WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023 - INDIGESTION - HEART BURN

 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2023 - INDIGESTION

(What a fun week of blogging- my bout with constipation, and now indigestion. <grin>)

First - what is indigestion:

Upper abdominal discomfort, described as burning sensation, bloating or gassiness, nausea, or feeling full too quickly after starting to eat.

Indigestion — also called heart burn, dyspepsia or an upset stomach — is discomfort in your upper abdomen. Indigestion describes certain symptoms, such as belly pain and a feeling of fullness soon after you start eating, rather than a specific disease. Indigestion can also be a symptom of other digestive disorders.

Indigestion can have causes that aren't due to underlying disease.

Examples include eating too much, drinking too much, food intolerance, or taking pills on an empty stomach.

Although indigestion is common, each person may experience indigestion in a slightly different way. Symptoms of indigestion may be felt occasionally or as often as daily.

Indigestion may often be relieved with lifestyle changes and medicines.

If you have indigestion, you may have:

Early fullness during a meal. You haven't eaten much of your meal, but you already feel full and may not be able to finish eating.  (And, if you are like me, you will soldier through and finish the meal - even if I’m feeling full.)

Uncomfortable fullness after a meal. The feeling of fullness lasts longer than it should.

Discomfort in the upper abdomen. You feel a mild to severe pain in the area between the bottom of your breastbone and your belly button. You feel an uncomfortable sensation of tightness in your upper abdomen.

Nausea. You feel as if you want to vomit. Less frequent symptoms include vomiting and belching.

Sometimes people with indigestion also experience heartburn. Heartburn is a pain or burning feeling in the center of your chest that may radiate into your neck or back during or after eating.

Indigestion has many possible causes. Often, indigestion is related to lifestyle and may be triggered by food, drink or medicine. Common causes of indigestion include:

Overeating or eating too quickly.

Fatty, greasy or spicy foods.

Too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate or carbonated beverages.

Smoking.

Anxiety.

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Certain antibiotics, pain relievers and iron supplements.

Lifestyle changes may help ease indigestion. Your health care provider may recommend:

Avoiding foods that trigger indigestion.
Eating five or six small meals a day instead of three large meals.
Reducing or eliminating the use of alcohol and caffeine.
Avoiding certain pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).
Finding alternatives for medicines that trigger indigestion.
Controlling stress and anxiety.
Getting enough exercise

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And an important question - how to distinguish between heartburn and a heart attack?

The symptoms of heart attack versus heartburn can be very similar. If you’re experiencing chest pain or pressure, how can you tell whether you’re having a medical emergency or indigestion?

Both heartburn and heart attack can cause intense feelings in the chest. One significant difference is that a heart attack usually feels like pressure, tightness or squeezing—rather than pain. The feeling may radiate up toward the left shoulder, arm and neck. Heartburn tends to feel more like a burning sensation, and it may travel to the throat.

One can kill you (heart attack), and one is uncomfortable!!!  Be clear.  If you go to the emergency room for heartburn, they will be sympathetic, but dismiss you; if you go to the emergency room for a heart attack, they want to help you!!!  Be clear about your symptoms!!

Now - solving the problem.  

Generally, indigestion is short-lived - maybe a few (miserable) hours where we bemoan “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” (an old slogan from an antacid commercial) 

There are many (too many?) over the counter products ranging from Pepto-Bismol, to Tums, Rolaids, Zantac, Pepcid, Mylanta, and more.  

The second solution is to be careful with what you eat.  Don’t overeat - no matter how great the food is.  Most restaurants have take-home boxes - stop half-way through and take it home.  (I’ve gotten good at that!!!).  [By the way, we used to call such boxes “Doggy Bags” as if we were taking the food home for our dog!!!]

(Maybe as a kid, it was great to be in the “clean plate” group.  But, as an adult - stop when you are full)

Harking back to Monday and Tuesday.  Get enough fiber, drink plenty of water (not alcohol or soft drinks).  Avoid foods that are spicy to you.  I admit to being very cautious about “hot” spicy foods.  No jalapenos for me!!!  

Back to Psalm 139:13-14

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” 

If we treat our body properly, everything will work well!!!

*****

LOVE WINS
LOVE TRANSFORMS
KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, JUNE 28, 2023