Indigestion

Indigestion - Meaning

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

Indigestion Symptoms

• Heartburn - This is usually characterized by a burning sensation behind the bones in the chest area.
• 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.
• Stomach pains - These are usually characterized by a burning sensation around the middle portion of the belly.
• 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.

Causes Of Indigestion

Indigestion usually occurs when people eat too much, eat too fast, or eat foods that their body doesn’t “like”. Sometimes, however, indigestion can occur even a person has not eaten anything, counterintuitive as that may seem.

There are a variety of factors that can stimulate a short period of indigestion. Some of these factors include:

• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Smoking
• 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 be associated with 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. 

Indigestion Treatment

Most cases of indigestion are not serious and will usually resolve themselves. However, if the indigestion symptoms continue for more than a day, you may be suffering from something else totally.

Whenever you are in doubt about the state of your health, consult your doctor. He will most likely do some test to determine whether or not your indigestion is the sign of another, more harmful problem. 

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 feel unusually short of breath, unbearable stomach pains, you lose your appetite for the entire day, you sweat in unusual amounts, you have excessive, and have stools that are black or come with blood.