Sour Stomach
Stomach
Health Discussion Forum
Sour
Stomach
What is sour stomach?
Sour stomach is a common catchall term for what is also
known as indigestion. It is the most common form of stomach
discomfort, accounting for about 70 percent of all
gastrointestinal complaints. According to Johns Hopkins
University, about one fourth of Americans are suffering some
form of sour stomach or indigestion at any given time. One
person in twenty who visits their primary care physician is
likely to be there because of indigestion. Women are more
likely to get it than men, but cases of indigestion and sour
stomach seem to remain stable or even decline with
age.
Another name for this type of indigestion is dyspepsia,
which includes a variety of upper abdominal "disturbances:"
bloating, burping, belching, and sometimes, nagging pain and
discomfort.
What causes sour stomach?
There are a many possible reasons for sour stomach. Two of
the more serious are:
gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, which is
characterized by upper abdominal pain that many people know as
"heartburn."
stomach ulcers, which cause periodic episodes of upper
abdominal pain. Stomach ulcer pain can sometimes be so severe
that it keeps the sufferer awake at night.
Sour stomach can also be a symptom of stomach cancer, but
it's rare.
Most of the time, sour stomach is caused by less serious
problems. Esophageal spasms and weak esophageal contractions
are among the other possibilities. These are known medically as
dismotility disorders.
Finally, any number of medications may trigger sour stomach,
including aspirin and other NSAIDS, certain antibiotics,
theophylline, digitalis, corticosteroids, iron, niacin, and
certain chemotherapy drugs.
Research has shown that stress can trigger or worsen
symptoms.
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Treatment
If you have occasional episodes of sour stomach, you can
generally get relief for a sour stomach or indigestion by
taking antacids and histamine (H2) blockers. These are
available over-the-counter. Antacids neutralize stomach acid,
which can cause inflammation in the stomach and the esophagus.
Antacids are intended for quick symptom relief. Examples
includes calcium carbonate (which is the main ingredient in
Tums and a number of other medications) and magnesium salts
(found in Mylanta, among others)
H2 blockers work by suppressing the production of stomach
acids, giving irritated tissues an opportunity to heal. These
include such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid),
nizatidine (Axid), and ranitidine (Zantac)
When to see a doctor
When the medications mentioned above are effective, there is
no reason to seek professional medical advice. However, if
symptoms persist and recur often, it's time to talk to your
doctor.
Pay special attention to when you feel better and when you
feel worse. This will help with a diagnosis. Your doctor will
also want to know if over-the-counter medication help. If you
feel very full after eating a small meal, or if you often feel
bloated or experience nausea or burping.
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