Brandon was having a great day. He got an "A" on his math
test, the girl he likes had said "hi" to him, and, for lunch, he had an awesome
steak sandwich with cheese, peppers, and lots of onions.
But later that afternoon, in social studies, he felt a
burning sensation in the back of his throat. His chest and stomach started to
hurt, too. Brandon had a mean case of .... indigestion!
What Is
Indigestion?
Indigestion (say:
in-dih-jest-shun) is just another name for an upset stomach.
(It's also called dyspepsia (say: dis-pep-see-ah.)
Indigestion usually happens when people eat too much, too fast, or foods that
don't "agree" with them. It's fair to say that big cheesesteak sandwich didn't
agree with Brandon!
Brandon had a little heartburn with his indigestion. It
doesn't mean there was anything wrong with his heart. Heartburn is a burning
feeling that travels from a person's chest up to the neck and throat. It's
caused by stomach acid, which isn't a problem unless it gets out of your
stomach.
With heartburn, stomach acid splashes up and irritates the
esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Also called
acid indigestion, this usually leaves a sour or bitter taste in the person's
mouth.
Indigestion and heartburn are common problems for both
kids and grownups. That's why you see all those commercials for heartburn and
indigestion medicines on TV! But don't take any medicine for indigestion unless
your parents or doctor says it's OK. Most of the ones that are advertised on TV
are meant for adults, not kids.
Stress, not enough sleep, smoking, or drinking alcohol
also can make indigestion worse.
Digestive problems, such as ulcers, can cause the
symptoms of indigestion and heartburn, too. But they're not common in kids.
Do I Have It?
In
addition to heartburn, if you have indigestion, you'll probably have one or more
of the following symptoms:
- pain or burning in your upper belly - usually in the
middle
- nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
- bloating (that too-full feeling where your stomach
sticks out)
- burping that you have a hard time controlling
When to Go to the
Doctor
Usually, indigestion only happens once in a while,
like after eating one too many hot dogs.
But you'll want to see the doctor
if you get indigestion even when you're eating healthy foods, exercising, and
getting enough sleep.
You may need to be examined, have stomach X-rays or other tests to make
sure your indigestion is not the sign of another problem in your digestive
tract. Depending on what the doctor finds, you might need to make changes in
your diet or take medicine.
Be sure to tell your parent right way if you:
- throw up (or vomit), especially if you ever
see blood in your throw up
- think you're losing weight
- have no appetite for more than a day
- ever feel short of breath
- sweat for no reason
- have belly pain that won't go away or feels really bad
- have poop (bowel movements) that look black or sticky
or you see blood after you wipe
Indigestion
Prevention
Some people can eat anything and they never get
upset stomachs. But other people are more sensitive to food and they might find
certain ones just don't agree with them. If you discover one of these foods,
it's best not to eat a lot of them or skip them entirely. (For Brandon, the
problem was the onions on his cheesesteak!)
In addition to avoiding problem foods, it's a good idea to
eat several smaller meals instead of a couple really big ones. Here are some
other tips to prevent indigestion:
- As much as possible, avoid fatty, greasy foods, like
fries and burgers.
- Avoid too much chocolate or too many citrus fruits (the
acid in citrus fruits can upset the digestive tract).
- Eat slowly.
- Don't smoke - or don't
start smoking!
- Find ways to relax and decrease stress.
- Give your body a chance to digest food. Don't eat a
huge meal and immediately go to sports practice. Try to eat at least an hour
beforehand, or eat afterward.
You might do all these things, but still get indigestion
once in a while. If you do, just remember to say "excuse me" if it makes you burp!
Reviewed by: Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date
reviewed: September 2004