Causes Of Indigestion

If you know the different causes of indigestion, then you will be able to protect yourself from it. Usually, the things that cause indigestion are those that you may constantly do. Bupa has provided some of the things that can cause indigestion.

According to Bupa, indigestion may be caused by inflammation of the layer of mucus that lines your stomach, oesophagus and bowel. The mucus is a protective barrier against gastric acid. It can become inflamed because of irritation caused by lifestyle triggers, such as:

• drinking too much alcohol
• smoking
• stress and anxiety
• medicines, such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), used to treat arthritis
• eating certain foods, such as spicy, fatty or greasy foods
• being overweight or obese – this can increase the pressure on your stomach and contribute to feelings of indigestion

Underlying medical conditions

Some medical conditions can cause symptoms of indigestion.

Having a peptic ulcer can cause symptoms of indigestion. Peptic ulcers are breaks in the lining of your stomach or small bowel (duodenum) that occur because stomach acid that helps digest your food damages the lining. The bacteria called Helicobacter pylori that live in the mucus layer of your stomach can also contribute to the damage in your stomach lining by increasing acid production. However, not everybody infected with H. pylori will get a peptic ulcer.

Gastric cancer can also cause the symptoms of indigestion. Gastric cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the stomach.

Pregnancy

Many women suffer from indigestion during pregnancy. This may be triggered by changes to the levels of the female hormones progesterone and oestrogen. As your uterus (womb) grows, this may also cause symptoms of indigestions as it presses on your stomach.

Source: Bupa

There are also various treatments for indigestion that you can make use of. Some of these treatments found below are provided by BBC.co.uk:

Simple antacid medicines (alkalis) can neutralise stomach acid and form a protective layer over the lining of the stomach – there are many different types available from the pharmacy to try. Other medicines can be used to reduce acid production – talk to your pharmacist or GP.

If indigestion is persistent you should talk to your GP who can arrange tests to check for a stomach ulcer or look for other causes. If you have more serious symptoms such as weight loss, problems swallowing or vomiting blood you should get urgent medical advice.

Most people with indigestion don’t have a stomach ulcer, and just need simple treatments. But if an ulcer is diagnosed, antibiotics may be prescribed to eliminate the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which is often the cause of ulcers.

Source: BBC

If you have come to ascertain, after taking a look at the various causes of indigestion mentioned above, that you frequently indulge in any one of them, don’t worry because there are certain treatments that you can opt for. At the same time, you may be able to avoid such causes and prevent indigestion.

Causes Of Indigestion is a post from: Natural Health Magazine