One of the health problems that most affects the quality of your daily life and causes severe mood changes is the problem of poor digestion. Statistics have shown that about 20% of the population of the Arab world suffers from digestive system disorders frequently, especially with the spread of smoking and unhealthy eating. Therefore, in this article, we will shed light on the symptoms and causes of this condition, along with treatment methods at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.
What is indigestion?
Dyspepsia is a common medical condition that affects the efficiency of the digestive system, so that it cannot deal with food in a normal way, and causes disturbances in the process of breaking down and absorbing food and nutrients within the stomach and intestines, which causes a temporary and sometimes chronic disorder in digestion, and this condition requires urgent medical intervention because it affects the quality of daily life.
10 of the most important symptoms of indigestion
Below we learn about 10 of the most important symptoms of indigestion that help diagnose the disease accurately:
1.Feeling of fullness
Feeling full is one of the most prominent symptoms of indigestion. The patient feels full early, even with light or small meals, which leads to loss of appetite.
2. Persistent abdominal pain
Permanent feeling of abdominal pain, especially in the upper part above the navel. It is often mild to moderate pain and increases after eating.
3. Bloating
Constant bloating occurs due to the accumulation of gases in the digestive system resulting from the entry of air while chewing food, which causes a feeling of pressure and tightness in the abdominal area.
4. Heartburn
Constant feeling of heartburn or a burning sensation behind the chest bones due to esophageal reflux, and the return of stomach acid to the esophagus, which sometimes causes chest pain.
5. Frequent burping
The patient suffers from frequent belching and the release of gases due to swallowing air while eating, which causes the undigested food to ferment in the intestine.
6. Bitterness in the mouth
As a result of reflux and the rise of stomach acids into the mouth, the patient feels severe bitterness and an uncomfortable taste in the mouth, especially when bending over.
7. Stomach motility disorders
The patient experiences stomach motility disorders with severe diarrhea or constipation, due to the reaction of the stomach and intestines to slow digestion.
8. Loss of concentration
Due to constant bloating and accumulation of gases, with pressure on the diaphragm, the patient’s blood circulation is affected, affecting concentration and causing headaches.
9. Sleep disorders
Disorders in the digestive system that accompany pain affect the quality of sleep, especially when eating a heavy meal immediately before bed.
10. Feeling nauseous
As a result of disorders in the stomach and intestines, and the inability of the stomach to empty food normally, an indigestion patient feels nausea and sometimes vomits.
Learn about: What are the most common diseases of the digestive system?
Causes of indigestion
The causes of indigestion are multiple and include many aspects of life, whether acquired habits or diseases that led to this condition, so we will learn about them in detail below:
1. Eating and chewing quickly
Eating and chewing food quickly helps air enter the stomach, in addition to not chewing food well, which makes it difficult for the stomach to digest it, and the patient begins to feel bloated and gassed with heaviness.
2. Eat heavy meals
Due to excessive reliance on fatty meals that contain a lot of fat, stomach movement slows due to fat, and irritation of the stomach lining occurs, resulting in indigestion and pain.
3. Smoking and drinking alcohol
Smoking and drinking alcohol weaken the valve between the esophagus and the stomach, which irritates the stomach lining, causing chronic heartburn, severe stomach infections, and poor food digestion.
4. Bad habits after eating
Poor postprandial habits, such as lying down or sleeping immediately after eating, prevent gravity from helping the stomach empty food, causing esophageal reflux and indigestion.
5. Some medications and painkillers
There are some medications and painkillers that weaken the stomach wall and lead to ulcers and stomach irritation if the patient takes them repeatedly, the most important of which are aspirin and ibuprofen.
6. Having a chronic disease
Poor digestion of food may be a symptom of some health conditions, or chronic diseases such as stomach ulcers, esophageal reflux disease, and irritable bowel syndrome, which cause continuous disturbances to the digestive system.
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The most prominent risk factors for poor digestion of food
One of the most prominent risk factors for poor digestion of food is excessive tension and psychological pressure. People who suffer from a changing psychological state full of anxiety and tension are the most vulnerable to this condition, because the psychological state affects the movement of the intestines and stomach and causes an imbalance in the digestive system. This is not limited to a certain age, as it is a common condition in different groups.
Complications of indigestion
There are some complications that the patient may be exposed to if he neglects to treat indigestion, or does not seek the appropriate doctor, the most important of which are:
- Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss due to persistent pain after eating, and a constant feeling of full stomach.
- Feeling chronically bloated, which affects a person's comfort and daily life, and causes difficulty breathing.
- A deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body due to weakness and poor absorption of these vitamins from food.
- A state of weakness and fatigue afflicts the patient due to the lack of absorption of important elements into the body.
