Heaviness in the stomach after eating
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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A man is overwhelmed by the feeling that he ate a cobblestone instead of his favorite dish for dinner. Agree - the feeling is not pleasant. It pierces not only at the physical level, but brings a lot of unpleasant minutes in the emotional plan. The severity in the stomach after eating significantly reduces the quality of life of the victim, telling the "owner" of the system failures affecting the body.
This unpleasant symptom should become a stimulating factor that will force you to seek advice and a checkup for the gastroenterologist.
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Causes of severity in the stomach after eating
The modern food industry and our crazy rhythm of life by many factors provoke disruptions in the body that affect the organs of the digestive system. One of the most common pathologies is dyspepsia, expressed by a feeling of burdened load in the epigastric region. The stomach simply can not cope with its work, food is not digested in time and delayed, not recycled, in the digestive tract. So what are the causes of the severity in the stomach after eating, how serious are they and how can they be suppressed or prevented? We will try to find answers to these questions in this article.
So what are the causes of heaviness in the stomach after eating? Until the end of all the root causes that cause such discomfort, have not yet been studied, but will get acquainted with the most common sources of discomfort.
- If a person likes to eat well, then overeating can become a provoking factor of an unpleasant sensation.
- The catalyst for discomfort is often the abundance in the diet of fatty and fried foods, the use of incompatible products, elements of coarse food.
- Food "on the go", the habit of eating and watching TV or reading a newspaper, the rapid consumption of food at the table, the ingestion of badly chewed food.
- Love of fast food.
- Eating food products containing dyes, stabilizers, preservatives, GMO products.
- The cause of heaviness in the stomach after eating in the morning can be a rich dinner on the eve and shortly before going to bed. At night, all body functions are slowed down (they also need rest) and the digestive system simply does not have time to process late-arrived food.
- Strongly aerated and alcoholic beverages, nicotine.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, passed into a chronic stage. For example, diseases such as cholecystitis or gastritis. In parallel, you can observe abdominal pain, flatulence, heartburn and nausea and eructation.
- A disorder of a neuro-psychic nature associated with finding a person in a prolonged stressful situation, depression. For example, diseases such as schizophrenia.
- Slowing peristalsis is also capable of a malfunction in the muscles of the intestinal wall, scars on the intestinal mucosa, formed after the treatment of the ulcer, due to increased acidity and perforation of the walls of the digestive tract. This causes insufficient work of the sphincter.
- Unbalanced nutrition, poor in vitamins and trace elements can lead to problems with the mucosa of the digestive system.
- To irritate the walls of the gastrointestinal tract can also products such as strong tea and coffee, an excess of protein foods, characterized by increased gas separation: legumes, eggs, mushrooms. Not for nothing, and a large intake of carbohydrates: sweets, confectionery, baked goods (especially hot).
- The cause of severity in the stomach after eating can also be dairy foods.
- Provoke the discomfort in question, tomatoes and tomato derivatives are capable.
- In elderly people, the symptoms of the "lazy stomach" appear due to the age - specific features of the organism, as the level of enzyme production necessary for the full processing of the food products introduced into it decreases with the years. Muscular activity of the walls of the digestive tract weakens.
- Gravity in the stomach after eating a pregnant woman can talk about the lack of food in the diet of a woman of food of vegetable origin.
- The cause of an unpleasant manifestation may be an infectious disease.
- Discomfort can also provoke disintegration products of tumors of any genesis.
- To reduce peristalsis is also capable of hypodynamia - a scourge of modernity.
- A prolonged illness that has ridden the patient to bed - a prolonged bed rest (reduced physical activity) can cause unpleasant sensations in the abdomen.
- The cause of pathology can be a severe form of circulatory disorders.
- Dysbacteriosis of the intestine.
- Parasitic infestations.
It is rare to observe the heaviness in the stomach after eating, as a single symptom. Primarily, it is combined with other symptoms, a complex set of which is an indicator that narrows the definition of the primary source of pathology.
