Gastrointestinal Disorders

Indigestion Symptoms & Treatment

Man suffering from indigestion

Indigestion is rarely a solitary condition but more usually a sign or symptom of another condition, such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) ulcers, or gallbladder disease. When indigestion is not linked to another condition it is known as dyspepsia.

Indigestion is usually described as feeling full before finishing eating and discomfort after eating a meal, often accompanied by a burning sensation or pain in the upper stomach.

Indigestion Symptoms

Indigestion symptoms often increase in times of stress and may include:

  • Bloating
  • Feeling full during a meal
  • Feeling uncomfortable after eating
  • A growling stomach
  • Burning and pain in the stomach and upper abdomen
  • Nausea
  • Acidic taste in the mouth
  • Belching and gas

Causes of Indigestion

There are many, varied causes of indigestion ranging from foods to medication to lifestyle habits. The most common causes of indigestion are:

Food and Drink

  • Eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, eating spicy foods or eating during stressful situations
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Too much caffeine, chocolate or carbonated beverages

Medication

  • Certain antibiotics, pain relievers and iron supplements
  • Aspirin and many other painkillers
  • Estrogen and oral contraceptives
  • Steroid medications
  • Thyroid medicines

Lifestyle

  • Smoking
  • Stress and fatigue

Other digestive conditions

  • Gastritis
  • Peptic ulcers
  • Celiac disease
  • Gallstones
  • Constipation
  • Pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis)
  • Stomach cancer
  • Intestinal blockage

When to See a Doctor for Indigestion

Most people don’t see a doctor for indigestion if it is infrequent and not too painful but if the discomfort becomes more intense and it persists, it is time to see a doctor for indigestion. The more severe the indigestion, the more it is likely to be accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss, vomiting, trouble swallowing, weakness and black stools.

Making an Indigestion Diagnosis

Most conventional methods of indigestion diagnoses are invasive and can be somewhat traumatic for the patient as they may involve a lighted scope being inserted down their throat and a tissue sample may be taken for biopsy. Other indigestion diagnosis procedures may involve lab tests, a stool test to check for the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and an X-ray or CT scan to check for intestinal obstruction.

At LifeWorks Wellness Center, the indigestion diagnosis approach is different. Firstly, the symptoms that the patient is presenting with will be evaluated. A functional evaluation will be performed to assess the functioning of each organ that may be potentially contributing to the symptoms. This is important since the dysfunction of an organ can be as symptomatic as a disease of one. The patient will then be evaluated to see what kind of nutritional supplementation will be required to bring the function of the gastrointestinal tract back into alignment.

Natural Indigestion Treatment

At LifeWorks Wellness Center, once the diagnosis described above has been made, natural indigestion treatment will then be offered. This will be tailored specifically to each individual patient and will involve testing to see which nutritional supplements they will respond best to, in order to rebalance the gastrointestinal tract. There may be multifactorial issues which may be setting off a “chain reaction” throughout the body and so it is important to handle all components of these multiple issues, to ensure the body begins to heal properly.

In addition to the treatment plan offered, the LifeWorks practitioner may recommend some lifestyle changes to help manage the indigestion in the short term. These include:

  • Avoiding foods that trigger indigestion
  • Eating a small meal every 2-3 hours instead of 2-3 large daily meals
  • Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake
  • Avoiding, and finding alternatives to certain medications
  • Reducing stress

Clearwater & Tampa Indigestion Treatment

LifeWorks Wellness Center is long recognized as one of the foremost natural health clinics in the US. At our Tampa Bay, Florida alternative medicine office we have been offering treatment for indigestion for a long time and many of our patients have benefitted from it. Our patients fly in from all over the world because they simply can’t find clinics offering natural indigestion treatment and solution where they live.

We have helped many patients with a natural indigestion treatment program to regain their health and we would love to help you, too. To become a patient, or for more information, feel free to call our New Patient Coordinator at (727) 466-6789 or simply submit an online web inquiry with your request.