Indigestion
The term digestive problems collects various complaints that are related to the digestive process and mostly affect the gastrointestinal tract. Classic symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation. There are many possible triggers for the discomfort. Often the causes are harmless. However, digestive problems can also be caused by serious medical conditions that require medical attention. Here you will find all information on the causes, diagnosis and treatment of digestive problems.
What digestive problems are there?
Digestive disorders can manifest themselves in the most varied of symptoms, which appear either individually or often together. It is not easy to differentiate between main and secondary symptoms such as circulatory problems or fever. The most well-known symptoms range from abdominal pain or cramps that are difficult to localize, which can be dull or stabbing, to specific stomach pains, gas, bloating, nausea with or without vomiting and loss of appetite. However, changes in bowel movements such as constipation or diarrhea are common digestive problems.
A.
- Loss of appetite
- stomach pain
- Flatulence
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- heartburn
- constipation
- Bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
Often not just one, but several digestive complaints occur at the same time. In addition, individual symptoms are different. Abdominal pain, for example, can be dull, stabbing, or cramp-like (colic). Sometimes they affect a certain region, sometimes they spread diffusely over the entire abdomen.
In addition, other complaints can accompany the digestive problems. These include, for example, sweating, fever or circulatory disorders. The weight of those affected may also change. How a digestive disorder manifests itself depends largely on its cause.
What are the causes of digestive problems?
Digestive problems can have many triggers. A large part of it is not worrying, but still very uncomfortable for the person concerned. But acute and serious illnesses can also cause digestive problems.
Lifestyle-related digestive disorders
Lifestyle has a major impact on digestion and is responsible for many gastrointestinal problems:
- Stress often leads to hectic eating behavior in which the food is no longer adequately chewed. That makes digestion difficult. When stressed, the body also releases more so-called stress hormones (best-known example: adrenaline), which slows down bowel activity.
- The choice and preparation of the food also affects the digestibility of the food. Very fatty, spicy, salty and sweet foods are more difficult to digest.
- Sufficient exercise stimulates digestion. Therefore, a sedentary lifestyle often leads to digestive problems, especially constipation.
- Luxury foods such as alcohol and nicotine have a negative effect on the muscle function of the gastrointestinal tract and thus also disrupt digestion. They also encourage over-acidification in the stomach.
How does alcohol affect the body and mind? When does consumption become risky? And what damage can it cause? Find out here! Learn more
Other disruptive factors for digestion
Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy, can temporarily lead to digestive problems. And digestion becomes sluggish as you get older. Therefore, in these life situations, adjustments to the nutrition plan are the most important means of preventing digestive disorders.
What drugs affect digestion?
Many drugs also have an impact on digestion and cause problems here. Antibiotics, for example, cannot differentiate between different bacteria. That is why they not only kill the bacteria they are supposed to fight, but also the “good” bacteria in the intestinal flora and thereby damage them. The most common consequence of this is diarrhea. Bacterial strains, such as those contained in acidified milk products or sauerkraut, can counteract this and help to regenerate the intestinal flora.
Pain relievers from the group of opiates, on the other hand, slow down the bowel movement, which causes constipation when taken repeatedly. On the other hand, taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which are also painkillers, trigger acute diarrhea in many patients. However, these usually pass by themselves after a short time.
Diseases of the stomach and esophagus
Common indigestion in the upper part of the stomach is nausea and vomiting. They are typical symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection (gastroenteritis). An inflamed stomach lining (gastritis), on the other hand, triggers pain immediately after eating. Reflux disease, in turn, causes digestive problems such as heartburn and acid regurgitation. But stomach ulcers also cause pain and digestive problems.
Diseases in the small and large intestines
The group of intestinal diseases includes all diseases in the area of the small and large intestine. The causes here are numerous and can be inherited or acquired. However, changes in the stool such as diarrhea, constipation or even blood in the stool are always in the foreground.
Intestinal diseases with digestive problems include gastrointestinal flu as well as traveler's diarrhea or the group of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis. The symptoms often mean a severe burden for the affected patient. Part of the treatment is an adapted diet, which is supplemented if necessary with a temporary or permanent administration of medication to combat the inflammation.