Symptoms of severity in the stomach after eating
The syndrome of "lazy stomach" - this is what this disorder is called, doctors talk about dyspepsia. If to explain in a nutshell, then the phenomenon of dyspepsia is a situation where the muscles of the digestive system lose their former activity and are unable to adequately contract. As a result, incoming food can not be completely digested, settling in the "dead weight" in the stomach. Usually, this process is accompanied by nausea, eructation, the appearance of pain symptoms in the upper abdomen. This is the main symptoms of severity in the stomach after eating.
Heaviness in the stomach after the meat
After the meat heaviness in the stomach - it is worth considering this problem. The fact is that a lot depends on when the product was used. If this process occurred late in the evening hours, then you should not be surprised at this symptomatology. Meat products are quite heavy for the body, especially in a period when all processes begin to slow down and a person prepares to rest.
Appear gravity can both at night and in the morning. But there are also cases when an unpleasant symptom appears almost immediately after ingestion. This can be due to a large amount of eaten. After all, as noted above, meat is a heavy product for the body.
But not always so simple. Such a symptom may indicate a problem with the digestive system. Perhaps it is a gastritis or the onset of an inflammatory process. To exclude these factors definitely is not worth it. Gravity in the stomach after food is an occasion to consult a doctor, because all this indicates the presence of problems with the abdominal organs.
Heaviness in the stomach after water
Gravity in the stomach after water indicates a problem with the digestive system. In especially severe cases, a person feels unpleasant symptoms not only after eating, but also drinking fluids.
This phenomenon can be caused by reflux of the gallbladder. A similar phenomenon occurs with gastroduodenitis. In this case, there may be nausea, drying out of the tongue and constant thirst. Cholecystitis, pancreatitis, pancreatic enlargement and liver problems have similar symptoms.
Perhaps the development of gastritis, but at a more serious stage. Almost every second disease of the digestive system can manifest itself in a similar way. On two grounds it is difficult to say what the problem is. Definitely it is associated with the abdominal organs. Therefore, the earlier a person undergoes gastroscopy and ultrasound, the sooner quality treatment will be prescribed. The severity in the stomach, which occurs repeatedly, but manifests itself over a long period of time, requires an immediate solution to the problem.
Heaviness in the stomach after alcohol
If there is a heaviness in the stomach after alcohol, it is necessary to get rid of this addiction. Everyone knows that alcoholic beverages are quite high in calories. Therefore, if you consume them in large quantities, you may experience unpleasant symptoms. Alcohol itself does not represent anything positive. It negatively affects not only the stomach, but also the liver.
In view of its caloricity and "burning composition", it affects the mucous membranes of the digestive organs. Heaviness can appear after a lot of alcohol. From here for the morning and there are unpleasant symptoms, in the form of nausea, headache, discomfort in the stomach and liver.
It is impossible to get rid of this problem by medical means. You just need to drink less or just give it up. Alcohol has a negative effect on the body and it is impossible to eliminate this problem. Therefore, if there is a heaviness in the stomach after a feast, it is not necessary for a doctor to go, it is enough to just abandon this addiction.
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Diagnosis of severity in the stomach after eating
The feeling of overfilling in the epigastrium, which causes discomfort, is unpleasant, but it can be not only a consequence of malnutrition, but also an indicator of a developing disease in the human body. Overcrowding of the stomach is a symptom of a variety of diseases, so the diagnosis of severity in the stomach after a meal can include a set of examination methods in various combinations. The list of studies to be passed to the patient is assigned by his attending physician depending on the alleged primary source of pathology. After all, therapy "in the blind" can be not only inefficient, but also can bring heavy consequences. Therefore, the specialist will analyze complaints of the patient, will conduct an inspection and only then assign a set of necessary examinations.
It can be:
- Fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the digestive organs, the most frequently performed recently. Gastroscope examines the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. Foci of inflammation, dystrophic processes and other pathologies are detected. Is available in carrying out chromoscopy and taking a fragment of the mucosa for analysis.
