What is indigestion? Causes and symptoms

The article was consulted professionally with MSc Vu Tan Phuc - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.

Indigestion disease is usually not life-threatening, but affects daily activities, making patients tired. In case this phenomenon repeats many times, you may be suffering from a disease related to the digestive tract. Therefore, it should not be subjective but need to be examined and treated early.

Indigestion is a medical term used to refer to a digestive disorder that leads to symptoms of bloating, gas, and nausea due to undigested food in the stomach, thereby leading to indigestion. .
Indigestion disease is usually not dangerous for the patient, but it affects daily activities and makes the patient tired. However, in case this phenomenon repeats many times, you may have some disease related to the digestive tract. Therefore, should not be subjective when suffering from indigestion, need to be examined and treated early.

Common causes of indigestion are due to lifestyle habits or some diseases related to the digestive tract. Specifically:
Caused by living and eating habits:
Eating habits: Eating fast, not chewing well or eating while talking, watching TV will cause distraction, swallowing a lot of air makes the digestive system Slow action causes indigestion. Eating a lot of fatty foods will overload the stomach and make it difficult to digest food. Stress and stress: Stress and stress can make the digestive system disordered and cause indigestion. Side effects of drugs: Excessive use of pain relievers, antibiotics causes bloating, gas and indigestion. Use alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer regularly; smoke a lot. Pathological causes such as:
Gallstones: Gallstones are solid pieces of matter that form in the gallbladder. If the disease occurs, the bile will no longer be able to secrete substances to digest food in the small intestine leading to indigestion. Intestinal disorders IBS: Diseases related to the digestive system such as colitis, Crohn's, colon cancer, .. due to manifestations such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, frequent abdominal distension. Gastroesophageal reflux: Acid in the stomach moves back up the esophagus, causing burning sensation, heartburn, indigestion. Peptic ulcer: Due to the excessive production of stomach acid, it leads to erosion of the lining of the stomach - duodenum. Lactose intolerance: Indigestion can also be caused by the digestive system not being able to tolerate the lactose contained in milk.

Symptoms of indigestion may appear intermittently or often such as:
After eating about 30 minutes or 1 hour, there is a full stomach. Abnormal stomach cramps, hot stomach; burping, farting a lot. Dull abdominal pain that persists and tends to get worse. Headache: Due to the increased amount of excess gas in the stomach, especially carbon dioxide causes a headache (maybe one or both sides). Shortness of breath: Occurs because gastric acid flows into the esophagus, penetrates the lungs and causes edema of the airways In case if you see some unusual indigestion symptoms such as: sudden weight loss, vomiting and defecation bleeding ... then the patient needs to go to the hospital for timely diagnosis and treatment, limiting dangerous complications.

4.1 Treatment of indigestion The treatment of dyspepsia includes:
Use of drugs: The doctor will prescribe drugs such as drugs to regulate stomach contractions; digestive medicine; anti-flatulence medication. Eating and living in moderation. Gentle exercise to improve resistance.

4.2. Prevention of indigestion To prevent indigestion , people need to follow the following methods :
Drink at least 2 liters of water a day : Adding enough water to the body will help increase resistance , reduce symptoms of acidity of the stomach and help the body eliminate toxins. Eat foods that contain fiber and vitamins such as fruits and vegetables: Fiber and vitamins are beneficial for gastrointestinal health. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, divide small meals: Patients should eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and divide their meals into several small meals and eat again every 2-3 hours to remove excess stomach acid. causes flatulence and bloating. Avoid foods that are not good for the digestive system: Fast food, fried food, hot spicy, ... contain a lot of fat that often causes difficulty in digestion. Limit carbonated or alcoholic beverages: Carbonated drinks and alcohol make the abdomen full and uncomfortable, increasing the concentration of acid in the stomach, causing reflux and heartburn. Do not eat before going to bed: If the digestive system is overloaded, it will lead to symptoms of indigestion and bloating. Get enough sleep, increase movement: Helping the body relax and regenerate energy will help the digestive system work better, supporting the treatment of indigestion.