Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia describes the feeling of fullness or pressure like discomfort that many people feel after eating a meal. it may or may not be accompanied by heartburn or a burning pain in the upper stomach or esophagus region.
Indigestion can affect people of any age or sex. There can be many things that cause indigestion. Many people only experience indigestion with increase stress or times of extreme emotion. the risk sometimes increases with alcohol intake or medications that may irritate the lining of the stomach and digestive system.
Medical conditions which may cause indigestion include stomach ulcers, GERD, Irritable bowel syndrome, thyroid disease, infections of the stomach and several others. some medications which can irritate the digestive tract are pain medications, especially those containing aspirin, steroids, some antibiotics, thyroid medications and some hormones. Cigarette smoking, alcohol, eating too much or too fast and increased stress or fatigue can also contribute to indigestion symptoms.
The symptoms of indigestion include:
- A feeling of fullness or bloating after meals
- Belching and gas
- Noises from your stomach, such as gurgling or growling
- Nausea and vomiting
- Upper abdominal pain
- Acidic taste in your mouth or throat
- Sometimes accompanied by heartburn, or burning feelings in the upper stomach or esophagus which is caused by stomach acid flowing up into the esophagus.
If you are experiencing these symptoms frequently you should speak to your doctor about them. they may increase in times of increased stress, anxiety or with depression.
If indigestion is not usual for you and is combined with shortness of breath, increased sweating or pain in your arm, neck, upper back or jaw you should seek immediate medical attention. These are symptoms of a heart attack which are often confused with indigestion.
Other symptoms that you should notify your doctor that you are experiencing with indigestion include:
- Severe pain in the right upper abdomen
- If you notice blood in your vomit, or if it resembles coffee grounds
- Loss of appetite
- Blood noted in your stools or tarry stools that are dark in color
- Loss of weight that is unintentional or unwarranted
- Repeated discomforts of indigestion that are not related to meal consumption
Indigestion is a symptom of many illnesses and conditions. If your indigestion is becoming increasingly frequent and impairing your ability to nourish yourself of causing you discomfort each day you should see your physician to determine the cause.
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