Disease: Indigestion

    Overview

    Indigestion — also called dyspepsia or an upset stomach — is a general term that describes discomfort in your upper abdomen. Indigestion is not a disease, but rather some symptoms you experience, including abdominal pain and a feeling of fullness soon after you start eating. Although indigestion is common, each person may experience indigestion in a slightly different way. Symptoms of indigestion may be felt occasionally or as often as daily.

    Indigestion can be a symptom of another digestive disease. Indigestion that isn't caused by an underlying disease may be eased with lifestyle changes and medication.

    Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

    Symptoms

    People with indigestion may have one or more of the following symptoms:

    • Early fullness during a meal. You haven't eaten much of your meal, but you already feel full and may not be able to finish eating.
    • Uncomfortable fullness after a meal. Fullness lasts longer than it should.
    • Discomfort in the upper abdomen. You feel a mild to severe pain in the area between the bottom of your breastbone and your navel.
    • Burning in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable heat or burning sensation between the bottom of your breastbone and your navel.
    • Bloating in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable sensation of tightness.
    • Nausea. You feel as though you want to vomit.

    Less frequent symptoms include vomiting and belching.

    Sometimes people with indigestion also experience heartburn, but heartburn and indigestion are two separate conditions. Heartburn is a pain or burning feeling in the center of your chest that may radiate into your neck or back during or after eating.

    When to see a doctor

    Mild indigestion is usually nothing to worry about. Consult your doctor if discomfort persists for more than two weeks. Contact your doctor right away if pain is severe or accompanied by:

    • Unintentional weight loss or loss of appetite
    • Repeated vomiting or vomiting with blood
    • Black, tarry stools
    • Trouble swallowing that gets progressively worse
    • Fatigue or weakness, which may indicate anemia

    Seek immediate medical attention if you have:

    • Shortness of breath, sweating or chest pain radiating to the jaw, neck or arm
    • Chest pain on exertion or with stress

    Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

    Causes

    Indigestion has many possible causes. Often, indigestion is related to lifestyle and may be triggered by food, drink or medication. Common causes of indigestion include:

    • Overeating or eating too quickly
    • Fatty, greasy or spicy foods
    • Too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate or carbonated beverages
    • Smoking
    • Anxiety
    • Certain antibiotics, pain relievers and iron supplements

    Sometimes indigestion is caused by other digestive conditions, including:

    • Gastritis
    • Peptic ulcers
    • Celiac disease
    • Gallstones
    • Constipation
    • Pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis)
    • Stomach cancer
    • Intestinal blockage
    • Reduced blood flow in the intestine (intestinal ischemia)

    Indigestion with no obvious cause is known as functional or nonulcer dyspepsia.

    Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

    Diagnosis

    Your doctor is likely to start with a health history and a thorough physical exam. Those evaluations may be sufficient if your indigestion is mild and you're not experiencing certain symptoms, such as weight loss and repeated vomiting.

    But if your indigestion began suddenly, and you are experiencing severe symptoms or are older than age 55, your doctor may recommend:

    • Laboratory tests, to check for thyroid problems or other metabolic disorders.
    • Breath and stool tests, to check for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the bacterium associated with peptic ulcers, which can cause indigestion. H. pylori testing is controversial because studies suggest limited benefit from treating the bacterium.
    • Endoscopy, to check for abnormalities in your upper digestive tract. A tissue sample (biopsy) may be taken for analysis.
    • Imaging tests (X-ray or CT scan), to check for intestinal obstruction.

    If initial testing fails to provide a cause, your doctor may diagnose functional dyspepsia.

    Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

    Complications

    Although indigestion doesn't usually have serious complications, it can affect your quality of life by making you feel uncomfortable and causing you to eat less. You might miss work or school because of your symptoms. When indigestion is caused by an underlying condition, that condition can also have its own complications.

    Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

    Alternative medicine

    Alternative and complementary treatments may help ease indigestion, although none of these treatments has been well-studied. These treatments include:

    • Herbal therapies such as peppermint and caraway.
    • Psychological treatment, including behavior modification, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy.
    • Acupuncture, which may work by blocking the pathways of nerves that carry sensations of pain to the brain.
    • Mindfulness meditation.
    • STW 5 (Iberogast), a liquid supplement that contains extracts of herbs including bitter candytuft, peppermint leaves, caraway and licorice root. STW 5 may work by reducing the production of gastric acid.

    Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements to be sure you're taking a safe dose and that the supplement won't adversely interact with any other medications you're taking.

    Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

    Lifestyle and home remedies

    Mild indigestion can often be helped with lifestyle changes, including:

    • Eating smaller, more-frequent meals. Chew your food slowly and thoroughly.
    • Avoiding triggers. Fatty and spicy foods, processed foods, carbonated beverages, caffeine, alcohol, and smoking can trigger indigestion.
    • Maintaining a healthy weight. Excess pounds put pressure on your abdomen, pushing up your stomach and causing acid to back up into your esophagus.
    • Exercising regularly. Exercise helps you keep off extra weight and promotes better digestion.
    • Managing stress. Create a calm environment at mealtime. Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga. Spend time doing things you enjoy. Get plenty of sleep.
    • Changing your medications. With your doctor's approval, stop or cut back on pain relievers or other medications that may irritate your stomach lining. If that's not an option, be sure to take these medications with food.

    Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

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