Everyone has some weak point. For many Americans, the weak point is their gut. It takes very little to cause gastrointestinal (GI) distress.
Dyspepsia is another name for indigestion in the upper digestive system- stomach and upper part of the intestines. Symptoms for dyspepsia include pain or burning below the tip of the breastbone, feeling full despite eating very less, feeling heaviness after eating, and burping. Indigestion in lower parts of the digestive system can cause symptoms such as gas, bloating, and cramping. For most people, symptoms match with mealtimes.
In a condition called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), extra symptoms include diarrhea and/or constipation. Dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome belong to the category of “functional” rather than “organic” disorders. In case of functional disorders, the problem lies with the performance of the system, but without visible signs of disease. In case of organic disorders, there is visible damage, such as an ulcer. Examples are peptic ulcers and inflammatory bowel diseases.
There are numerous possible causes of functional bowel conditions. They include stress overload; hypersensitivity of intestinal nerves; imbalances in the bacterial ecology of the intestines; food allergies and intolerances; medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics; and chronic diseases, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, anxiety, and depression.
This book will equip you with simple and effective tools to prevent and treat all kinds of indigestion.