The word “indigestion” or dyspepsia refers to digestive discomfort, which frequently signifies several disorders. Postprandial nausea, stomach pain, flatulence, belching, and a foul odor are some of the symptoms. Heartburn, a burning sensation that extends from the sub-sternum to the neck or throat, is sometimes called indigestion.
What Is “Persistent Indigestion/Dyspepsia”?
While occasional indigestion is common, it can also occur frequently for a few weeks or months. In this instance, it can indicate an underlying issue like gallbladder illness, ulcers, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Indigestion Has Several Causes, Including:
- Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Too many caffeine-containing beverages or too much coffee
- Too many fizzy or carbonated beverages
- Eating very quickly
- Foods that are fatty, hot, or greasy.
- Acidic foods, including tomatoes, tomato-based products, and oranges, as well as smoking and anxiety.
Causes of Indigestion Lasting Days
Indigestion is typically associated with eating. Although it can be brought on by numerous factors, including smoking, drinking alcohol, pregnancy, stress, or taking certain drugs.
Drug-Induced Indigestions
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Narrow-therapeutic window drugs such as digoxin and theophylline.
- Iron supplements.
- Potassium chloride;
- Antibiotics (metronidazole, macrolides);
- Estrogen therapy, corticosteroids, and quinidine
- Gemfibrozil, niacin, and colchicine
Symptoms
- Aerophagia is frequently associated with postprandial bloating and belching, which is made worse by carbonated drinks or chewing gum. It is frequently caused by stomach gas and gut bacterial metabolism.
- Patients with irritable bowel syndrome frequently experience bloating and flatulence as a result of abnormalities in their motility and lowered pain tolerance.
- The most prevalent symptom of gastroesophageal reflux, heartburn, is brought on by the reflux of an irritating acid or an alkaline gastric or gastroduodenal substance.
Warning Signs
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Persistent symptoms that started recently
- Haematemesis and Melaena
- Difficulty swallowing
When to Seek Medical Consultation?
- If an immediate investigation is necessary (for example, because alarm symptoms have just started to appear).
- Excruciating stomach pain.
- Persistent symptoms that do not go away or significantly improve following proper treatment.
- Developing symptoms.
Options for Treating Indigestion
- Antacids: Often prescribed by physicians to neutralize stomach acids.
- Antibiotics: used to treat Helicobacter pylori infections and to kill bacteria.
- H2 Blockers: they offer temporary relief by reducing the production of stomach acid.
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): If you also experience heartburn, they work best for relieving indigestion.
- Prokinetics: Doctors usually recommend these drugs to help your stomach empty more quickly.
Relapses and remissions are common in indigestion or functional dyspepsia. Frequent drug breaks should be recommended, and treatment shouldn’t be prolonged. An antispasmodic or antidepressant trial may be helpful for people whose symptoms are hard to manage, but a specialist referral should be recommended first to confirm the diagnosis and rule out uncommon causes of indigestion. Psychotherapy or behavioral treatment will help some people.
References
Talley, N. J. (2016). Functional dyspepsia: New insights into pathogenesis and therapy. The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine, 31 (3), 444–456. https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2016.088
Talley, N. J., Phung, N., & Kalantar, J. S. (2001). ABC of the upper gastrointestinal tract: Indigestion: When is it functional? BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 323(7324), 1294–1297. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7324.1294
Schachter, H. (1990). Indigestion and heartburn. In H. K. Walker, W. D. Hall, & J. W. Hurst (Eds.), Clinical methods: The history, physical, and laboratory examinations (3rd ed., Chap. 83). Butterworths. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK409/.
