Six Ways You Can Stay Indigestion Free

What Is Indigestion?

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia or an upset stomach is a common condition that strikes people from all lifestyles. Whether young or old, rich or poor, male or female, chances are that you will have a case of indigestion at least once in your life. In fact, you will probably suffer from indigestion a lot more than once.

The Symptoms of Indigestion

Nausea

You may feel sick, sometimes dizzy, with the desire to vomit. If the vomit comes with some blood, it may be an indication that you have something far worse than indigestion.

Bloating

You may feel that you are too full, almost to the point of bursting. You feel that your stomach is sticking out much more than normal.

Burping

This is not just ordinary burping, but burping that is very difficult to control or regulate. If you cannot control your burping, it may indicate problems in the levels of gas in your stomach.

Stomach pains

These are usually characterized by a burning sensation around the middle portion of the belly.

Heartburn

This is usually characterized by a burning sensation behind the bones in the chest area.

What Causes Indigestion?

Indigestion usually occurs when people eat too much, eat too fast, or eat foods that their body does not “like”. Sometimes, however, indigestion can occur even a person has not eaten anything, counterintuitive as that may seem. Many factors can induce a bout of indigestion. Some of these factors include stress, lack of sleep, smoking, and alcohol. People who suffer from indigestion are often advised to eat smaller meals and avoid foods with high acidic content.

Indigestion and heartburn

Indigestion is often accompanied by heartburn. Despite the name, heartburn, also known as acid reflux, does not concern the heart at all. It is not a cardiovascular ailment as much as it is a digestive disorder. When you have heartburn, digested food and stomach acids are regurgitated up to your esophagus due to a defect in the esophageal valve. Because stomach acids are quite strong, and were never meant to reach up as high as your esophagus anyway, they can inflame the organ, causing a painful burning sensation in the area.

Treating Indigestion

Most cases of indigestion are not serious and will usually resolve themselves. However, if the symptoms persist for more than a day, you may be suffering from something else entirely. Whenever you are in doubt about the state of your health, consult your doctor. He will most likely perform some test to ascertain whether your indigestion is the sign of another, more harmful malady.

Be on the look out for certain symptoms that may mean that you are suffering from more than just indigestion. Be sure to tell your doctor when: you throw up, you lose your appetite for the entire day, you feel unusually short of breath, you sweat in unusual amounts, you have excessive, unbearable stomach pains, and have stools that are black or come with blood.

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