Indigestion

Indigestion or dyspersia is a nonspecific term used to describe many symptoms associated with abdominal distress, particularly after eating. Indigestion itself is not a disease. It is a common stomach problem most people have at one time or another.

Some have indigestion only when they eat certain foods or drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Others have episodes daily. Often, despite diagnostic tests, no specific cause of the indigestion is ever found. This does not mean you should ignore indigestion particularly if it occurs often. Indigestion can be a symptom of a serious disease such as peptic ulcer, gastritis, gastric cancer, or gallbladder disease.

Indigestion is a vague description which is why it's important to be more specific when talking to your doctor. Your doctor will ask specific questions such as when and where does indigestion typically occur? Does it occur only after eating specific foods?

For example if indigestion occurs below the navel, then it's unlikely to be caused by a problem in the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, or gallbladder. But if the discomfort caused by indigestion is above the navel, these areas needs to be examined further.

The timing of the symptoms might also offer a clue. If indigestion occurs when you are eating, this suggests esophagitis or gastritis. Indigestion that occurs several hours later may suggest an ulcer in your duodenum.

Once your physician has determined the patter of your symptoms, he or she may want to check for blood in your stool which is indicative of possible colon cancer. Whether or not other tests are done depends on your age, the duration of your symptoms, and their severity.

At times, no cause for indigestion may be found despite extensive testing. Your physician may elect to try a few weeks of treatment with antacids or an acid-reducing medication such as cimetidine, rantidine, nizatidine, or famotidine, which works by coating and thereby protecting the lining of the stomach.

Your physician may also advise you to avoid certain foods such as alcohol that may be causing your indigestion. You may also be advised to avoid cigarettes which sometimes contribute to indigestion. In addition, your physician may inquire as to whether tension or stress in your life may be contributing to your symptoms. If so, efforts should be directed at changing those factors, which, in turn may relieve your symptoms.

If a specific cause such as a peptic ulcer, gastritis, or duodenitis is found, your physician will recommend specific therapy. Above all else, remember that indigestion itself is not a disease but can by symptomatic of more sever health or stomach problems so indigestion should not be taken lightly.