Damn this dyspepsia

Do you feel full all the time or bloated or nauseous, maybe gassy? I do and it makes me crazy! I've been looking for info about it so I thought I'd share. Indigestion or dyspepsia is the difficulty or inability to digest.  Symptoms may include bloating, belching and gas, nausea and vomiting, acidic taste, growling stomach, burning in the stomach or upper abdomen, and abdominal pain. While dyspepsia is common, usually caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or gastritis, it is frequently a sign of an underlying problem, so sudden unexplained occurrence of dyspepsia in people over 55, especially combined with other symptoms (vomiting or blood in vomit, unexpected weight loss, loss of appetite, black tarry stools or visible blood in stools, severe pain) may require attention. Other causes include:

Diseases -

    Ulcers
    Stomach cancer (rare)
    Gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach doesn't empty properly; this often occurs in diabetics)
    Stomach infections
    Irritable bowel syndrome
    Chronic pancreatitis
    Thyroid disease

Medications -

    Aspirin and many other painkillers
    Estrogen and oral contraceptives
    Steroid medications
    Certain antibiotics
    Thyroid medicines

Lifestyle -

    Eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations
    Drinking too much alcohol
    Cigarette smoking
    Stress and fatigue

Swallowing excessive air when eating may increase the symptoms of belching and bloating. Sometimes people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of the factors mentioned above. This type of indigestion is called functional, or nonulcer dyspepsia. During the middle and later parts of pregnancy, many women have indigestion. This is believed to be caused by a number of pregnancy-related factors including hormones, which relax the muscles of the digestive tract, and the pressure of the growing uterus on the stomach.

If you are experiencing these symptoms or if your indigestion symptoms become worse, consult a doctor to rule out a more serious condition.

Here are some tips to relieve indigestion -

   Don't chew with your mouth open, talk while chewing, or eat too fast. Any of these may cause you to swallow too much air, which can aggravate indigestion.
    Drink fluids after rather than during meals.
    Avoid late-night eating.
    Try to relax after meals.
    Avoid spicy foods.
    Stop smoking.
    Avoid alcoholic beverages.

To prevent indigestion -

    Eat small meals so the stomach does not have to work as hard or as long.
    Eat slowly.
    Avoid foods that contain high amounts of acids, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes.
    Reduce or avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.
    If stress is a trigger for your indigestion, re-evaluating your lifestyle may help to reduce stress. Learn new methods for managing stress, such as relaxation and     biofeedback techniques.
    Smokers should consider quitting smoking, or at least not smoking right before or after eating, as smoking can irritate the stomach lining.
    Cut back on alcohol consumption because alcohol can irritate the stomach lining.

   Avoid wearing tight-fitting garments because they tend to compress the stomach, which can cause its contents to enter the esophagus.
    Do not exercise with a full stomach. Rather, exercise before a meal or at least one hour after eating a meal.
    Do not lie down right after eating.
    Wait at least 3 hours after your last meal of the day before going to bed.
    Raise the head of your bed so that your head and chest are higher than your feet. 

There you have it folks. Hope it helps!

SOURCE: WebMD