- Due to constant irritation in the stomach, it may develop into painful ulcers.
- Erosion of the uterine lining due to constant heartburn, causing chronic esophageal reflux.
- Repeated pain may affect the quality of life, including sleep, eating, and mood.
The most important methods of treating indigestion
Methods for treating indigestion are divided into drug treatment and another that helps regulate the eating pattern. This treatment cannot be started except after diagnosing the disease and knowing whether the patient actually suffers from this condition of indigestion:
First: drug treatment
Gastroenterologists recommend many medications that are useful in treating food indigestion, in addition to reducing and treating symptoms. The most prominent of these medications are:
- Antacids such as Maalox to relieve heartburn.
- Proton pump inhibitors such as “omeprazole” for chronic conditions, to reduce stomach acid secretion.
- Soothing medications for stomach cramps, such as “Dospatalin” to treat the cramps and bloating associated with the condition.
- Stomach regulating medications, such as “Domperidone,” to speed up the emptying of food from the stomach and prevent the feeling of fullness.
- Sedative medications that help reduce tension and psychological pressure, in cases of indigestion due to psychological disorders.
Second: modifying the eating pattern
Modifying the eating pattern is the best way to treat the condition of poor digestion of food, and protect the stomach and intestines from exposure to complications, and among the best things recommended by doctors in the gastrointestinal clinics at Al-Mousa Hospital in Al-Ahsa:
- Dividing daily meals: The patient eats 4 to 5 simple, small meals to prevent sudden pressure on the stomach.
- A schedule of eating times: Meal times must be organized, and refraining from eating at least two hours before sleep to allow the stomach to empty its contents.
- How to chew food: Food must be chewed slowly and well, in order to aid the mechanical digestion process and reduce the entry of air.
- Choose light foods: The best foods that facilitate the digestive process are boiled and mashed potatoes, white rice, and grilled chicken or fish with the skin removed.
- Yogurt and yogurt: You should add plenty of yogurt and yogurt to your daily diet, as they enhance the health of the digestive system because they contain probiotics.
- Beneficial drinks to facilitate digestion: You should drink plenty of water between meals to facilitate bowel movement without diluting digestive juices, and completely avoid soft drinks while eating.
- Avoid stomach irritants: The most irritating foods for the stomach include fried foods, foods that contain a high percentage of fat, in addition to fast food and spicy foods.
Learn about: اعراض أورام الجهاز الهضمي الشائعة وطرق التنبيه المبكر
How to prevent indigestion?
Learn with us the most important tips that will help you prevent indigestion, presented to you by the doctors in the digestive system clinics at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, and they include the following:
- Drink sufficient amounts of water daily to stimulate bowel movement and prevent constipation.
- Completely avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, as they affect the stomach lining and the digestion process.
- Control tension and psychological pressure by practicing relaxation exercises, so that the digestive system is not affected.
- Maintain a healthy weight and avoid obesity by exercising daily for 30 minutes, especially walking.
- Eat slowly, giving the body a chance to chew the food, which facilitates the digestion process and reduces pressure on the stomach.
- Always eat light, balanced meals, preferably dividing them into 5 small meals, while not eating too much fat.
- Completely avoid foods that irritate the stomach, such as spicy food, fried foods, soft drinks, and caffeine.
- Continuous medical follow-up in specialized clinics in the digestive system in the event of abnormal symptoms.
- Avoid sleeping or even lying down immediately after eating to prevent acid reflux and poor digestion of food. It is best to wait at least two hours after eating.
Frequently asked questions
Learn with us about the most frequently asked questions on our website, and answer them in detail:
How to get rid of indigestion?
You must contact the doctors of Al Mousa Specialist Hospital in the digestive system clinic to begin effective medical treatment in order to get rid of the problem of poor food digestion.
What does a patient with indigestion eat?
The best thing for a patient with indigestion to eat is low-fat yogurt, grilled chicken or fish, in addition to fresh vegetable soup without adding spices or any substances that reduce the efficiency of digestion. White bread and rice are also easy to digest.
What drink treats indigestion?
There is no drink that treats indigestion, but it may help the patient reduce the condition and soothe the resulting pain, such as mint tea, star anise, chamomile tea, and boiled cumin water.
Book an appointment with our specialist doctors in the gastrointestinal clinics at Al-Mousa Specialist Hospital in Al-Ahsa, to start treating indigestion with modern and safe methods. You can also learn about the most important tips that must be followed to reduce the symptoms of this condition, such as the appropriate foods and habits that you should avoid, so that you can enjoy a life full of hope without illness or pain.
المصادر:
Functional Dyspepsia – clevelandclinic
What to know about indigestion or dyspepsia – medicalnewstoday
