Indigestion – OZIZA

Indigestion

What is indigestion?

Indigestion is the name given to a collection of digestive symptoms, including a feeling of fullness or discomfort in your upper abdomen, heartburn, and nausea. The medical term for indigestion is dyspepsia. People often experience indigestion after eating large meals. However, several other factors can lead you to develop symptoms of indigestion.

What are the causes of indigestion?

There are many possible causes of indigestion. These can range from dietary and lifestyle habits to the side effects of medications and serious underlying conditions.

You experience indigestion when your body cannot digest food as normal. This may be the result of eating a lot or eating too fast.
Spicy, greasy, and fatty foods also increase the risk of indigestion. Lying down too soon after eating can make it harder to digest food. This increases your risk of abdominal discomfort.
Other common causes of poor digestion include: smoking, drinking too much alcohol and stress.

Medication

Indigestion can be a side effect of taking specific medications.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, are one class of medications that can cause indigestion.

Antibiotics, medications that treat or prevent bacterial infections, can also irritate the digestive system and cause indigestion as a side effect.

Medical conditions

Several medical conditions can also cause indigestion. These include:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Gastric cancer
Pancreatic or bile duct abnormalities
Peptic ulcers
Lactose, gluten, and other intolerances
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Gastroparesis

Sometimes you may experience indigestion with no apparent cause. The medical term for this is functional dyspepsia.

What are the symptoms of indigestion?

Indigestion can cause:

Abdominal pain or bloating
Heartburn
Nausea
Vomiting

Other common symptoms include:

Quickly feeling full during a meal
Burning sensation in the stomach or esophagus
Experiencing excessive gas or belching

Indigestion may accompany severe symptoms such as:

Vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds
Unexplained weight loss
Black stools
Trouble swallowing

What are the complications of indigestion?

Indigestion does not typically lead to severe complications. However, severe or persistent symptoms may make it more difficult for you to eat the necessary amount of food. This may have an effect on the overall nutritional balance of your diet. You may also experience indigestion alongside other symptoms, which themselves can lead to complications. For example, GERD can lead to the following complications:

Esophageal stricture
Pyloric stenosis
Barrett’s esophagus

What are the treatment options for indigestion?

Indigestion often goes away on its own and will pass with time. For example, if you experience indigestion after a large meal, your abdominal discomfort may lessen as your body begins to digest the food you’ve eaten. However, some medications and lifestyle changes can help you treat and prevent indigestion symptoms.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat common indigestion symptoms, but they can cause side effects. H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) like Pepcid reduce stomach acid. Side effects are uncommon but can include: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), like Nexium, reduce stomach acid but are stronger than H2RAs. Prokinetics, like prescription medications Reglan and Motilium, improve the muscle action of the digestive tract.

Home remedies

Medication isn‘t the only treatment for indigestion. You may be able to improve digestion and relieve uncomfortable symptoms with lifestyle changes. For example, it can be helpful to: