Indigestion Information
Nearly everyone, regardless of age and sex, experiences indigestion at some time. People often search for indigestion information when they experience a feeling of discomfort in the stomach - usually after a meal or from stress.
This indigestion information will guide you to identify your stomach pain due to indigestion. Indigestion pain happens when acid in the stomach flows back up to the esophagus, or when the stomach is irritated or inflamed. The stomach produces a strong acid to digest food and it protects us from infections from the foods we eat. A layer of mucus lines the stomach, esophagus and bowel, which acts as a barrier against this acid. When the layer of mucus is damaged, the stomach acid can irritate the tissues underneath.
Indigestion is a symptom of gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). As part of the indigestion information, GERD is described as an upward movement of stomach contents, including acid, into the esophagus and sometimes up to the mouth.
Indigestion pain can occur because of lifestyle. Excessive amounts of smoking and drinking alcohol can trigger indigestion. A person who is depressed and has an anxiety problem is also prone to get indigestion. Certain food such as citrus fruits, coffee or chocolate can also trigger pain. Additionally, certain medications, such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicine cause symptoms.This indigestion information article will describe the symptoms as well as suggest treatment.
Symptoms
There are several symptoms and a sufferer will experience one or more, such as:
- Feeling of fullness in the stomach before finishing a meal;
- Feeling an uncomfortable fullness after eating a meal and this fullness lasts longer than it should
- Feeling a burning sensation in the upper abdomen and an uncomfortable warm feeling between the bottoms of the breastbone and navel (heartburn).
Other symptoms include:
- Bloating feeling with the stomach feeling swollen, tight and uncomfortable
- Nausea with or without vomit;
- Excessive amounts of intestinal gas such as burping, belching and flatulence
- Acid regurgitation.
A sufferer also may experience constipation or diarrhea. These are the indigestion pain and the sufferer can often find remedy without obtaining a prescription treatment.
Treatment
Indigestion is common and is nothing to worry about, and treatment is generally not necessary. The feeling of stomach discomfort can be relieved by changing diet, and eating small portions slowly. People can get rid of their indigestion pain by avoiding fatty foods, changing their lifestyle by reducing or eliminating smoking and drinking alcohol, and by reducing stress or anxiety.
The sufferer who needs immediate relief can purchase non-prescription medications to remedy the indigestion pain. Such will reduce the acid production in the stomach, or help the stomach move food more quickly into the small intestine.
However, treatment is necessary, if indigestion pain continues and persists to the level where it disrupts daily life. If pain persists more than two weeks, seek immediate treatment from your health care provider. It becomes serious when the pain turns severe and the sufferer loses appetite, weight, vomits repeatedly or vomits blood, having black tarry stools, jaundice, and has trouble swallowing food. Equip yourself with indigestion information to help you to identify and learn about how to minimize the symptoms. The right treatment will help you to have a healthy digestive system.
