The term ‘indigestion’ is a layman’s term and is used to cover the symptoms of a few different medical conditions. It generally refers to an uncomfortable sensation in your lower chest or upper abdomen during or after a meal, perhaps accompanied by belching or bloating.
症状
一些描述为消化不良的症状是疼痛和feeling of fullness,不适或者aburning sensation in the chestand upper abdomen(胃灼热). Heartburn is caused by regurgitation of the acidic stomach contents up into the oesophagus and possibly the throat, known as gastro-oesophageal reflux by doctors.
Indigestion may be accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- 上腹部不适；
- 恶心;
- 便秘或腹泻；
- 食欲不振;
- 饱满的时间比您期望的时间更长；
- belching;
- vomiting; and
- 腹胀。
Indigestion主要发生在饭后。Most people will suffer from episodes of indigestion from time to time — for example, if they eat too quickly, or eat too much. However, if you have a recurring problem or suddenly suffer from indigestion when you haven’t before, you should see your doctor.
Medical conditions that are often described as indigestion and which can have indigestion as a symptom include:
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease;
- peptic ulcers;
- 非脉络性衰退（当您患有溃疡症状但没有调查溃疡的迹象时）；
- food intolerance, e.g.lactose intolerance; and
- bloating andflatulence。
What causes indigestion?
Some of the causes of indigestion include:
- anxiety or stress;
- eating too much, or too quickly;
- consuming alcohol when eating;
- 肠道疾病和疾病，例如肠易激综合征和胃炎（胃部炎症）；
- 乳糖不耐症;
- gallstones;
- 超重;
- swallowing excess air (aerophagia);
- some medicines;
- exercising with a full stomach; and
- stomach ulcers.
When to see your doctor about indigestion
Indigestion usually presents with only short-lived, minor symptoms, which happen to most people occasionally. However, sometimes indigestion can be an indication of a more serious condition. So see your doctor if any of the following happen:
- your indigestion persists for more than a few weeks;
- your indigestion does not respond to simple measures;
- you start to lose weight;
- you lose your appetite;
- you have nausea or vomiting;
- your indigestion is a new symptom for you;
- your pain is severe or wakes you at night, or
- you have pain on the top right-hand side of your abdomen.
This is particularly important if you are over 45 and have a history of gastrointestinal problems in the family, especially if you regularly take aspirin or pain killers, and regularly smoke or consume alcohol.
See your doctor urgently if you experience any of the following:
- prolonged vomiting, particularly if you are vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds;
- 疼痛in the chest, jaw, neck, arm or back;
- 呼吸困难；
- 黑色凳子；或者
- difficulty swallowing.
Diagnosis and tests
If you have persistent or troubling indigestion, see yourGP (general practitioner)。您的医生会询问您的症状，并进行身体检查，以寻找您的消化不良的原因。
Your doctor may also suggest some tests.
- Agastroscopyis a type of endoscopy, where a long tube is passed down your throat to view your stomach and the first part of your small intestine. This test is usually done by a胃肠病学家(a specialist in digestive system disorders), so you will need a referral from your GP.
- If your doctor suspects gallstones, they may recommend you have an腹部超声扫描。
- Blood testsand other imaging tests may also be recommended to help with the diagnosis.
治疗
消化不良的治疗将取决于原因。
Your doctor can advise you whether medicines are necessary to treat your symptoms. They will also help you to identify any lifestyle triggers for your indigestion and suggest ways to modify your lifestyle and eating habits to try to avoid it. Examples ofself-care measures for heartburn包括更频繁地吃较小的饭菜（而不是3顿大餐），并减少特定食物和酒精。
