Three Things to Avoid When You Have Indigestion

Indigestion can be a big pain, literally. However, there are some things that you can do to avoid having a bout. Here are three things that you will want to avoid in your quest to remain indigestion-free.

Stress

High levels of stress are a precursor to many types of ailments. The stomach is one of the organs that are especially prone to function abnormally when an individual is in psychological distress. You have probably noticed that when you are nervous, such as right before making a public speech, you have “butterflies in your stomach.” Your state of mental excitement or anxiety will almost never fail to elicit a reaction from your stomach.

To avoid indigestion, you must learn to control your levels of stress. There is a great amount of knowledge available on stress-reduction techniques, and most are readily available to whoever wishes to learn them. Some of the most simple to learn include deep-breathing exercises, cardiovascular activities such as walking and jogging, and perhaps simple stretching. A good hobby can also help you reduce the stress that builds up from day-to-day.

Lack of Sleep

Lack of proper rest, like stress, can also contribute greatly to the onset of a variety of ailments. A sleep-deprived person typically has low levels of immunity against almost all health problems, indigestion included.

While research on sleep has often produced contradictory results, there is a consensus that the average human being needs at least 7 hours of sleep a day. Some people can get by with less than that, but the majority will suffer a steep drop in mental alertness and performance after even just a day of being sleep-deprived. The human body is a largely a creature of habit; if it has been used to seven hours of rest and you suddenly reduce the amount to six, it will have some adverse effects.

If you have difficulty sleeping at night, avail of the many sleep-inducing techniques that are available today. Some people find it very useful to count sheep before they nod off; others would probably fare better after having drank a cup of milk. Most experts recommend that you get some light exercise (such as walking) a few hours before bed. Alternatively, you can use music or aromatherapy to ease your journey to dreamland.

Nicotine and Alcohol

Scientific research has concluded that tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 harmful compounds. If you smoke, you must be aware that these compounds will contribute to the deterioration of your health. Smokers are much more prone to indigestion that non-smokers are. In fact, smokers are more prone to just about everything else than non-smokers are. If you are serious about improving your health, the single best thing you can do is to stop smoking.

Liquor is another culprit when it comes to causing indigestion. Alcohol, when taken excessively, lowers the body’s resistance levels. Aside from this, alcohol can also upset the stomach because of its high acidic content. Those who suffer from both indigestion and heartburn are well advised to stay away from alcohol.

Return to Acid Reflux...