Indigestion? Do you have this problem too? Let's talk!

Hello! How are you? Sometimes, when you eat a little too much food, or when you eat a little spicy food, do you also feel a strange feeling in your stomach, a feeling of heaviness, or a little upset? This is actually a very common thing that happens to many people. In medicine, we call this 'indigestion' or `(Dyspepsia)`. But when we usually talk, we say 'indigestion' or 'stomach upset'. So, today, shall we talk in a little more detail about this common indigestion `(Indigestion)`? Because it is very important to have a correct understanding about this.

What is the cause of this indigestion?

Okay, so let's see why this indigestion occurs. Most of the time, this happens because of small mistakes in the way we eat . Imagine, you go to a party and eat a lot of food at once, and you eat it very quickly. Or you eat some foods that are 'not good for your stomach' (for example, freshly made chili sauce, oily food). This indigestion tends to occur.

Another major cause is a condition called 'heartburn' . Some people also call this 'chest inflammation'. What happens in this is that it feels like a burning sensation starting from the middle of the chest and moving towards the throat. Actually, the cause of this is the stomach acid in our stomach. This acid is usually not a problem as long as it is inside the stomach. But the problem starts when it comes up from the stomach, that is, when we swallow food, into the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach, that is, the esophagus.

This reflux of stomach acid is called 'esophageal reflux' . This is what causes the burning sensation, and sometimes a bitter or sour taste in the mouth. It feels like the contents of the stomach are coming back up.

Indigestion and heartburn are both common conditions that affect both children and adults. You must have seen them on TV, and how many advertisements are there for medicines that treat these conditions! But remember one thing, never take any medicine without first asking your parents or a doctor. Most of the time, the medicines shown on TV are not suitable for children, but for adults.

In addition to these things, things like stress, lack of sleep, smoking, and drinking alcohol can also worsen indigestion.

Occasionally, some digestive system conditions, such as stomach ulcers, can also cause symptoms of indigestion and heartburn. However, these conditions are very rare in young children.

What are the symptoms of indigestion?

Now let's look at the symptoms that you may experience if you have indigestion. In addition to the aforementioned heartburn, you may also experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• A feeling of pain or burning in the upper abdomen, often in the middle. It may feel like something is stuck or burning from the inside.
• Nausea. This is a feeling of being sick or being sick.
• Bloating. The feeling of the stomach being very full and swollen after eating. Sometimes the stomach can protrude forward.
• Burping. This means bringing up food from the throat. Sometimes it is difficult to control this, and you may burp continuously.

If you experience these symptoms frequently, don't dismiss them as "just indigestion" because sometimes they can be a sign of another condition.

When should we see a doctor?

Indigestion is usually something that comes and goes. For example, it's like eating a hot dog or two too many. But if you're eating a healthy diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep and still have indigestion , you should definitely see a doctor.

Your doctor may want to examine you and order an abdominal X-ray or other tests to make sure your indigestion isn't a sign of another serious condition. Depending on what your doctor finds, you may need to make some changes to your diet or take medication.

The most important thing is that if you have any of the symptoms below, you should tell your parents immediately, or see a doctor. These are definitely things to consider!

Here are those features:

• Vomiting, especially if you see blood in your vomit. It may be slightly red or black, like coffee grounds.
• If you feel like you are losing weight .
• If you have anorexia for more than a day , it means you have no desire to eat any food.
• If you ever feel short of breath .
• If you sweat for no reason .
• If the stomach pain persists, does not subside, or is too severe to bear.
• If your stool is black and tarry, or if you see blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl after you go to the toilet.

Don't ignore any of these symptoms, okay? They could be a sign that there may be another problem inside your body.

What can we do to prevent indigestion?

Good question! There are some people who don't get any stomach upset no matter what they eat. But there are others who have a sensitive stomach. That means they don't 'feel' certain foods. If you find that there are a couple of foods that don't work for you, the best thing to do is to avoid eating a lot of those foods, or if possible, stop eating them altogether.

Also, it's better to eat several small meals throughout the day than one large meal at a time. Here are some other tips to help you avoid indigestion:

• Stay away from oily, fried foods (like fries and burgers) as much as possible. These are difficult to digest and therefore cause stomach upset.
• Also, cut down on eating too much chocolate . Chocolate can cause heartburn in some people.
• When eating, eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Swallowing too quickly will not digest properly and may cause excessive gas to enter the stomach.
• If you smoke, definitely quit! Smoking is not only a cause of indigestion, but also of many other diseases.
• Find ways to reduce stress. Try relaxing yourself with things like yoga, meditation, or engaging in a hobby you enjoy.
• After eating, give your body some time to digest it. Don't go running or playing right after eating a big meal. Eat at least an hour before, or after playing. Think about how the contents of your stomach move when you eat your fill and then run!

Even if you do all of this, you may still get indigestion from time to time. That's normal. If that happens, just remember to say 'Excuse me' if you have a stomachache!

Finally, things to remember

Okay, so we talked a lot about indigestion today, didn't we? I think you have a good understanding of this.

Simply put, indigestion is a common problem, and the main causes are deficiencies in our diet and certain lifestyle habits.

• Be careful about what you eat. Reduce foods that are too oily, spicy, and hard to digest.
• Eat food slowly and chew it well.
• If you have symptoms like chest pain, pay attention to that too.
• If you have any worrying symptoms (such as vomiting blood, weight loss, severe stomach pain), see a doctor without delay.
• Do not take any medicine without a doctor's advice.
• Reduce stress and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

If you follow these little things, you can avoid the problem of indigestion to a great extent. Wishing everyone good health!

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