Alien asked:


Description

Indigestion is a symptom that is caused by a number of stomach conditions, including hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Helicobacter pylori, heartburn, and dyspepsia. Because many of these conditions can pose serious health risks, it is important to visit your healthcare provider in order to properly diagnose the reason for your indigestion. The condition usually occurs after eating. People experience indigestion for a variety of reasons-after eating a specific food, after eating too much food, after drinking alcohol or carbonated beverages, or after smoking cigarettes. The frequency of occurrence also varies from person to person. Approximately one in ten adults experiences indigestion weekly, while approximately one in three experiences it monthly.

Heartburn, a problem affecting the esophagus, is perhaps the most common type of indigestion. Your esophagus is a 10-inch-long tube leading from the back of your mouth to your stomach. Food travels down the esophagus to the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that opens to allow food to pass into the stomach and closes to prevent food and acids from escaping from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn occurs when this lower esophageal sphincter is weak or dysfunctional, allowing stomach acid to escape.

People who are overweight are at increased risk for developing indigestion because excess weight can increase pressure on the abdomen which, in turn, can make it difficult for the lower esophageal sphincter to stay tightly shut. Pregnant women also experience a higher incidence of the condition because they, too, experience increased pressure on the abdomen. In addition, people who smoke are at increased risk because cigarettes relax the lower esophageal sphincter.

Signs and Symptoms

Abdominal tenderness and distention

Feeling of fullness and discomfort in the upper abdomen

Burning sensation in the chest, often originating in the upper abdomen and radiating to the neck

Regurgitation of bitter liquid into the throat or mouth, commonly when lying down

Nausea and vomiting

Conventional Medical Treatment

If you suffer from indigestion only occasionally, you may experience relief by taking over-the-Counter antacids, which neutralize gastric acids. You also can prevent future cases of indigestion by avoiding any food or drink that irritate your stomach.

If you experience indigestion frequently, see your doctor, who will try to determine when your indigestion occurs, what foods and drinks seem to trigger it, in what part of the abdomen the discomfort is strongest, and how long it typically last. Your physician also may want to run a series of tests to make sure that your indigestion is not being caused by a more serious condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, colon cancer, stomach ulcer, gastritis, pancreatic disease, or irritable bowel syndrome. A barium X-ray, endoscopic examination of the digestive tract, or stool sample may be necessary. In order to rule out disorders of the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder, your doctor also may recommend an ultrasound examination of those organs.

If over-the-counter products do not offer relief, your physician may prescribe cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), or omeprazole (Prilosec) to block acid production in the stomach. A medication that increases the strength of the lower esophageal sphincter, such as metocopramide or bethanechol, also may be prescribed.



Ramon

Kathryn Whittaker asked:


Prescription medications can work well for acid reflux, but they are not for everyone, either due to side effects, cost or because of a reluctance to take medications long term. While modifying your diet and adapting your sleeping position can be very helpful steps in keeping this condition under control, there are times when they might not be enough. When that is the case, some turn to natural forms of indigestion treatment to see if they can help keep acid reflux symptoms and pain at bay.

One of the best natural types of indigestion treatments is a modification of lifestyle. If you are overweight, losing just ten percent of your body weight can help. Many acid reflux sufferers report a significant improvement and even elimination of symptoms simply by losing excess weight. It is thought that being overweight places pressure on the stomach, especially when lying down, which forces the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (the muscle at the top of the stomach) open, allowing acid and stomach contents to easily reflux into the esophagus.

Smoking is another lifestyle factor that can actively encourage acid reflux symptoms. Smoking relaxes the LES and slows down digestion speed, meaning that food sits in the stomach for longer, promoting the likelihood of acid reflux to occur.

A third lifestyle factor is alcohol consumption. Alcohol is bad for acid reflux for a number of reasons. It relaxes the LES, encourages stomach acid production and can lead to indigestion. If you’re suffering with acid reflux it is best to avoid all alcohol, especially the carbonated drinks. However, if you do want to have a drink keep the quantity small and make sure you have plenty of water alongside it.

Modifying diet was mentioned at the beginning of this article as being a beneficial way of controlling acid reflux. Along with what you eat, it is just as important to be aware of when you eat and in what quantities. Eating smaller meals more often throughout the day is the best approach. The traditional large 3 meals a day we’re all used to is not good for acid reflux sufferers. Large meals place the stomach under stress and will often trigger symptoms to flare. Also, be aware of when you eat and try to make the last meal of the day 3 hours before your retire to bed at night so foods have been digested and moved out of the stomach.

For some people a natural indigestion treatment that works well is probiotics. Probiotics are good bacteria that are naturally present in your stomach that aid digestion. Should these get out of kilter, you can have problems with digestion. Probiotics are available in food or supplement form that helps aid digestion and keep your system moving. Having sufficient quantities of probiotics can cut down on the amount of acid your stomach has to make, lessening your chance of developing problems with indigestion and acid reflux. As an added benefit, Probiotics also help boost your immune system too.

Other natural indigestion remedies can be found in the home. Ginger has long been used as a digestive aid and to reduce nausea. Ginger can be taken as tea, either using tea bags or steeping shavings of fresh, peeled ginger root You can also find it in capsule form or as a syrup. Ginger seems to absorb or neutralize acid in your stomach, and also has a calming affect.

Should you wish to try any type of natural indigestion treatment, it is advisable to consult with your doctor to be sure they are safe and that they will not adversely react with any type of medication you may be taking.



Travis