Symptoms & Causes of Indigestion

What are the symptoms of indigestion?

When you have indigestion, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:

• pain, a burning feeling, or discomfort in your upper abdomen
• feeling full too soon while eating a meal
• feeling uncomfortably full after eating a meal
• bloating
• burping

Other symptoms may include

• burping up food or liquid
• loud growling or gurgling in your stomach
• nausea
• gas

Sometimes when you have indigestion, you may also have heartburn. However, heartburn and indigestion are two separate conditions.

When you have indigestion, you may have pain, a burning feeling, or discomfort in your upper abdomen.

Seek care right away

If you have indigestion and any of the following symptoms, you may have a more serious condition and should see a doctor right away:

• black, tarlike stools
• bloody vomit
• difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing
• frequent vomiting
• losing weight without trying
• pain in your chest, jaw, neck, or arm
• severe and constant pain in your abdomen
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• yellowing of your eyes or skin

You should also see a doctor if your indigestion lasts longer than 2 weeks.

What causes indigestion?

Some of the causes of indigestion include

• drinking
  • too many alcoholic beverages
  • too much coffee or too many drinks containing caffeine
  • too many carbonated, or fizzy, drinks
• eating
  • too fast or too much during a meal
  • spicy, fatty, or greasy foods
  • foods that contain a lot of acid, such as tomatoes, tomato products, and oranges
• feeling stressed
• smoking

Some medicines can cause indigestion, such as

• certain antibiotics—medicines that kill bacteria
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Health problems and digestive tract diseases and conditions can cause indigestion, including

• acid reflux (GER and GERD)
• anxiety or depression
• gallbladder inflammation
• gastritis
• gastroparesis
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
• irritable bowel syndrome
• lactose intolerance
• peptic ulcer disease
• stomach cancer

Researchers do not know what causes functional dyspepsia. Some research³ suggests that the following factors may play a role in functional dyspepsia:

• eating
• gastroparesis
• problems in the first part of your small intestine, including inflammation and being overly sensitive to stomach acids
• infection by microorganisms such as H. pylori, Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Campylobacter, giardia, or norovirus
• psychological problems, especially anxiety
• genes—a trait passed from parent to child

References

Last Reviewed November 2016

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Definition & Facts

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Diagnosis

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

Indigestion – Illnesses & conditions

Treatment for indigestion (dyspepsia) will vary, depending on what is causing it and how severe your symptoms are.

If you have been diagnosed with an underlying health condition, you may want to read our information on:

• treating gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• treating a stomach ulcer

Diet and lifestyle changes

If you only have indigestion occasionally, you may not need to see your pharmacist or GP for treatment. It may be possible to ease your symptoms by making a few simple changes to your diet and lifestyle, summarised below.

Healthy weight

Being overweight puts more pressure on your stomach, making it easier for stomach acid to be pushed back up into your gullet (oesophagus). This is known as acid reflux, and is one of the most common causes of indigestion.

If you are overweight or obese, it is important to lose weight safely and steadily through regular exercise and by eating a healthy, balanced diet. Read advice on losing weight.

Stop smoking

If you smoke, the chemicals you inhale in cigarette smoke may contribute to your indigestion. These chemicals can cause the ring of muscle that separates your oesophagus from your stomach to relax, causing acid reflux.

Read more about quitting smoking, or speak to your GP or pharmacist. You can also call the Quit Your Way Scotland service on 0800 84 84 84 (8.00am to 10.00pm, every day).

Diet and alcohol

Make a note of any particular food or drink that seems to make your indigestion worse, and avoid these if possible. This may mean:

• eating less rich, spicy and fatty foods
• cutting down on drinks that contain caffeine – such as tea, coffee and cola
• avoiding or cutting down on alcohol

At bedtime

If you tend to experience indigestion symptoms at night, avoid eating for three to four hours before you go to bed. Going to bed with a full stomach means there is an increased risk that acid in your stomach will be forced up into your oesophagus while you are lying down.

When you go to bed, use a couple of pillows to prop your head and shoulders up or, ideally, raise the head of your bed by a few inches by putting something underneath the mattress. The slight slope that is created should help to prevent stomach acid moving up into your oesophagus while you are asleep.

Stress or anxiety

If you regularly experience feelings of stress or anxiety, this can contribute to symptoms of indigestion.

Read some relaxation tips to relieve stress.

Changing current medication

Your pharmacist may recommend making changes to your current medication if they think it could be contributing to your indigestion.

As long as it is safe to do so, you may need to stop taking certain medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Where required, your pharmacist may advise you see your GP to prescribe an alternative medication that will not cause indigestion. However, never stop taking any medication without consulting your pharmacist or GP first.

Immediate indigestion relief

If you have indigestion that requires immediate relief, your pharmacist can advise you about the best way to treat this. As well as lifestyle changes and reviewing your current medication, your GP may prescribe or recommend:

• antacid medicines
• alginates

These are described in more detail below.

