Indigestion: When we can’t stomach it anymore

Jul 22, 2018 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists, News

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Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a common condition in which your body has trouble digesting food. It occurs in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is a sequence of organs that play a part in digestion; from your mouth down to your stomach and through your intestines. Anyone can get indigestion. It can be occasional, or it can be an ongoing problem. The symptoms and causes vary by case. We all may have experienced a bout of indigestion in our life. It’s an uncomfortable time and can become long term issue if it’s not managed properly. The more you know the better it is for you when it comes to tackling indigestion.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF INDIGESTION?
Indigestion can feel like a stomach ache. You can have a range of symptoms including:
• pain, discomfort, or a burning feeling in your chest or stomach
• burping
• bloating
• gurgling stomach and/or gas
• acid reflux
• nausea and/or vomiting.
Talk to your doctor if symptoms continue for more than two weeks. Seek medical care right away if your symptoms are severe, such as:
• shortness of breath
• trouble swallowing
• ongoing vomiting
• throwing up blood
• sudden pain in chest, arm, neck, or jaw
• cold sweats
• thick, black, or bloody stool.
WHAT CAUSES INDIGESTION?
One or more of the following factors can cause indigestion:
• eating certain foods that are hard to process, such as foods that are high in spice, fat, acid, and/or fibre
• overeating
• eating too late in the day
• smoking
• drinking alcohol
• getting too much caffeine
• taking certain medicines
• a lack of sleep
• stress.
Problems in your GI tract or other health issues also can cause indigestion. These include:
• Acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): This is a reaction to food and drink where contents come back up from your stomach. The acid can come up into your esophagus, the tube-like organ connecting your mouth and stomach. Acid reflux also can produce vomiting. This condition causes heartburn because of the high acid contents.
• Irritable bowel syndrome: A disorder that affects your intestines. Symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, gas, constipation, and diarrhea.
• Infection: A bacterial infection from Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can cause indigestion.
• Gastroparesis: This is when the muscles in your GI tract stop working. We spoke about this 3 weeks ago.
• Ulcer: A sore on the lining of your stomach (peptic ulcer), small intestine, or esophagus.
• Gastritis: Inflammation of your stomach lining.
• Stomach cancer: This is a rare condition, but indigestion can be one of its signs.
HOW IS INDIGESTION DIAGNOSED?
To start, your doctor will review your symptoms and examine you. If there are warning signs in your history or during your exam, your doctor may order tests to determine the cause of indigestion. Those tests can include blood work, urine/stool tests, or an X-ray or ultrasound. Sometimes the doctor will perform an upper endoscopy to see inside your stomach. Your doctor will insert a thin tube with a camera on the end into your esophagus.
CAN INDIGESTION BE PREVENTED OR AVOIDED?
There are ways to prevent indigestion. To start, you need to know your body and how it reacts to different food and drinks. Spicy and acidic foods and carbonated drinks can trigger indigestion. Try to avoid those things when possible. Eat smaller meals throughout the day, and don’t eat too late at night. Don’t lie down too soon after eating. Limit the use of tobacco and alcohol. Stress and lack of sleep also can worsen symptoms.

HOW IS INDIGESTION TREATED?
The prevention methods for indigestion also are forms of treatment. These include changing your diet and the way you eat. Getting more sleep and reducing stress also help.
In addition, you can try to avoid or take certain over-the-counter medicines. Check with your doctor before starting something new.
Pain and anti-inflammatory medicines, like Advil, Aleve, Diclofenac and Ibuprofen do not help with indigestion. They can worsen your condition, especially if used often. Antacids are meant to work against the acid in your system. Brands such as Tums or Alka-Seltzer can help reduce some symptoms of indigestion.
You may need other treatment, based on the cause of your indigestion. Medications such as omeprazole and ranitidine are commonly prescribed medications in Guyana that help with indigestion.
Most people who have indigestion lead a normal life. You might need to make some lifestyle changes to help prevent indigestion. Or you may need medicine to prevent and treat symptoms. Work with your doctor to treat and manage any problems that cause indigestion.

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