- Gastrochromagastroscopy is a technique that allows analyzing the level of acid-forming activity of gastric secretions. Allows you to estimate the extent of atrophic pathologies. To conduct research through a special channel into the stomach, an endoscope is inserted, special dyes are used. The degree of staining contrast is analyzed.
- Morphological examination - testing is carried out using a microscope. An analysis of the mucosa taken during the previous study is carried out. There is an assessment of the degree of atrophy of matter, the normal state of which has been disturbed by some negative factors, for example, exposure to hydrochloric acid.
- Intragastric pH-metry is performed according to Linar. Due to special pH-sensors placed in the inner cavity of the stomach in the zone of gastric secretions, the specialist conducts a test evaluation of the activity of the acid produced by them. At the same time, test studies are conducted, which allow to evaluate the work of the organ under histamine, pentagastrin, insulin, atropine load.
- Envidodekapsula - the patient is injected through the esophagus a small special device equipped with a mini-video camera, which, during the progress, imaging, passing the entire entire digestive tract. Highly informative method. It allows to evaluate the state of the digestive organs and to reveal pathological changes.
- Fibroileocolonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the lower region of the small and entire large intestine. An evaluation of the level of activity, tone and motor activity is given. Determination of foci of inflammation. Quite often this research is used and as a method of therapeutic therapy, which allows several to align the loops of the intestine. Fairly informative procedure.
- Irrigoscopy - X-ray examination of the large intestine.
- Computer tomography and / or magnetic resonance tomography is a radioisotope study that allows to assess the level of bile produced by the liver and the activity of its passage through the biliary tract.
- Enteroscopy - assessment of the mucosa by the method of endoscopic examination.
- X-ray examination of the stomach - X-ray examination, carried out using contrast medium (barium). Assessment of the motor activity of the intestine.
- Cholecystography - X-ray examination of the gallbladder with contrast medium.
- Hepatocholecystography is a radioisotope study that allows to qualitatively evaluate and record all stages of passage of bile. This technique makes it possible to diagnose both hypotonic failures and hypokinetic abnormalities.
- Coprogram is a facilitated method for evaluating the functioning of the digestive tract. It allows to estimate failures in the process of assimilation and dissimilation of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It makes it possible to differentiate cysts and individuals of parasitic microorganisms.
- Ultrasonograph carried out with loads. Evaluates the contractile activity of the muscular tissues of the gallbladder, sphincters.
- Duodenal sounding - analysis of the state of various bile samples, makes it possible to evaluate the work of individual sections of the gallbladder. In order to increase the informative value of the study, a test is performed using a contrast medium.
- Fermentation analysis of blood for pancreatic enzymes.
- Research of plasma on pepsinogenes and gastrin.
- Analysis of feces for elastase-1, a decrease in its level indicates a decrease in the activity of the pancreas.
- Bakposev kala, giving an assessment of the balance of the intestinal flora. Failures in the equilibrium combination lead to intestinal dysbiosis.
- Immunological and molecular tests, which make it possible to recognize the presence of invasive parasites in the human body.
Naturally, the patient does not have to undergo all these examinations. The attending physician will select the ones that will be most informative in this particular case.
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Treatment of severity in the stomach after eating
Any therapeutic actions can be carried out only in the case of establishing a source that provokes this pathological manifestation. Treatment of severity in the stomach after eating begins only after a complete examination and based on its results.
Uniquely appointed diet, which is prescribed by the attending physician, based on the localization of the disease. For each pathology, there is a specific nutrition adjustment. In addition, "heavy food" is removed from the ration. The doctor can recommend keeping a diary of food, into which the products included in the consumed dish are introduced, and the body's reaction to it. This makes it possible to establish the relationship of a specific product and uncomfortable manifestation. Sometimes it is quite sufficient to exclude the "irritating product" from the patient's diet and the unpleasant symptomatology passes. This method of cupping is called elimination. In some cases, this method can also be used in the role of diagnosing intolerance to the patient's body for specific products and chemical elements.