Antacids

Antacids are a type of medicine that can provide immediate relief for mild to moderate symptoms of indigestion. They work by neutralising the acid in your stomach (making it less acidic), so that it no longer irritates the lining of your digestive system.

Antacids are available in tablet and liquid form. You can buy them over the counter from most pharmacies without a prescription.

The effect of an antacid only lasts for a few hours at a time, so you may need to take more than one dose. Always follow the instructions on the packet to ensure you do not take too much.

It is best to take antacids when you are expecting symptoms of indigestion, or when they start to occur, such as:

• after meals
• at bedtime

This is because antacids stay in your stomach for longer at these times and have more time to work. For example, if you take an antacid at the same time as eating a meal, it can work for up to three hours. In comparison, if you take an antacid on an empty stomach, it may only work for 20 to 60 minutes.

Read more about antacids, including possible interactions with other medicines and side effects.

Alginates

Some antacids also contain a medicine called an alginate. This helps relieve indigestion caused by acid reflux.

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid leaks back up into your oesophagus and irritates its lining. Alginates form a foam barrier that floats on the surface of your stomach contents, keeping stomach acid in your stomach and away from your oesophagus.

Your pharmacist may suggest that you take an antacid that contains an alginate if you experience symptoms of acid reflux or if you have GORD.

Take antacids containing alginates after eating, because this helps the medicine stay in your stomach for longer. If you take alginates on an empty stomach, they will leave your stomach too quickly to be effective.

Treating persistent indigestion

If you have indigestion that is persistent or recurring, treatment with antacids and alginates may not be effective enough to control your symptoms. Your pharmacist may recommend a different type of medication, which will be prescribed at the lowest possible dose to control your symptoms. Possible medications include:

• proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
• h3-receptor antagonists

These are described in more detail below. Your pharmacist may advise you to see your GP who may also test you for the Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria (see Indigestion – diagnosis) and prescribe treatment for this if necessary.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)

PPIs restrict the acid produced in your stomach.

The medication is taken as tablets and if you are over 18, you can buy some types of PPIs over the counter in pharmacies, but these should only be used for short-term treatment. PPIs may enhance the effect of certain medicines. If you are prescribed a PPI, your progress will be monitored if you are also taking other medicines, such as:

• warfarin – a medicine that stops the blood clotting
• phenytoin – a medicine to treat epilepsy

If your ingestion is persistent, your pharmacist might advise you to see your GP.

If your GP refers you for an endoscopy (a procedure that allows a surgeon to see inside your abdomen), you will need to stop taking a PPI at least 14 days before the procedure. This is because PPIs can hide some of the problems that would otherwise be spotted during the endoscopy.

PPIs can sometimes cause side effects. However, they are usually mild and reversible. These side effects may include:

• headaches
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• feeling sick (nausea)
• vomiting
• flatulence
• stomach pain
• dizziness
• skin rashes

h3-receptor antagonists

h3-receptor antagonists are another type of medication that your pharmacist or GP may suggest if antacids, alginates and PPIs have not been effective in controlling your indigestion. There are four h3-receptor antagonists:

• cimetidine 
• famotidine 
• nizatidine 
• ranitidine 

These medicines work by lowering the acidity level in your stomach.

Your GP may prescribe any one of these four h3-receptor antagonists, although ranitidine is available from pharmacies under the Pharmacy First Scotland service. h3-receptor antagonists are usually taken in tablet form.

As with PPIs, you will need to stop taking h3-receptor antagonists at least 14 days before having an endoscopy if this has been arranged through your GP. This is because they can hide some of the problems that could otherwise be spotted during the endoscopy.

Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection

If your indigestion symptoms are caused by an infection with H pylori bacteria, you will need to have treatment to clear the infection from your stomach. This should help relieve your indigestion, because the H pylori bacteria will no longer be increasing the amount of acid in your stomach.

H pylori infection is usually treated using triple therapy (treatment with three different medications). Your GP will prescribe a course of treatment containing:

• two different antibiotics (medicines to treat infections that are caused by bacteria)
• a PPI

You will need to take these medicines twice a day for seven days. You must follow the dosage instructions closely to ensure that the triple therapy is effective.

In up to 85% of cases, one course of triple therapy is effective in clearing an H pylori infection. However, you may need to have more than one course of treatment if it does not clear the infection the first time.

Irritable bowel | Clinic “Medline” in Kemerovo

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a fairly common disease in which, despite the absence of any painful changes in the internal organs, people experience bouts of severe abdominal pain, accompanied by diarrhea, bloating or constipation.

For reference

According to experts, from 10 to 15% or more of all adults suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (mostly people of young and mature age). Women suffer from IBS more often than men and tend to develop more severe forms of the disease. Irritable bowel syndrome does not belong to the group of dangerous diseases, however, without adequate treatment, this disorder significantly reduces the quality of human life.

