A sensitive stomach often occurs due to food intolerances and conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), causing gas, bloating, nausea, or stomach pain. In a few cases, indigestion may also lead to discomfort.
Indigestion, or dyspepsia, refers to a group of gastrointestinal symptoms, including pain, burning, and feeling of fullness. It may be an intermittent condition or a chronic one, which must be addressed accordingly. However, it must also be kept in mind that digestive symptoms are not always indigestion but sometimes can be indicative of other underlying digestive diseases.
In an interaction with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Mahadevan, Senior Consultant - Gastroenterology, Gleneagles Hospital, Chennai, explains how to distinguish indigestion from other gastrointestinal ailments.
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What Are The Key Characteristics Of Indigestion?
“Indigestion or dyspepsia refers to a group of symptoms like upper abdominal discomfort, bloating, early fullness during meals, nausea, and mild burning,” says Dr Mahadevan, adding that it’s often short-lived and triggered by overeating, spicy food, or stress.
Indigestion is most often related to stomach acid. This means that the condition is typically caused by acid reflux, a condition that occurs when stomach acids flow back up into the oesophagus, leading to a burning sensation in the chest.
When indigestion symptoms last for more than three months with symptoms starting at least six months before diagnosis, it is called functional dyspepsia. According toStatPearls Publishing, functional dyspepsia affects almost 40% of people worldwide, with a prevalence higher in women than in men.
How To Know If Digestive Issues Are More Than Just Indigestion
According to Dr Mahadevan, many patients assume it’s “just acidity” or a temporary issue. Cultural stigma, self-medication, or online misinformation lead to delays. This can result in disease progression, complications, or missed early diagnosis of serious diseases like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or gastric cancer.
Therefore, persistent symptoms; pain not relieved by antacids; unexplained weight loss; vomiting; or difficulty swallowing suggest a deeper issue. “These warrant further evaluation for conditions like ulcers, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), or even malignancies.”
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Red Flag Symptoms That You Shouldn’t Ignore
While indigestion is common and even resolves on its own with proper lifestyle modifications and prescribed medications, sometimes, symptoms can indicate more serious digestive disorders. Some of the red flags include:
- Blood in stools or black, tarry stools
- Unintentional weight loss
- Severe or recurrent abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Ignoring these could delay the diagnosis of serious conditions like IBD, ulcers, or cancer.
Steps To Reduce Risk Of Chronic Digestive Disorders
If you’re someone who has or has had persistent digestive problems, here are some ways to prevent such discomfort in the long run:
- Eat a fibre-rich, balanced diet.
- Avoid excess caffeine, alcohol, and spicy food.
- Maintain a regular meal schedule.
- Manage stress and sleep adequately.
- Avoid unnecessary medications like painkillers.
- Regular check-ups, especially for those with a family history of digestive issues, also help in early detection and prevention.
Conclusion
While it's easy to ignore stomach pain and dismiss it as indigestion, it's worthwhile to listen to your body, especially if symptoms persist or start impacting your life. Not all belly pain is harmless but ignoring them might mean missing something important. Fortunately, by paying a little more attention, getting timely checkups, and making a couple of easy lifestyle changes, most digestive conditions can be managed. Then, when things don't seem quite right, don't wait and see, get it checked. Your gut may be trying to tell you something important.