Once you’ve discovered the reason behind your bloated belly, you can take steps to ease the discomfort. Here is all you need to know about indigestion.

Also known as dyspepsia, indigestion is a chronic condition that can flare-up intermittently, concurrently or every few years.

Symptoms of the illness – as outlined by MedicineNet – are as follows:

• Upper abdominal pain or discomfort
• Belching
• Nausea
• Abdominal bloating
• Feeling full after eating only a small amount of food (early satiety)
• Abdominal distention (swelling)
• Occasionally, vomiting.

These symptoms tend to appear after eating. Indigestion involves the abnormal functioning of gastrointestinal organs.

The NHS elaborated that vomiting can be defined as “bringing up food or bitter-tasting fluids into your mouth”.

In addition, some people may experience “heartburn – a painful burning feeling in the chest”.

The national health body recommends three tips to help aid indigestion. This involves:

• Cutting down on tea, coffee, cola or alcohol
• Propping your head and shoulders up in bed
• Losing weight if you’re overweight

Moreover, it’s suggested that you don’t eat any food up to four hours before you go to bed.

In regards to diet, it could help to stay away from rich, spicy or fatty foods.

To help ease any discomfort associated with indigestion, don’t smoke and don’t take ibuprofen or aspirin.

According to the national health body, those painkillers can make indigestion worse.

If you suffer from indigestion, a visit to your local pharmacist can be your first point of call.

A pharmacist will be able to recommend medicines that can ease the burning sensation that comes along with indigestion.

What causes indigestion?

The acid naturally found in your stomach could irritate the stomach lining or throat.

It’s this irritation that can lead to the burning sensation; there are other contributing factors too.

Certain medications, smoking, alcohol, stress and a bacterial infection can cause indigestion.

Specifically, a type of bacterial infection called helicobacter pylori could be the culprit.

Although indigestion can be treated in the comfort of your own home, there are certain circumstances where it may benefit from further investigation.

For example, a hiatus hernia could be an underlying condition that is causing indigestion and, consequently, bloating.

This is a common situation – when the stomach moves up into the chest – that can occur over the age of 50.

If this condition causes problems, keyhole surgery is one of the solutions offered by medical professionals.

However, indigestion isn’t usually a sign of anything more serious unless the following applies:

• You feel like you have a lump in your stomach
• You have bloody vomit or poo
• You have lost a lot of weight without meaning to
• You are in severe pain

These symptoms alongside indigestion warrant a visit to the GP’s clinic, who can look into what it could be.

Due to the current pandemic, you may be asked to have a telephone appointment with your doctor first.

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