Causes

Irritable bowel syndrome belongs to the group of functional disorders.

That is, this condition occurs in people in whom even the most thorough examination cannot detect any painful changes either in the stomach, or in the intestines, or in other internal organs that could explain the observed symptoms. The exact causes of irritable bowel syndrome are not currently known, and numerous clinical studies show that most likely the development of this disease is based on a violation of the complex program of regulation of the intestine under the influence of the following factors:

• stress, chronic fatigue
• hereditary predisposition
• consumption of certain foodstuffs
• change in the composition of the intestinal microflora

IBS and stress

The relationship of stress with the development of irritable bowel syndrome has been proven by numerous observations that have shown a significant increase in the frequency and severity of the disease in people subject to strong emotional experiences (loss of relatives or friends, unfavorable family environment) or chronic overwork at work.

IBS and nutrition

Many people with irritable bowel syndrome report increased abdominal pain or diarrhea after eating milk, eggs, grains (especially wheat products), nuts, soy products, red meat (beef, pork).

note

If you notice that the symptoms of the disease are aggravated after eating the above products, as well as milk or cereals (any flour products), be sure to get an examination by a doctor!

Symptoms and signs of irritable bowel syndrome

The main symptom of irritable bowel syndrome is sudden and recurring bouts of pain or discomfort in the abdomen.

Many people with IBS experience cutting, twisting, cramping pains, similar to those of food poisoning or diarrhea (or the feeling of an urgent need to have a bowel movement). After a bowel movement, abdominal pain either completely disappears or becomes much weaker. Some people with IBS experience diarrhea at the same time as the abdominal pain, while others experience constipation. Attacks of abdominal pain with constipation (or diarrhea) can occur several times a week or more often (up to several times a day). The total duration of one period of illness can be several months or years.

Despite the fact that the symptoms of IBS cause significant inconvenience, less than 1/3 of patients go to the doctor, considering the symptoms of the disease as a manifestation of food poisoning, indigestion, a personal feature of their digestive tract, or a sign of diseases of other internal organs. People with IBS often may also have symptoms of functional dyspepsia: pain or discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, frequent belching, which are often perceived as symptoms of gastritis or stomach ulcers.

When should you see a doctor?

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can be completely indistinguishable from the signs of some dangerous diseases of the intestines and other internal organs (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, bowel cancer, intestinal infections), which require urgent medical attention and special treatment.

Contact the clinic “Medline” if:

• diarrhea contains blood or if you notice bloody discharge from the anus
• recent blood tests show that you have anemia (low hemoglobin)
• you began to lose weight for an unknown reason
• attacks of diarrhea and abdominal pain wake you up at night and force you out of bed
• an increase in body temperature is observed simultaneously with abdominal pain and diarrhea
• diarrhea or constipation gets worse over time and does not respond to usual treatment
• someone in your family has had or has celiac disease, bowel cancer, ovarian cancer, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis
• Diarrhea (more frequent and loose stools) started suddenly and lasts more than 6 weeks in a person over 60 years of age

Irritable bowel syndrome: symptoms, treatment

Do you suffer from abdominal pain, cramps and constant stool disorders? Unpleasant sensations in the intestinal area can spoil all plans, so we use various drugs to relieve discomfort in the abdomen. But these measures can only temporarily get rid of the symptoms of a serious illness that return again and again. But what if these symptoms have a single cause – irritable bowel syndrome? What is this disease, what are its signs and how to cure it, we will tell in this article.

What is irritable bowel syndrome?

This is a bowel disorder and abdominal discomfort during bowel movements. The syndrome itself is not a disease, but rather a collection of symptoms that often occur for no known reason. Unfortunately, such a disorder can significantly reduce the quality of a person’s life, forcing him to be in an uncomfortable state: digestion is disturbed, metabolic processes in the body worsen, and the saturation of the human body with nutrients decreases.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a very common occurrence among people aged 25 to 40 years. Statistics show that at least once in a lifetime every third person experienced the unpleasant symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Self-medication in this case can be very dangerous for health. The fact is that the syndrome is treated comprehensively and under the close attention of the attending physician. The consequence of self-medication can be intestinal obstruction and numerous chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. With the first signs of irritable bowel syndrome, you should contact a therapist who will refer you to a narrower specialist – a gastroenterologist. The diagnosis is usually made only after the exclusion of tumors, inflammatory changes in the intestine.

In the intestines, the process of digesting food and obtaining nutrients by the body takes place. When food enters the intestines, it moves along the intestines. This process of promotion is achieved through the work of smooth muscle cells in the intestinal wall. Cells contract and relax alternately. But with the appearance of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), the work of the cells is disrupted. Food begins to pass through the intestines either too quickly or too slowly. The result is discomfort and constipation or diarrhea.

Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome

• nausea and gag reflex;
• flatulence with copious emission of flatus;
• abdominal pain or cramps;
• persistent bloating;
• stool disorders – constipation or diarrhea;
• cramps in the lower abdomen;
• sleep disorder;
• palpitations;
• increased fatigue;
• long digestion of food;
• appearance of mucus in the stool;
• false urge to defecate;
• loss of appetite.

Also, the disease is often accompanied by symptoms, at first glance, not characteristic of intestinal pathologies: headaches, discomfort in the spine and muscles, weight loss and swelling of the abdomen. All these symptoms are not permanent, they may disappear, and reappear with the passage of time. Unpleasant sensations most often appear after each meal, and then become less pronounced.

Reasons for the development of a pathological phenomenon

1. Nutrition. The use of fried, salty, sweet and fatty foods, as well as alcohol-containing drinks, negatively affects digestion. In addition, modern man constantly snacks on the run. Which also negatively affects the work of the intestines.
2. Hormonal failure. More often, this reason is characteristic of women during such periods of life as bearing a child, breastfeeding, menopause, and the menstrual cycle. As for the menstrual cycle, during this period there is a change in the amount of chemicals, and the problem begins to manifest itself more clearly.
3. Impaired intestinal motility. If the motor skills work in an accelerated mode, this leads to indigestion and diarrhea. Conversely, slowed bowel motility can cause constipation. As a result, pain leads to a sharp contraction of the muscles.
4. Emotional overstrain: stress, depression, anxiety, fatigue.
5. Past diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Infections that cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can subsequently affect the functioning of the entire intestine.

Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome

If you have all of the above symptoms of the disease, contact your doctor. He will conduct an initial examination and refer you to a gastroenterologist. The purpose of the primary diagnosis is to exclude the presence of other life-threatening diseases: tumors, inflammatory processes, growths, infectious diseases.

At the doctor’s appointment, you need to provide a complete medical history, report the presence and frequency of symptoms, talk about the presence of chronic diseases. After examination and palpation (palpation), the specialist will refer you to laboratory tests, including:

• Complete blood count. The analysis allows you to determine whether an inflammatory process is present in the body, as well as to establish a possible anemia.
• Urinalysis. Determines the presence or absence of blood and parasites in the patient’s body, which allows us to speak about the development of a number of intestinal diseases other than irritable bowel syndrome.
• Blood test for celiac disease. A specific blood test that allows you to identify a disease of the digestive system (celiac disease), in which the intestine ceases to digest incoming food normally, which is accompanied by diarrhea.
• Colonoscopy. This is an examination of the colon from the inside using a special apparatus (colonoscope).
• Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis and abdomen. This is a non-invasive examination method that allows you to study the structure and condition of the organs and tissues of the small pelvis in men and women using magnetic waves.

After all studies have been carried out and all other bowel diseases have been excluded, the doctor begins treatment and prescribes complex therapy based on the patient’s medical history.

Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

Therapy of IBS should be carried out in a complex manner in several stages. The treatment regimen depends on the individual characteristics of the organism, the degree and time of the course of the pathology. Most often, drug therapy is prescribed, which is supplemented by a special diet. In the absence of comprehensive treatment, the symptoms will reappear from time to time.

Medicines that a doctor prescribes for the treatment of IBS not only eliminate painful symptoms, but also improve the condition of the digestive system, and also prevent relapses and complications. In the treatment of diarrhea syndrome, medications with antimicrobial properties are prescribed. They relieve irritation of intestinal tissues, stop excessive flatulence and restore normal bowel function.

In the treatment of IBS with constipation, the use of natural medicines is indicated, which eliminate difficulties with defecation, have a gentle effect on inflamed intestinal tissues and release it from feces. May be in the form of chewable tablets or rectal suppositories.

If the appearance of IBS is associated with neurological disorders, antidepressants are prescribed – they normalize the functioning of the nervous system, improve the psycho-emotional state.

Painkillers and antispasmodics are used to relieve pain – they relax muscle fibers and tissues that are in hypertonicity.

Diet for irritable bowel syndrome

The diet for IBS depends on what symptoms accompany the pathology. With frequent constipation, dry, salty foods should be excluded from the diet. With diarrhea, liquid meals, vegetables, fruits are excluded.

If you suffer from flatulence, you should limit dairy products, nuts, beans. With severe pain in the intestines, fatty, salty, heavy foods are not allowed.

At the Mediunion clinic, you can undergo a complete examination and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. We have practitioners with over 10 years of experience. In the diagnostic room, you can take all the tests and undergo a hardware examination in a comfortable environment. For our clients there is a special offer “doctor at home”. If you are not able to visit our medical center on your own, the doctor will come to you and conduct an examination at home.