Cuándo preocuparse por una indigestión

Acidez estomacal

Indigestion is usually caused by inflammation in your stomach. This is often due to too much stomach acid, which your body makes to digest food. If this acid backs up into your food pipe (oesophagus), it can cause heartburn - burning pain behind your breastbone, sometimes accompanied by a bitter liquid rising into your mouth. In the UK, 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 in the US regularly experience heartburn.

Otras causas son:

Úlceras

Las úlceras pépticas son úlceras en el estómago y en la zona que conecta la parte superior del intestino con el estómago (duodeno).

Hernia de hiato

La hernia de hiato se produce cuando la parte superior del estómago empuja hacia la cavidad torácica, provocando a menudo ardor de estómago.

Embarazo

Indigestion is common in pregnancy and around half of all pregnant women have indigestion at some point. Indigestion in pregnancy is usually due to reflux of acid from the stomach into the oesophagus.

Cáncer de estómago

Indigestion can occasionally be a sign of stomach cancer, although this is rare and most people who have indigestion do not have stomach cancer. If it gets worse or does not get better after 3 weeks with usual medicines it is recommended to see your doctor, particularly if combined with other symptoms such as unintended weight loss, feeling sick, and blood in your poo.

Medicamentos que provocan indigestión

Medicines are a common cause of indigestion.

Some of the most likely to cause it include:

• Aspirina.

• Anti-inflammatory tablets - may be taken for muscle pains or arthritis. These include medicines such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, and naproxen.

• Tablets taken daily, weekly, or monthly to prevent osteoporosis, or 'thinning' of the bones (bisphosphonates).

• Some antibiotics - especially erythromycin.

• Digoxina.

• Pastillas de esteroides.

• Tabletas de hierro.

• Medicamentos utilizados para la hipertensión arterial o, a veces, la angina de pecho (antagonistas del calcio).

Si la indigestión empieza o empeora poco después de empezar a tomar uno de estos medicamentos, consulte a su médico. Es posible que le cambien los comprimidos -o la hora a la que los toma- para evitar la indigestión.

Gérmenes

Sometimes a germ called Helicobacter pylori can make indigestion worse. Your doctor may perform a breath, poo (stool), or blood test for this and if necessary, give you a one-week course of treatment with three different tablets to get rid of it. This doesn't always work and it involves taking several tablets a day and often having to avoid alcohol for a week, but it can reduce the chance of symptoms returning.

Entre ellas figuran:

• Dolor intenso que no se calma con los remedios de su farmacéutico o médico.

• Being 'off' your food or losing weight for no obvious reason.

• Alimentos que se pegan al tragar o dolor intenso al tragar.

• Sangre en las cacas, especialmente si es de color rojo oscuro y está mezclada con las cacas.

• Sentir malestar general -que puede deberse a la anemia- o cansancio.

• Distensión abdominal persistente durante tres semanas o más, que en raras ocasiones podría deberse a un cáncer de ovario.

There's much that you can do to relieve or prevent your symptoms happening in the first place.

• In heartburn, lying down often brings on the issue because the acid doesn't have to travel against gravity up into your food pipe. Propping the head of your bed up on a couple of risers may help.

• También se puede perder peso, evitando los cinturones o pantalones ajustados y evitando las comidas copiosas o demasiado cerca de la hora de acostarse.

• For other indigestion, you may find that some foods such as peppermint, tomatoes, alcohol or spicy foods are best avoided.

• Your pharmacist can advise on short-term remedies or a course of tablets to relieve the discomfort. You could also try probiotics.