Pay Attention to the Symptoms of Severe Indigestion

First thing, severe indigestion pain can mirror or be a symptom of a heart attack. Recurrent severe indigestion or bouts accompanied by numbness or pain in the check, neck, back, jaw or arm should be checked immediately. Do not worry about being embarrassed in case it is a false alarm. It is better to be cautious than to ignore it. If it ends up being just severe indigestion, the next step is to monitor when it occurs.

Many people are struck with severe indigestion when they eat meals too late in the evening or when they eat too much. Eating too fast can also cause problems. When the stomach is overfilled, the gastric acids can be pushed into the esophagus. It can last for hours while the stomach deals with the food that needs to be digested. You invite severe indigestion pain if you frequently eat too much. Also forcing yourself to eat when you are not hungry or are already full can lead to bouts of indigestion. Certain foods can trigger severe indigestion in many people. If you have sensitivity to acidic foods such as tomatoes and citrus, watch out. Spicy or deep fried foods can be the trigger as well.

Severe indigestion can be a sign of more serious digestive problems. Severe indigestion can be caused by stomach ulcers. This is often accompanied by pain in the stomach caused by the open sores. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition where food or fluid moves up from the stomach into the esophagus. This irritates the food tube and can cause difficulty in swallowing and heartburn. Acid reflux is similar to GERD. The difference is that gastric acids are pushed up instead of food. The acid can eat away at the lining of the esophagus. All of these can contribute to severe acid indigestion.

Common treatments for severe indigestion range from lifestyle changes to taking medications. Triggering foods should be removed from the diet. This can include tomatoes, peppers, milk, and citrus. Coffee, tea, alcohol and carbonated drinks should no longer be ingested. Smoking is a leading contributor to severe acid indigestion and should be eliminated. Stress and anxiety need to be reduced. Over-the-counter antacids are also options. These can provide temporary relief for the short term. Long term use is not recommended. If all else fails, your doctor can prescribe medications to help relieve severe indigestion. Do not take indigestion lightly, especially severe bouts of it. It can lead to permanent damage to the gastro-esophageal tract. It can also mask more serious issues if you ignore it.