Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is pain or discomfort after eating, while your stomach is in digestion. If you’re someone who feels discomfort in the stomach or has a stomachache right after eating, then there’s something that is not going quite right. Many times it isn’t a serious issue, as it can happen when you eat something wrong or eat too quickly that your stomach isn’t able to digest. In a fast-paced environment like today, we usually don’t get enough time to take care of our eating habits and the food choices we make. But, it’s important to look after our health. Almost everyone experiences indigestion in their daily life, but there are many who experience it on a regular basis. So, if you’re one of those people, trying to seek answers for this significant issue in healthcare that’s affecting your daily life, let this blog guide you on how to improve digestion.
How does Indigestion feel like?
Dyspepsia is a common discomfort that happens in the upper abdomen. It involves several different symptoms but it usually involves some level of abdominal pain or discomfort. Your abdomen is the storehouse of most of the organs of the digestive system, so, if you’re feeling the discomfort that possibly means that something is wrong there.
Possible Causes
The common causes of indigestion are: Often, it is related to lifestyle and may be triggered by food, drink or supplement.
- Overeating or eating too fast.
- Extremely spicy, fatty or greasy food.
- Smoking
- Anxiety
- Too much-carbonated beverages like cold drinks, alcohol, caffeine
- Any antibiotics, supplements or iron tablets.
A condition known as functional dyspepsia, also referred to as Non-ulcer dyspepsia is a condition where individuals experience frequent symptoms of indigestion which is related to irritable bowel syndrome and is a common cause of indigestion.
How long does it last?
The duration of indigestion may vary depending on the underlying cause. You may experience it for a few minutes to a few hours if you have consumed too spicy food or overeat. This condition comes under Occasional Indigestion and it generally goes away on its own after the stomach digests the food.
Chronic Indigestion refers to recurring symptoms of indigestion that occur for a long time. It’s much more than the occasional stomach pain after a heavy meal.
Causes of Chronic dyspepsia:
- Functional dyspepsia: This is a very common cause where no structural abnormalities are visible in the digestive system.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Sudden acid buildup or reflux may lead to chronic indigestion.
- Gastritis: Irritation or Discomfort in the stomach lining.
- Peptic Ulcers: Redness in the lining of the stomach
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection: A bacterial infection that leads to stomach inflammation.
Treatment
Treatment usually depends on the underlying causes. You may be able to improve your indigestion issues by:
- Making changes in your lifestyle, choosing what you drink or eat, and avoiding foods that irritate your stomach.
- Eating at a medium pace and avoiding overeating.
- Daily exercise whether it be 10 minutes walk or yoga post lunch.
- Trying psychological therapy treatments that may ease stress, anxiety and depression.
- Taking prescribed Tablets or supplements for digestion by a physician or a doctor such as antacids or histamine blockers, proton pump inhibitors, or antibiotics.
By making these changes, you may get indigestion relief.
Home Remedies
Several home remedies can help improve mild indigestion but it’s important to know that these remedies are not substitutes for medical advice and if your indigestion is recurring often and daily, it’s important to consult your doctor. Here are some common home remedies:
- Ginger: Ginger is known for its non-inflammatory properties You can take it as ginger tea, ginger ale or by simply chewing a small piece of ginger every day.
- Chamomile tea: Chamomile is known for its calming and soothing effects and can help reduce stomach acid.
- Peppermint: It can help in relaxing the stomach muscles and may reduce the discomfort. However, for some individuals, it worsens the acid reflux. So. use it wisely.
- Baking Soda: Taking a small amount of baking soda mixed with water may help in reducing stomach acid. However, it is advised to use only a smaller amount because of its sodium content.
- Apple-Cider Vinegar: Some individuals find it useful that diluted apple cider vinegar can help with indigestion, though it can aggregate the symptoms for others.
When to Consult a Doctor?
Indigestion can be a sign of a more serious disease. Therefore, overlooking it as a normal thing is not right. Immediately call or consult your doctor if you face any of the following below-mentioned symptoms:
- Persistent indigestion that’s not cured by antacids even if you’re taking it frequently.
- Difficulty in swallowing.
- Feeling tightness in your chest or difficulty in breathing.
- Nausea and if you notice blood in vomiting.
- Noticing blood in your poop or black poop
- Frequent weight loss
Symptoms similar to indigestion may be caused by heart attack. If you face symptoms like difficulty in breathing, chest pain, sweating or pain radiating towards the jaw, left arm or neck, get medical help immediately.
Final Word
In this hustling bustling world, it’s perfectly okay to get indigestion or an upset stomach. You can usually take care of it by making a few changes in your lifestyle or taking prescribed antacids. You can also take indigestion supplements or digestion tablets as sometimes individuals get relief in mild discomfort. But consider taking it by consulting a physician. And, if dyspepsia is a recurring issue that often happens, then it may be because of an underlying medical condition. If you’re having indigestion that lasts for a longer time, then you need to visit your doctor.
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