In addition to diet, the patient takes pharmacotherapy, painted directly to affect the disease - a provoker of gravity in the stomach after eating. Usually pharmacological therapy is divided into remedies and drugs designed to regulate the mechanism of motor activity of the digestive tract: cholekinetics and prokinetics.
Drugs of substitution therapy are introduced into the treatment process in order to completely or partially replenish and activate the lost level of the secretory function of the pancreas directly or the stomach. For example, if the patient has a low level of acidity, then drugs that differ in elevated levels of hydrochloric acid or pepsin are prescribed. These include pepsidil, gastric juice, acid-pepsin, abomin.
The drug pepsidil determines the activation of protein processing in the human stomach. The drug is administered inside with food products one to two tablespoons three times throughout the day. It is advisable to take the drug through the tube. Data on the contraindications of the drug for today are absent.
Atsidin-pepsin - a combined drug that helps normalize the process of digestion of food in the stomach. The drug is administered in the body with food or immediately after the meal, one to two tablets, soluble in half or quarter of a glass of water. The number of receptions is three to four times throughout the day. To small patients the dosage is appointed depending on age, and makes from a quarter of a tablet to one whole, applied three - four times a day.
Supplement the protocol of therapy with polyenzymatic drugs: mezim-forte, festal, panzinorm, digestal, enzyme and other drugs of a similar action.
Festal is used in conjunction with food or at the end of food intake with a small amount of water. The starting dosage determines one to two tablets three times a day. If necessary, the doctor can raise the amount of the drug administered. In the case of an X-ray examination or ultrasound take two pills two or three entries throughout the day. The method of taking and the dose for small patients is prescribed only by the attending physician. Duration of therapy, depending on the severity of the pathology, from several days to several months, and in the case of replacement therapy, and years.
Contraindicated festal to the appointment in cases of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, in the acute phase or chronic nature of pancreatitis, in the case of acute liver failure, pre-comedom and hepatic coma, cholelithiasis, hyperbilirubinemia, intestinal obstruction, propensity to diarrhea, children under the age of three years.
Mezim-forte is taken strictly individually before eating. Adult patients drink one to two tablets. If there is a clinical need, in the process of nutrition, you can add one more - four tablets. These changes and the amount of the drug for babies are prescribed only by the doctor. The duration of treatment is determined by the attending physician.
It is not recommended to take this medicine for patients who have a history of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, acute or chronic form of pancreatitis.
If pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is diagnosed, physicians tend to prescribe stronger modern polyenzymes. For example, such as creon, pancitrate, mikrazim, hermitil. Usually they are injected into the patient's body with higher dosages. In especially severe cases, the patient has to take them throughout life.
Pancetrate is taken by the patient in conjunction with food or after eating. The dose to be administered depends on the severity of the failure in digestion. Adults are assigned one - two capsules (with an active substance concentration of 10,000 units) or one capsule (with an active substance concentration of 25,000 units), which are administered three times throughout the day. For young patients who are already six years old, the therapy and dosages are prescribed only by the attending physician.
Contraindications to the use of pantcitrate are similar, as with mezim-forte.
Hermitage is accepted in the same way as panthitrate. The only difference for adult patients will be a different number of units taken depending on the concentration of the active substance in them: two to four capsules (at an active substance concentration of 10,000 units), one to two capsules (at an active substance concentration of 25,000 units) or one capsule concentration of the active substance is 36000 units). The drug is used in conjunction with each meal.
To stimulate the work of intestinal peristalsis, to restore consistency in the work of various zones of the digestive tube, physicians are usually prescribed prokinetics (motor regulators). To them it is possible to include aseptipids (for example, ganaton), metoclopramids (cerulek, raglan) and domperidone, which include passenger, motilium, motonium, motilac. In particularly difficult situations, for example, in the case of atony, which develops after surgery, ubretid or proserin is prescribed.
Ganaton is attributed orally. For adults, the dosage of the drug is one tablet (50 mg) three times a day. Contraindications to this drug include hypersensitivity to itopride or other components of the drug; bleeding, perforation and ulcerative manifestations affecting the gastrointestinal tract; as well as during pregnancy and lactation, children under 16 years.
