What tests should be done for indigestion?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Indigestion is relatively common in clinical practice. Patients can undergo several diagnostic tests to rule out other causes of indigestion. These tests include gastroscopy, complete blood count, liver function tests, Helicobacter pylori testing, and abdominal ultrasound. Generally, if these tests show no issues, especially if the patient's symptoms are persistent and not accompanied by any alarming signs such as fever, bloody stools, vomiting blood, decreased appetite, or weight loss, indigestion is usually considered. In terms of treatment, symptomatic treatment is emphasized. Typically, medications that protect the stomach, improve gastrointestinal motility, and aid digestion can be used and generally provide some degree of control. Of course, this is under the assumption that other causes of abdominal discomfort, such as ulcers, inflammation, or even tumors, have been ruled out. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of indigestion?

Indigestion, also known as functional dyspepsia, is primarily characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting, due to impaired food ejection function. Poor appetite can lead to a relative lack of body energy, resulting in symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Indigestion is common among children and the elderly or frail. In treatment, it is important to adjust the diet to focus on soft, easy-to-digest foods, eat more fresh green vegetables, and avoid raw, cold, or spicy foods.

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Written by Yang Shuang
Cardiology
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How to regulate functional dyspepsia?

For functional dyspepsia, dietary attentions include consuming easily digestible foods such as noodles, steamed buns, dumplings, and soft-cooked rice. Try to avoid hard or difficult-to-digest foods, such as bones, and avoid acidic, spicy foods, and alcohol. Consume more fresh vegetables and fruits. For medical treatment, medications that promote gastrointestinal motility and aid in digesting food can be taken, such as supplements containing gastric protease. Eating smaller, more frequent meals is advisable, avoiding excessive consumption of fish and meat. Daily protein intake should be around 50 grams to meet the body's needs.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What should I do about indigestion?

Indigestion is considered a gastrointestinal dysfunction, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views it as spleen and stomach weakness. TCM recommends using herbal medicines to adjust the spleen and stomach, as well as consuming foods that aid digestion, such as tomatoes, hawthorn, pumpkin, and Chinese yam. These foods help to generate fluids to quench thirst, moisten the intestines for bowel movement, and assist digestion. It is advisable to have a lighter diet, avoid spicy and greasy foods, engage in appropriate outdoor exercise to improve physical health, and eat meals at regular times and quantities to avoid overeating. It is important to protect the gastrointestinal system and enhance the stomach's digestive function in daily life. If symptoms do not improve after dietary adjustments, it is recommended to visit the gastroenterology department for a detailed examination.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Does stomach cold easily lead to indigestion?

Patients with a cold stomach may experience poor digestion, and other symptoms of deficiency-cold such as diarrhea and abdominal bloating. They usually avoid eating very cold or very hard foods. It is recommended to eat foods like adzuki beans, red beans, coix seed, and jujube, which can effectively help expel the cold from the stomach and improve symptoms. Also, it is advisable to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables regularly, mainly to avoid stimulating, greasy, and raw cold foods, so as not to aggravate the condition. Engaging in more physical activities can effectively aid gastrointestinal motility and improve symptoms.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What can you eat with indigestion?

Indigestion can be observed in various gastric diseases such as gastrointestinal dysfunction, chronic gastritis, and peptic ulcers, all of which can exhibit symptoms of indigestion. When experiencing symptoms of indigestion, attention must also be paid to diet. Firstly, one must quit smoking and drinking alcohol, avoid strong tea, coffee, fatty and heavy foods, spicy foods, fried foods, grilled foods, raw and cold foods, as well as sweets. One should avoid consuming milk, soy milk, glutinous rice, sweet potatoes, and other such foods. This is because some of these foods can increase gastric acid secretion leading to a worsening of gastric diseases, and some are difficult to digest, exacerbating symptoms of indigestion; therefore, they are not recommended. It is advised to increase physical activity, as exercise can promote gastrointestinal motility, which is effective in improving symptoms of indigestion.