Here's everything you need to know about indigestion and heartburn
- 10 Aug 2020
Many people are familiar with the discomfort of indigestion, more so in the present situation, where a number of people are holed up in their homes with the fear of coronavirus lurking around.
With work-from-home schedules, constant munching and little to no physical activity, cases of indigestion and heartburn are bound to be on the rise.
But whether indigestion is a result of stress, over-eating, pregnancy or triggering foods, there are practical tips and products available to help ease indigestion symptoms.
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What are the symptoms of indigestion?
Indigestion is a general term that describes stomach pain or discomfort while the body digests food.
It can be caused by the stomach's oversensitivity to acid or by the stomach stretching after a meal.
The symptoms can range from mild to severe, happening regularly in some people, but very occasionally in others.
While experiences vary, the most common indigestion symptoms are pain behind the ribs, abdomen pain that moves upwards, nausea, vomiting, bloating, a burning sensation in the stomach, flatulence and burping.
Indigestion is triggered by different things for different people, so it's worth noting any patterns you spot.
Common causes of indigestion include alcohol, stress, smoking and eating heavy meals or fatty foods, as well as the physical and hormonal changes of pregnancy.
How do you treat indigestion?
You can try to help combat indigestion by chewing food well, reducing fatty, spicy and greasy foods and fizzy drinks, and eating smaller meals.
Another important point to keep in mind is leaving enough gaps between your meals and bedtime.
Eat your meals at least three hours prior to hitting the sack, allowing your stomach to properly digest and focus on preparing for sleep.
Yet sometimes indigestion can't be avoided, which is when you can seek out over-the-counter antacids to treat the issue.
What is heartburn and acid reflux?
Heartburn and indigestion are often talked about interchangeably, but they are actually different conditions.
However, for both conditions, stomach acid is often at the source of the problem.
Heartburn is a burning sensation felt in the chest or throat after eating, along with difficulty swallowing and a sour or salty fluid in the back of the throat.
It’s usually caused by acid reflux, where stomach acid escapes into the oesophagus, and tends to happen after meals or at night.
It’s also common to suffer with heartburn during pregnancy and up to 72 per cent of women experience heartburn in the third trimester.
To help ease symptoms, you could try to avoid lying down within three hours of eating, not exercising within two hours, avoiding tight-waisted clothes, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding stress, or sleeping with your head slightly elevated.
Minimising greasy, acidic and spicy food and drink may also relieve symptoms, and it's worth keeping a diary of what you eat to have a better understanding of what your triggers might be.
The Independent
