Illnesses That Can Be Behind Indigestion
Indigestion is a condition that generally occurs when:
- Someone ate too much
- Someone ate too fast
- For example, when someone has eaten things that they have an intolerance to
In the case of indigestion, a person experiences pain, burning or heaviness in the upper abdomen. In most cases, the problem comes on suddenly and can be easily solved with simple remedies and a healthy diet.
However, some people develop chronic indigestion, with symptoms becoming much more frequent and intense. In this case, it is very important to pay close attention to the warning signs and, on the other hand, to consult a doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause.
Indigestion can also be a symptom of something else
Sometimes it may be that there is another illness behind the indigestion that also has a lot to do with the stomach.
That is why it is so important to pay attention to the recurring symptoms and to learn a little more about the diseases and conditions that can hide behind this form of discomfort.
stomach ulcers
These are ulcers that form in the lining of the stomach and intestines. This problem can be caused by several things, such as:
- Abuse of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Drinking too much alcohol or tobacco consumption.
- Too much stomach acid.
- An infection caused by the Helicobacter Pylorie bacteria.
When a stomach ulcer is still small, it is often hardly noticeable. However, it is also important in this case to treat the problem, so that the ulcer cannot get bigger and eventually cause heavy bleeding.
Gastritis
This is one of the gastrointestinal disorders often associated with recurrent indigestion. This is because of the symptoms that this problem causes.
For example, in the case of gastritis, the lining of the stomach becomes irritated or inflamed. This problem can be either acute or chronic.
The symptoms that gastritis causes are:
- Stomach ache
- inflammation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Heartburn
The possible causes of gastritis include:
- Eating very cold, hot, or spicy foods.
- maintaining a very high-fat diet.
- Food allergies
- Taking too many medicines.
- Experiencing extreme stress.
- Drinking alcoholic beverages.
stomach cancer
While common indigestion usually doesn’t indicate stomach cancer, in some cases its symptoms can be the first warning sign.
Stomach cancer always initially develops in the mucous membrane of the intestines. As the tumor grows, it also begins to cause other symptoms, such as vomiting blood, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.
The European Oncological Society warns that men are more at risk of developing this disease than women and that this risk only increases from the age of 60.
The possible causes of stomach cancer are:
- Genetic Abnormalities
- Helicobacter Pylorie infection
- obesity
- To smoke
- Consuming too much salt
Hyperthyroidism
This is a condition that affects the thyroid gland. In general, it is mainly women who suffer from hyperthyroidism, especially women who are fifty years of age or older. In the case of this condition, the thyroid gland makes less thyroid hormones, while these hormones are essential for:
- The Metabolism
- Circulatory system
- Digestion
This explains why digestive problems disappear once it is discovered that these problems were caused by changes in the thyroid gland.
These stomach symptoms are usually accompanied by sudden weight gain, fatigue, anxiety and in more severe cases, memory loss or heart failure.
Parkinson’s disease
This degenerative disease also affects the nervous system, affecting the signals the brain sends out. When this disease then affects the peripheral nerves, the digestive tract cannot receive or receive signals from the brain properly, causing the digestive system to no longer function properly.
Diabetes
Elevated blood sugar has a lot to do with various gastrointestinal disorders. This is because it puts more strain on the stomach, which can alter the movements in the digestive tract and prevent food from moving properly through this tract.
In fact, fifty percent of people who suffer from diabetes also suffer from recurring problems with indigestion.
Gallbladder inflammation
Cholecystitis, also called gallbladder inflammation, is characterized by severe abdominal pain that can radiate to the back or below the right shoulder blade.
This condition occurs when bile becomes trapped in the gallbladder, almost always due to a gallstone that blocks it and prevents bile from flowing from the gallbladder into the small intestine. As more and more bile gets trapped behind the blockage, it causes irritation and pressure in the gallbladder, which can cause the gallbladder to become inflamed or even infected.
If the abdominal pain and other symptoms of indigestion are very severe, it is very important to see a doctor right away. If you ignore this problem, it can become chronic.