Indigestion: How to get rid of indigestion pain and symptoms

INDIGESTION is a common problem affecting most people at some point in their lives, and will be particularly prominent after the Christmas period. Here’s how to get rid of indigestion pain and symptoms.

Indigestion is a painful, bloated feeling in the chest that usually happens after eating or drinking.

Symptoms of indigestion include feeling full and bloated, feeling sick, belching and passing wind, bringing up food or bitter tasting fluids, and heartburn.

Heartburn is a painful burning feeling in the chest that often occurs after eating.

Indigestion is caused by the acid in the stomach irritatingeither the stomach lining or the throat, leading to a burning sensation and pain.

Indigestion can be easily treated at home, so there’s usually no need to see a GP to help get rid of symptoms.

What’s the best way to treat indigestion at home?

The NHS advises cutting down on tea, coffee, cola or alcohol, as these can aggravate and worsen indigestion, and avoid smoking.

Alcohol and smoking can also lead to indigestion in the first place.

While sleeping, try propping your head and shoulders up in bed in order to stop stomach acid from coming up during the night.

Avoid eating three to four hours before going to bed, to allow the digestive system time to properly digest food before sleeping.

Don’t eat rich, spicy or fatty foods as these will aggravate symptoms and cause cause more digestion problems for the stomach.

While it may seem sensible to take painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin to ease the pain, these should be avoided as they can actually worsen the problem.

A pharmacist can also recommend medicines that will ease the burning feeling and pain that can come with indigestion.

The medicines, called antacids, work by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach, which contributes to indigestion.

Antacids are best taken after eating, when they will last up to three hours. On an empty stomach antacids only last for 20 to 60 minutes.

Indigestion is rarely a cause for concern, but can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health problem if it is recurrent or comes alongside other symptoms.

The NHS advises seeing a doctor if you have recurring indigestion that keeps coming back, are in bad pain, or are 55 and older.

Also see a doctor if you have lost weight without meaning to, have difficulty swallowing, keep vomiting or have anaemia.

If you feel like you have a lump in your stomach or have bloody vomit or poo, it’s also advisable to see a GP.

“These symptoms can be a sign of something more serious,” warned the NHS.

SOURCE – Express.Co.Uk