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Indigestion Symptoms
Signs And Symptoms Of Indigestion & Treatment
About indigestion symptoms and signs, GERD diet and treatment with PPI's and much more.
Signs and symptoms of indigestion and treatment are common. Heartburn or stomach pain is a common problem affecting 10 to 20% of people at least once a week.
What Are Symptoms Of Indigestion?
The symptoms known as dyspepsia by healthcare professionals, encompasse a collection of indigestion symptoms including heartburn (burning in the chest), acid brash (acid taste in the mouth), regurgitation (food/acid refluxing back up in to the mouth from the stomach), bloating and nausea. Sometimes night time cough and problems with your teeth can occur as a result of this.
Why Do Indigestion Symptoms Occur?
There are many reasons why reflux can occur. Acid, produced in the stomach, is normally prevented from regurgtating into the oesophagus/esophagus (food pipe or gullet) by a series of mechanisms based at the gastroesophageal junction (the 'doorway' between the these 2 areas). These mechanisms can be upset by various factors such as diet, weight, drugs, anatomical reasons and maybe even genetic influence.
Do Dyspepsia Symptoms Need Investigating?
If you are under the age of 55 years with signs and symptoms of indigestion, it doesn't usually need investigating unless your indigestion symptoms are poorly controlled or associated with other symptoms.
Those over 55 years of age with new onset of indigestion symptoms or with poorly controlled symptoms or other symptoms such as unexplained loss of weight, food sticking (dysphagia), pain on swallowing (odynophagia) or new anaemia should be investigated further.
What Investigations Do I Need?
If you have signs and symptoms of indigestion, it is advisable to have your Helicobacter pylori (h.pylori or campylobacter pylori) status checked. This bacteria is found in the stomach and is associated with ulcers (duodenal 98% and stomach approx. 60%) and rarely a form of stomach cancer called gastric MALTOMA. H.pylori can be easily checked by doing an antibody test (blood test), a Urea Breath Test or UBT via your doctor, or more unusually a stool test. Please discuss with your doctor as to which test is best for you.
Your doctor may wish to refer you for hospital investigation usually with an endoscopy test. This is a flexible camera test to look into your stomach or a less commonly used test called a barium swallow (an x-ray test where you swallow some barium dye to visualise the upper gastrointestinal tract).
There are some simple measures you can take to improve your indigestion symptoms. You can try a GERD diet or GORD diet which includes cutting out foods such as chocholate, fatty foods, and caffeine containing drinks including tea, coffee and some carbonated soft drinks (check with the packaging for the caffeine content).
If suffering heartburn at night, try reduce eating in the 2 hours before bedtime and prop yourself up in bed (this helps reduce reflux by gravity).
Exercising may also help particularly if your symptoms have occured with weight gain.
Drug Treatments For Indigestion
Drug therapy is commonly used for this condition, but should only be used when the more simple measures have failed. What drugs can be used?
1) Antacids
Antacids are widely used and available without prescription. These are usually aluminium or magnesium based and work by raising the pH of gastric contents. Please remember that the aluminium containing antacids can cause constipation (so if you have a bowel condition such as constipation-predominant IBS this should be avoided) and magnesium containing antacids can cause diarrhea (so if you have diarrhea-predominant IBS or other diarrhea related conditions then this should be avoided).
2) H2 Antagonists
H2 antagonists work to reduce acid in the stomach by antagonising histamine, a substance that stimulates acid production. The common common ones are
Ranitidine
,
Cimetidine
,
Famotidine
and
Nizatidine
. They work by reducing acid secretion in response to food, gastrin (a hormone that stimulates acid production) and histamine. They are generally well tolerated and more information on these can be found by clicking on the drug.
3) PPI's or Proton-pump Inhibitors
PPI's or proton-pump inhibitors are widely prescribed these days as they are so effective in controlling indigestion symptoms. In the UK, the cost to the NHS is around £425 million and £7 billion worldwide (figures based in 2006). This is a lot of money and reflects the degree of suffering from this condition. There are several PPI's available, including
Omeprazole
,
Lansoprazole
,
Pantoprazole
,
Esomeprazole
and
Rabeprazole
. PPI drugs work by inhibiting the acid producing cells in the stomach (inhibit the so called 'proton pump')and are generally well tolerated. If you wish to have more detail on these drugs, please click on the individual drug. They are normally taken once or twice a day and have a long action in acid inhibition. In over 90% of sufferers, they have a significant effect on the signs and symptoms of indigestion.
4) Prokinetics
Prokinetics work by increasing gastric emptying so helping to reduce reflux. They are usually anti-sickness medications (anti-emetics) such as
Metoclopramide
and
Domperidone
. Rarely
Misoprostol
and
Sucralfate
are used. Information on these drugs can be obtained by clicking on the drug concerned.
GERD Diet
GERD diet or gastroesophageal reflux diet is a conservative way of dealing with indigestion symptoms or used in conjunction with drug treatments such as a PPI. Signs and symptoms of indigestion are often made worse with foods. The main foods that can cause increased reflux include dairy products such as chocolate, cheese, butter and fats. Some sufferers find some vegetables indigestible including onions and the skins of some vegetables including cucumbers.
Alcohol and caffeine both have an effect on the lower oesophageal sphincter and increase reflux symptoms. Avoidance or reduction can have a significant effect on symptoms of indigestion.
Of course, its not only a GERD diet that can have a benefit. Excessive weight increases reflux as well as causing other health issues such as increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Dealing with weight issues can have a significant benefit in reducing symptoms.
If you have any further questions on indigestion symptoms or treatment, please ask the free online doctor. I hope you have found this page on the signs and symptoms of indigestion and treatments available useful.
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