You’re relaxing at home after a delicious meal. You then notice you don’t feel quite right. Just can’t stop those rumbling and gurgling sounds from your stomach? Struggling to hold in that explosive gas that is causing you to bloat, burp and pass wind excessively? What you are experiencing could potentially be indigestion.
What is indigestion?1-4
Indigestion is sometimes referred to as an “upset stomach” and is characterised by multiple symptoms of discomfort or distress in the upper belly or chest below your breastbone. It is typically accompanied by uncomfortable fullness, stomach noises, heaviness, bloating, burping, trapped wind, gas and nausea, often during or after eating or drinking, and even when lying down or bending over.
There are three different types of indigestion:
- Occasional — tends to occur in bouts which come and go, happens suddenly, erratically, or randomly.
- Chronic— occurs regularly, and recurrently or persistently.
- Functional — chronic symptoms without a definite cause or trigger. It is thought to be associated with sensitive gut, inflammation of the upper digestive tract and bowel movement dysfunction, which may be triggered by an infection, allergy, or a change in the composition of the gut flora.
Is indigestion and heartburn the same?1-4
No. Some people may also refer to indigestion as heartburn, although they may have similar symptoms and triggers, these are different conditions that need to be managed differently. Indigestion is a general term that speaks to a wide range of digestive symptoms. Heartburn, on the other hand, occurs when stomach acid or bile escapes and irritates the food pipe lining resulting in burning pain, and sour taste as the acid and bile flows back up the chest and into your throat or mouth (acid reflux).
What are common triggers of indigestion?1-4
There are many causes of indigestion, most of which are related to lifestyle habits. Common causes include:
- Eating too fast or too much during a meal
- Binge drinking or drinking too quickly
- Eating on the go or not chewing properly
- Eating close to bedtime or late at night
- Spicy, fatty, or greasy foods and snacks
- Gassy foods like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and beans
- Acidic foods, such as tomatoes, tomato products, and oranges
- Too much alcohol, coffee, and caffeinated or carbonated “fizzy” drinks.
- Stress and anxiety
- Excess intake of alcohol and smoking
- Some medications, including antacids, antibiotics, pain medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids and iron supplements.
- Underlying health conditions like heartburn, acid reflux, IBS, obesity, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), gastritis, ulcers, and hiatus hernia.
Should You Be Concerned About indigestion? 1,2,4
Yes, especially when they trouble you frequently, repeatedly, intensely and leave you debilitated or incapacitated. You should seek immediate professional help when indigestion begins to impair your health, wellbeing, relationships, and daily activity such as sleep, eating, drinking, reduced physical and social interests.
The good news is that you can use these easy self-care tips together with Nativa Complex® Digestive Support to promote a healthy gut, digestive comfort, balance, digestion, and nutrient absorption. All you need to do is to take 1 capsule in the morning and 1 capsule in the evening, it’s just that simple.
References:
Jabeen Begum (27 March 2023). WebMD: Indigestion. Accessed 10 December 2023 Available from: https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/indigestion-overview
Saurabh Sethi and Tim Newman (21 April 2023). Medical News Today: What to know about indigestion or dyspepsia. Accessed 10 December 2023 Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163484
Mayer EA. Functional gastrointestinal disorders: irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, chest pain of presumed oesophageal origin, and heartburn. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 128.
Michael M. Phillips, David C. Dugdale and Brenda Conaway (30 January 2023). Medline Plus: Indigestion. Accessed 30 November 2023 Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003260.htm
