Stomach ache, bloating... Is all this gastritis? Let's talk (Indigestion / Dyspepsia)

Imagine you've just finished eating a delicious meal... After a while, your stomach feels a strange, heavy feeling, maybe a little burning, and you feel pain. Most of us are familiar with this experience, right? Although we quickly label it as 'gastritis', not all stomach upset is gastritis. In fact, it may be something more common. Today we're talking about indigestion , or dyspepsia, in medical terms.

So what is Indigestion?

Simply put, indigestion is a feeling of pain or discomfort that occurs after eating, as the digestive process takes place inside your stomach. It's like a machine making a noise as if something is stuck somewhere, indicating that something is wrong with our digestive system.

But this is not always a sign of a serious illness in your body. Sometimes it can be as simple as eating the wrong thing or swallowing food too quickly. We all have experienced this at some point in our lives. But for some people, it becomes a daily problem that takes away their joy in life. So if this continues, it is very important to find the cause and get relief.

How does this indigestion feel?

Indigestion can present with a variety of symptoms. But the main symptom is stomach pain or discomfort. Since our most important organ that helps us digest food is located in the stomach, any slight disturbance in it can be felt as a stomachache.

Let's see what are the common symptoms of this condition.

What are the reasons for this? Why is this happening?

The causes of sudden indigestion are very simple. Imagine you went to a party and ate a lot of fatty, greasy food. Then your digestive system has to work harder than usual. The stomach expands, and the organs that produce bile and enzymes become more active. This can lead to the delicate tissues inside being damaged by the stomach acids, causing this discomfort.

But if this is a persistent problem that comes and goes, the cause may be more complex. There are generally two types of causes:

1. Organic cause: This is caused by an underlying medical condition, such as stomach ulcers.

2. Functional dyspepsia: This is what many people have. There is no medical test to find anything wrong. What happens is that the nerves in your intestines become overly sensitive. Just like a car alarm goes off at the slightest noise, the nerves in your stomach send signals to your brain that even the slightest thing is causing you a lot of pain.

Common causes of indigestion

| Type of reason | Examples and details |

| :--- | :--- |

| Food and Lifestyle |

• Eating a lot at once or eating in a hurry.
• Foods high in oil, fat, and spicy foods.
• Foods that some people are allergic to (e.g. milk, tomatoes).
• Smoking and alcohol use.
• Frequent use of painkillers (NSAIDs): Frequent use of medications like Brufen and Diclofenac can damage the protective lining of the stomach.
• Stress and anxiety.

|

| Underlying medical conditions |

• Peptic Ulcer Disease (Stomach and small intestine ulcers).
• Gastritis.
• Acid reflux (GERD).
• Gallstones.
• Pancreatitis.
• Stomach cancer (this is very rare, but one cause).

|

How can I get relief from this at home?

Many people use antacids like Digene and Eno, which are available at pharmacies, to treat heartburn and other stomach problems. These neutralize the acid in the stomach and reduce the damage it causes to the tissues. These are good for a sudden problem , but they are not good for regular use. If you continue to have this problem, or if taking these medications does not help, you should definitely see a doctor.

Drinking a little water at a time may provide some relief. But don't drink a lot of water at once and fill your stomach. That can make the problem worse.

What kind of treatment do you receive when you go to a doctor?

When you see a doctor with this problem, he or she will carefully listen to your symptoms, eating habits, and lifestyle. Then, they will perform a physical exam to check for signs of an underlying medical condition. If necessary, they may also order some tests.

Common treatments are:

• Acid blockers: There are two types of these. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are more powerful than H2 blockers. They work by controlling acid production and helping to heal damage to the stomach lining.
• Other medications: Prokinetic agents that speed up the digestive process or antibiotics if there is a bacterial infection in the stomach may be given as needed.

What can we do to prevent this situation?

There are many things you can do yourself to get rid of this discomfort.

• Change your eating habits: Eat small meals several times a day instead of eating a large meal at a time. Wait at least 2-3 hours after eating dinner before going to bed.
• Identify your trigger foods: Be aware of what foods cause you the most trouble. Look for things like oily, spicy, tomatoes, and citrus fruits, and reduce them as much as possible.
• Adjust your lifestyle: Get enough sleep. Exercise. Find ways to reduce stress (e.g., meditation, engaging in a hobby). If you are overweight, losing weight can also make a big difference.
• Be careful with painkillers: If you are someone who regularly takes medications like Brufen or Diclofenac for headaches or body aches, talk to your doctor about that as well and consider another option.

What are the situations when you should definitely see a doctor?

Although indigestion is common, in some cases it can be a sign of a serious illness. So be very aware of these "red-flag" symptoms. If you have any of these, seek medical advice immediately.

• Difficulty swallowing food or water.
• Difficulty breathing.
• A feeling of tightness in the chest (this could be a sign of a heart attack!).
• Vomiting blood or coffee grounds-like stools.
• Stools that are black or tarry or have blood in them.
• Persistent nausea and vomiting.
• Weight loss for no apparent reason.

indigestion, dyspepsia, stomach inflammation, gastritis, stomach pain, digestive problems, chest inflammation