adminINDIGESTION — 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, how you experience indigestion may differ from other people. 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.
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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 (sternum) and your navel.
Burning in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable heat or burning sensation between the bottom of the breastbone and navel.
Bloating in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable sensation of tightness.
Nausea.
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 centre of your chest that may radiate into your neck or back during or after eating.
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Indigestion has many possible causes. Often, it 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, gallstones, constipation, stomach cancer and intestinal blockage.
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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.
When indigestion is caused by an underlying condition, that condition can also have its own complications.
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To diagnose indigestion, 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 50, your doctor may recommend laboratory tests to check for thyroid or other metabolic problems, endoscopy or blood tests to check for H. pylori, the bacteria associated with peptic ulcers.
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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 oesophagus.
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.
Reducing or eliminating the use of alcohol and caffeine
If your indigestion persists, medications may help. Over-the-counter antacids are generally the first choice then different types of drugs can be used.
Dr Zuze can be contacted at Highland Clinic on 020-66364 or [email protected]
Online Reporter