Everyone has suffered from this word in there life yet many of us our unaware about it. Today I will try to shed some light on this topic. As this will be my first post, I will try to keep my mistakes to minimum.
Dyspepsia! The word if simplified would be “dys(dysfunctional)+ pepsia(acid secretions).We all know each individual is unique to himself and there is none other similar. Hence each individual has a stomach which behaves differently. Some might eat spicy food and may not get increased acidic secretions but some might get it even if they don’t. So what causes this?
Following are some of the causes-
- Gastritis – inflammation of the stomach
- Duodenal inflammation
- Peptic ulcers disease
- Intestinal blockage conditions like intestinal helminths
- Medicines like antibiotics and NSAIDS
- Excess alcohol intake alcohol
- Lactose intolerance
- Mental conditions like anxiety or depression
- Stomach cancer
Ways by which we can prevent or treat this symptoms are as follows :-
Lifestyle changes and dietary habbits
Mild indigestion can often be helped with lifestyle changes, including:
- Eating smaller, more-frequent meals. Chew your food slowly and thoroughly.
- Avoiding triggers. Fatty and spicy foods, processed foods, carbonated beverages, caffeine, alcohol, and smoking can trigger indigestion.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. Excess pounds put pressure on your abdomen, pushing up your stomach and causing acid to back up into your esophagus.
- Exercising regularly. Exercise helps you keep off extra weight and promotes better digestion.
- Managing stress. Create a calm environment at mealtime. Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga. Spend time doing things you enjoy. Get plenty of sleep.
- Changing your medications. With your doctor’s approval, stop or cut back on pain relievers or other medications that may irritate your stomach lining. If that’s not an option, be sure to take these medications with food.
Alternative medicine
Alternative and complementary treatments may help ease indigestion, although none of these treatments has been well-studied. These treatments include:
- Herbal therapies such as peppermint and caraway.
- Psychological treatment, including behavior modification, relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy.
- Acupuncture, which may work by blocking the pathways of nerves that carry sensations of pain to the brain.
- Mindfulness meditation.
- STW 5 (Iberogast), a liquid supplement that contains extracts of herbs including bitter candytuft, peppermint leaves, caraway and licorice root. STW 5 may work by reducing the production of gastric acid.
Healtharena 