| Description | | | | |
| | | | Feeling of fullness and discomfort in the |
| Indigestion is a symptom that is caused by a | | | | upper abdomen |
| number of stomach conditions, including | | | | |
| hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux | | | | Burning sensation in the chest, often |
| disease (GERD), Helicobacter pylori, | | | | originating in the upper abdomen and |
| heartburn, and dyspepsia. Because many of | | | | radiating to the neck |
| these conditions can pose serious health | | | | |
| risks, it is important to visit your | | | | Regurgitation of bitter liquid into the |
| healthcare provider in order to properly | | | | throat or mouth, commonly when lying down |
| diagnose the reason for your indigestion. The | | | | |
| condition usually occurs after eating. People | | | | Nausea and vomiting |
| experience indigestion for a variety of | | | | |
| reasons-after eating a specific food, after | | | | Conventional Medical Treatment |
| eating too much food, after drinking alcohol | | | | |
| or carbonated beverages, or after smoking | | | | If you suffer from indigestion only |
| cigarettes. The frequency of occurrence also | | | | occasionally, you may experience relief by |
| varies from person to person. Approximately | | | | taking over-the-Counter antacids, which |
| one in ten adults experiences indigestion | | | | neutralize gastric acids. You also can |
| weekly, while approximately one in three | | | | prevent future cases of indigestion by |
| experiences it monthly. | | | | avoiding any food or drink that irritate your |
| | | | stomach. |
| Heartburn, a problem affecting the esophagus, | | | | |
| is perhaps the most common type of | | | | If you experience indigestion frequently, see |
| indigestion. Your esophagus is a 10-inch-long | | | | your doctor, who will try to determine when |
| tube leading from the back of your mouth to | | | | your indigestion occurs, what foods and |
| your stomach. Food travels down the esophagus | | | | drinks seem to trigger it, in what part of |
| to the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle | | | | the abdomen the discomfort is strongest, and |
| that opens to allow food to pass into the | | | | how long it typically last. Your physician |
| stomach and closes to prevent food and acids | | | | also may want to run a series of tests to |
| from escaping from the stomach into the | | | | make sure that your indigestion is not being |
| esophagus. Heartburn occurs when this lower | | | | caused by a more serious condition, such as |
| esophageal sphincter is weak or | | | | gastroesophageal reflux disease, colon |
| dysfunctional, allowing stomach acid to | | | | cancer, stomach ulcer, gastritis, pancreatic |
| escape. | | | | disease, or irritable bowel syndrome. A |
| | | | barium X-ray, endoscopic examination of the |
| People who are overweight are at increased | | | | digestive tract, or stool sample may be |
| risk for developing indigestion because | | | | necessary. In order to rule out disorders of |
| excess weight can increase pressure on the | | | | the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder, your |
| abdomen which, in turn, can make it difficult | | | | doctor also may recommend an ultrasound |
| for the lower esophageal sphincter to stay | | | | examination of those organs. |
| tightly shut. Pregnant women also experience | | | | |
| a higher incidence of the condition because | | | | If over-the-counter products do not offer |
| they, too, experience increased pressure on | | | | relief, your physician may prescribe |
| the abdomen. In addition, people who smoke | | | | cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), |
| are at increased risk because cigarettes | | | | famotidine (Pepcid), or omeprazole (Prilosec) |
| relax the lower esophageal sphincter. | | | | to block acid production in the stomach. A |
| | | | medication that increases the strength of the |
| Signs and Symptoms | | | | lower esophageal sphincter, such as |
| | | | metocopramide or bethanechol, also may be |
| Abdominal tenderness and distention | | | | prescribed. |