Food intolerances and allergies
Not only illnesses, but also intolerance to certain foods or a food allergy to individual substances in them interfere with digestion. Diet, lifestyle and environmental factors all play an important role. A genetic predisposition is only in rare cases behind it. This is the case with neurodermatitis, asthma or hay fever, which belong to the atopic group of diseases.
Intolerance to gluten (celiac disease), peanuts or eggs as well as lactose and fructose intolerance are among the most common forms. They cause digestive problems because the body cannot digest food, or digest it properly, and excretes it unprocessed. Common consequences are diarrhea or cramp-like abdominal pain.
Diseases affecting the liver, gallbladder and pancreas
In addition to the stomach and intestines, the bile, liver and pancreas also play an important role in digestion. If these organs are only able to function to a limited extent (due to illness, accidents, etc.), this makes the digestive process more difficult. The pancreas, for example, produces enzymes that are necessary for healthy digestion. If they are no longer or insufficiently produced, digestive disorders are the result.
Liver infections such as the various forms of hepatitis also have a negative effect on digestion. Gallstones also often cause a feeling of fullness, nausea and vomiting or trigger pain. With liver cirrhosis (shrunken liver), the organ is no longer able to cope with its task of detoxification. Bloating and weight loss are common sequelae of this.
Diseases of the mouth and throat
Some digestive problems are caused by the oral cavity or the throat area. Because digestion does not begin in the stomach, but with the first bite in the mouth.
Chewing and chopping food and mixing it with saliva are first and important steps in digestion. Inflamed salivary glands or throat inflammation mean that these preparatory digestive processes and swallowing are only possible to a limited extent or with pain. This causes indigestion, as the food ends up in the stomach with too little liquid and badly chewed.
What does the doctor do with indigestion?
If digestive problems persist, or if they are particularly severe, a visit to the doctor is necessary. In order to find out what is behind the digestive problems before the diagnosis is made, the doctor uses various means.
A detailed discussion with the doctor (anamnesis) is always the first step towards the diagnosis. In it, the doctor focuses on risk factors such as taking medication or known diseases. He also asks about the circumstances in which the symptoms occur and their frequency and severity.
Palpation and listening of the abdomen are the basic parts of the physical exam. Further examinations are:
- An ultrasound of the abdomen is used if there is a suspicion of thickened intestinal walls or image inflammation (appendicitis).
- X-ray examinations are a means of clarifying gallstones or kidney stones. Contrast media help to identify changes in the mucous membrane such as polyps and tumors.
- Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide an even more precise picture of the stomach structure. So thickenings and enlargements are visible.
- Endoscopic examinations such as a stomach (gastroscopy) or colonoscopy (colonoscopy) are made if diseases of the gastrointestinal mucosa are suspected.
- Allergy tests such as prick or breath tests help the doctor to clarify whether there is a food allergy or intolerance.
- Blood and stool tests provide other important information for the diagnosis.
How are digestive problems treated?
What helps with digestive problems always depends on the respective causes.What needs to be done to treat digestive disorders must therefore always be adapted to the individual.
What can I do myself?
There are many options for non-drug treatment for digestive problems that you can start yourself (or in consultation with your doctor). A large number of symptoms can be greatly improved or even managed by adjusting your eating habits. It is important to observe when the symptoms appear and when they improve.
There are also many home remedies available to help relieve symptoms. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile tea has a soothing and calming effect on almost all epigastric complaints. A diet with sufficient fiber, as found in whole grain products, as well as enough fruits and vegetables prevents constipation. Hot water bottles can quickly provide relief from cramp-like symptoms, but must be avoided in the case of inflammation. Diarrhea leads to fluid loss. A simple mixture of water, salt and sugar counteracts this, and porridge in turn helps to stop the diarrhea.
How does the doctor treat digestive problems?
For the treatment of disturbed digestion, drugs such as antacids are typically used to neutralize stomach acid in heartburn. Antihistamines or lactase tablets are used if there is a food allergy. On the other hand, the doctor prescribes glucocorticoid preparations against inflammation of the gastric mucosa, for example. They inhibit the pain and fight the inflammation on their own.
If drug treatment is inadequate, surgery may also be necessary in some cases. Surgical intervention on the intestine may, for example, be unavoidable in the case of advanced ulcerative colitis or colon cancer. Surgery is also part of the therapy for a severe gastric ulcer.
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