Indigestion Symptoms, Causes, Complications, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is Indigestion?

It is a medical term characterized by the discomfort in the upper abdomen. Indigestion is also known by the following names:

Upset stomach.
Dyspepsia.

Clearly, it is not a serious concern, and thus, not a disease. Even though, it is a common concern, yet how one experience an upset stomach tends to be different from what another person would feel. Few signs are common enough to be felt just after having meals, such as feeling of fullness and abdominal pain. In addition to this, indications of indigestion can be noticed more often, or occasionally.
Indigestion may also be a sign of some other digestive disease. However, the one not sourced by an underlying condition can be self treated, simply by making minor adjustments in the lifestyle, and with medications.

What Are The Symptoms Of Indigestion?

Someone with an upset stomach would experience any or more of the below mentioned signs:

Bloating, discomfort or burning in the upper abdomen.
Feeling of fullness while having meals. The feeling may be intense after the meal is consumed.
Nausea.
Belching, heartburn and vomiting (rare cases).

What Causes Indigestion?

The condition can be sourced by a number of possible triggers. Common causes are as follow:

Eating very quickly or overeating.
Eating food that is spicy, oily or fatty.
Intake of excessive carbonated beverages, chocolate, alcohol or caffeine.
Anxiety.
Iron supplements.
Smoking.
Pain relievers and some antibiotics.

As mentioned earlier, it can also be triggered by some other digestive problems, such as:

Peptic ulcers.
Gastritis.
Gallstones.
Celiac disease.
Intestinal blockage.
Stomach cancer.
Pancreatitis that is the inflammation of the pancreas.
Constipation.
Intestinal ischemia.

The condition that is caused by no apparent reason is called nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia.

What Are The Complications Of Indigestion?

Even though, the condition is harmless and leads no complications in most of the cases, yet it can make the person feel uncomfortable, as well as affect the appetite. An underlying condition that has leaded to indigestion can have complications.

How Is Indigestion Diagnosed?

The health care provider will need the medical history of the patient and will perform a thorough examination. These are enough to detect mild cases of indigestion. Though, in case of intense symptoms, the condition has started abruptly or the patient is older than 50 years of age, the doctor can suggest:

Endoscopy.
Stool and breath tests,
Lab tests.
Imaging tests (CT scan or X-ray).

The doctor will detect functional dyspepsia, in case the aforementioned techniques failed to identify the trigger.

How Is Indigestion Treated?

As mentioned earlier, for most of the cases of indigestion, changes in lifestyle is all that’s needed. In case the condition continues, drugs can help; particularly over-the-counter antacids. If, indigestion is sourced by an underlying condition, then the doctor will take steps to treat it.

By : Natural Health News