Indigestion is a common problem. It may be triggered by eating particular foods, or drinking wine or carbonated drinks. It may also be caused by eating too fast or by overeating. Some people may find that spicy foods, high-fiber foods, fatty foods, or too much caffeine can all make this problem worse. Symptoms may be worsened by anxiety and depression.

“Indigestion” refers to any number of gastrointestinal complaints, which can include gas (belching, flatulence, or bloating) and upset stomach. “Heartburn” refers to a burning feeling that can be caused by stomach acid regurgitating into the esophagus from the stomach, by gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach), or by an ulcer of the stomach or duodenum (also called peptic ulcer). “Low stomach acidity” refers to the inability to produce adequate quantities of stomach acid that will affect digestion and absorption of nutrients.

A variety of disorders can cause symptoms of indigestion, including ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and less commonly, cancer. In about half of cases brought to a doctor's attention, however, no identifiable underlying problem can be determined; doctors refer to such cases as “functional dyspepsia.” Many different medications are available to treat indigestion, even when the underlying causes cannot be identified.

Indigestion is the term used to describe pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen or chest after meals. The medical term for this is dyspepsia. Sometimes it is also used to describe a distinctive burning feeling in the chest, known as heartburn. Most people have suffered from indigestion after a large meal at some time, and up to one in four adults suffer from heartburn each year.

Causes

Indigestion might be caused by a disease or ulcer in the digestive tract. However, for many people, indigestion is caused by eating too much, eating too quickly, being tired, drinking too much caffeinated beverages, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations. Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, using medications that irritate the stomach lining, can also cause indigestion or make it worse.

Due to all these reasons the food does not get digested even if it has been taken at proper time and wholesome as well as light to digest. The common symptoms of indigestion are stasis of food in the stomach, malaise, headache, fainting, giddiness, stiffness in back and waist, yawning, body ache, thirst, fever, vomiting, griping, anorexia and improper digestion of the food.

As the adage goes, prevention is better than cure, the occurrence of indigestion could easily be prevented when the food intake is monitored. Monitoring food does not only require a person to check the food contents or nutritional values of the food but even the time of eating and the amount of food. It is still better to avoid the foods or situations that can cause indigestion. Smokers can be relieved when smoking is minimized or quitted. Exercising just after eating is also not recommended as it also causes indigestion.

Precautions

Fasting till the agni is proper and then giving manda, peya, vilepi till it is restored back to normal should be done. The diet should consists of old rice and light vegetable soup of spinach with warm water. Avoid all heavy and fried foods and cold drinks. Excess sweet, milk and its products which are heavy for digestion and meat of animals.