How Do You Treat Indigestion?

Indigestion or dyspepsia indicates a general term for discomfort or pain, which a patient may feel in the stomach, abdomen and below the ribs. It is often a sign of a problem, such as ulcer, gall bladder problem and GERD i.e. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease instead of a health condition of its own. Treating indigestion is possible by many methods.

The problem of indigestion may not require any specific treatment; instead, indigestion cures on own after some time. However, you should make sure to inform your doctor in case the symptoms become worse. The type of treatment depends solely on the exact cause of indigestion.

1. Lifestyle Changes as a Treatment Method for Indigestion

   Bringing changes in the lifestyle will treat the symptoms associated with indigestion problem. These are:

   • Try to avoid chewing with your open mouth, do not interact while chewing or eat at the fast speed. This will cause swallowing of air in too much amount leading to the problem of indigestion.
   • Make a habit to drink water or any other beverage before or after, rather than while taking meals
   • Avoid having dinner at late night to treat indigestion
   • Try to have some work after having meals
   • Avoid having spicy foods
   • Try to quit smoking cigarette and avoid alcohol.

2. Medications to Get Immediate Relief from Indigestion

   1. Antacids for Treating Indigestion

      Antacids medications are able to provide patients immediate treatment in case patients dealing with mild or moderate indigestion symptoms. These medicines neutralize the stomach acid to make it less acidic and avoid irritation in the digestive system lining of humans. You may intake antacids in both liquid and tablet forms. In addition, you may opt to purchase them over-the-counter from various pharmacy outlets without any prescription to treat indigestion.

      The effects of any antacid for indigestion last only for a few hours at a particular time. Because of this, you should take 2 or more than 2 doses of the medicine. In addition, you should make sure to follow the necessary instructions written on the packet to make sure to avoid intake the medicine in excessive amounts.

      You should make sure to intake antacids whenever you expect the symptoms associated with indigestion or when it just starts, like during your bedtime or after having meals. Reason for this is that antacids remain present in the stomach for a relatively long time and get adequate time for its work.

   2. Alginates to Treat Indigestion

      A few of the antacids incorporate another medicine named alginate, which helps in treating indigestion caused due to acid reflux i.e. whenever the acid present in the stomach leaks in backward direction within the oesophagus to irritate its lining. Alginates act as a foam barrier to float over the contents of the stomach by keeping the acidic substance in the stomach as well as away from the oesophagus. Patients should take antacids incorporating alginates after they eat their meals. This helps them to keep the medicine in their stomach for a long time.

If you are suffering from the problem of persistent or recurring indigestion, you may not be able to get relief from alginates or antacids. Hence, doctors further recommend for following necessary medications for treating it:

1. PPIs i.e. Proton Pump Inhibitors

   PPIs or Proton Pump Inhibitors play a major role to restrict the production of acid present in the stomach. Individuals suffering from indigestion have to take it in the form of tablets and usually remain available in the form of prescription. If you are more than 18 years old, you may buy a few types of PPIs as over-the-counter in various pharmacies to treat indigestion, but they should use it only for short-term basis. PPIs may boost the overall effect associated with specific medicines.

2. H2-Receptors

   Most of the doctors even recommend you for H2-receptor type of antagonists to treat the problem of indigestion.