and releasing mucus and other fluids.
Indigestion symptoms such as heartburn, abdominal pain and bloating are all potential symptoms of stomach cancer. Stomach cancer is of different types:
- Gastric lymphomas – This type of cancer originates from cells of the immune system found in the stomach walls.
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumours – A rare type of tumour originates from the cells of the stomach walls, known as interstitial cells of Cajal.
- Neuroendocrine tumours – This type of stomach cancer originates from the nervous or endocrine cells of the stomach.
Also Read: Understanding The Hazards Of High Cholesterol
How to Get Rid of Indigestion?
Everyone experiences an upset stomach from time to time because of eating or drinking. The condition is not always a case of concern and can be treated using the following natural ways:
- Drinking plenty of water, ginger tea or lemon juice
- Avoiding lying down right after eating
- Consuming raw or cooked mint
- Taking a warm bath or using a heating pad
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
Best Medicine for Indigestion
Dyspepsia caused by another health condition might improve with medication.
Common medication for relief include:
- Esomeprazole (Nexpro 20 Mg)
- Antibiotics: Amoxicillin(Cipmox 125 Mg)
- H2 blockers: Famotidine (Famocid 20 Mg)
- Proton pump inhibitors: Omeprazole (Pan 20mg, Lan 15mg)
Outlook
In conclusion, the occasional stomach problem is regular. But frequent indigestion symptoms can stop you from eating and sleeping and disrupt your quality of life. Hence, if dyspepsia is affecting your quality of life, it’s time that you recommend a healthcare professional. Various healthcare providers can help with your problem, including dieticians, gastroenterologists and talk therapists.
