Indigestion & upset stomach (Dyspepsia)

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Indigestion & upset stomach (Dyspepsia) ➤ Self-assessment checklist: Heartburn, nausea, bloating, stomach discomfort, feeling full soon after eating, burping up food, stomach acid or gas ➤ What is indigestion (Dyspepsia)? Dyspepsia is a common condition and usually describes a group of symptoms rather than one predominant symptom. These symptoms include: º Belly pain or discomfort. º Bloating. º Feeling uncomfortably full after eating. º Nausea. º Loss of appetite. º Heartburn. º Burping up food or liquid (regurgitation). Most people will experience some symptoms of dyspepsia within their lifetimes. ➤ What causes it? º Burped-up stomach juices and gas (regurgitation or reflux) caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a hiatal hernia. º A disorder that affects the movement of food through the intestines, such as irritable bowel syndrome. º Peptic (stomach) ulcer or duodenal ulcer. º An inability to digest milk and dairy products (lactose intolerance). º Gallbladder pain (biliary colic) or inflammation (cholecystitis). º Anxiety or depression. º Side effects of caffeine, alcohol, or medicines. Examples of medicines that may cause dyspepsia are aspirin and similar drugs, antibiotics, steroids, digoxin, and theophylline. º Swallowed air. º Stomach cancer. You can make changes to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms of dyspepsia. Here are some things to try: º Change your eating habits. º It's best to eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals. º After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren't a good idea. º Chocolate, mint, and alcohol can make dyspepsia worse. They relax the valve between the esophagus and the stomach. º Spicy foods, foods that have a lot of acid (like tomatoes and oranges), and coffee can make it worse in some people. If your symptoms are worse after you eat a certain food, you may want to stop eating that food to see if your symptoms get better. º Do not smoke or chew tobacco. º If you get dyspepsia at night, raise the head of your bed 15 to 20 centimeters (6 to 8 inches) by putting the frame on blocks or placing a foam wedge under the head of your mattress. (Adding extra pillows does not work.) º Do not wear tight clothing around your middle. º Lose weight if you need to. Losing just 3 to 5 kilograms (5 to 10 pounds) can help. Treatment depends on what is causing the problem. If no specific cause is found, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms with medicine.