Passage is administered orally 15 to 30 minutes before meals, one tablet (10 mg) three times a day. In case of medical necessity, an additional reception is appointed before going to bed. Children who have crossed the five-year boundary - a quarter tablet (2.5 mg) for every 10 kg of the body weight of the baby, taken three times during the day.
In the case of therapeutic necessity, the amount of drug administered can be doubled.
Contraindicated in the case of phenylketonuria, individual intolerance to the constituent components of the drug, in the case of the diagnosis of prolactinoma (prolactin secretion in the pituitary gland) and children under five years of age or a body weight of less than 20 kg.
With the purpose of activating the contractile activity of gallbladder muscle tissue and a parallel decrease in the tone of the sphincter valve, the patient is recommended to take cholekinetics. To this group of medicines include Carlsbad salt, xylitol, tincture of barberry, sorbitol, magnesium sulfate, berberine, tsikvalon.
Magnesium sulfate is injected into the patient's body as an intravenous or intramuscular injection, and only under the prescription of a doctor. A 25% solution is administered slowly, and its dosage is adjusted as the therapeutic result is obtained. In parallel, the level of magnesium sulfate in the blood plasma is monitored. The target interval is usually in the range of 5 to 20 ml.
It is not recommended to use magnesium sulfate in case of hypersensitivity to the drug, with arterial hypertension, with a low level of calcium in the patient's body, inhibition of the activity of the respiratory center.
Do not be superfluous and auxiliary techniques. For example, such as:
- Physiotherapeutic procedures: swimming pool, hydromassage, healing baths, massages and others.
- Preventive and maintenance therapy with specialized mineral waters.
- A complex of gymnastic exercises selected by a specialist.
- Recipes and methods of alternative medicine.
To "soften" or prevent the appearance of gravity in the stomach after eating, you can insure yourself with some of the advice of our grandmothers.
- It is necessary to prepare in advance a decoction of centaury, chamomile, apothecary or yarrow. Two tablespoons of herbs pour half a liter of boiling water, hold in a water bath for 15 minutes, then insist 30 -45 minutes, then select the cake. The filtered liquid should be drunk half the glass half an hour before the intended meal.
- Before going to sleep, for two to three hours, it is advisable to take a glass of kefir.
- If a feeling of heaviness in the stomach after eating is still observed, you can try to do a simple procedure: put a warm diaper on the abdomen, after ten minutes, the diaper needs to be removed and light movements for half an hour to massage the abdomen. Passes hands should be light, circular, done clockwise.
- Prepare the tincture: pour half a liter of vodka into two tablespoons of the crushed root of the yellow gentian. Composition for two weeks put in a cool dark place, after which through the cheesecloth take away the liquid. Take the extract for four to five days. Before using 20-30 drops of tincture dilute six to eight tablespoons of water. Do not just get carried away by this composition, if a person's professional activity is connected with driving a motor vehicle.
- It will not be superfluous to conduct relaxing auto-training, yoga. They allow to stabilize the nervous system, which can also become a provoker of gravity in the stomach after eating.
- As a strengthening and stimulating gymnastics for a woman, belly dancing is perfect, for the stronger sex - it can be bellydance.
- The oldest and most effective recipe for our ancestors is dill or fennel water (dill or fennel seed infusion). High efficiency shows the reception of the decoction of such a mixture: take two parts of mint leaves, one part of fennel fruits, three parts of chamomile pharmacist, one part of anise fruit, three parts of buckthorn bark. Each product is thoroughly crushed and mixed with each other. Two tablespoons of the collection pour half a liter of boiling water, hold for 15 minutes in a water bath. Set aside to cool, then drain. Within a day, take two to three glasses, drinking small portions.
Prevention and treatment of gravity in the stomach
The discomfort that appears after a meal is a familiar state to many. Is it possible to save yourself from this misfortune and how? Prevention of severity in the stomach after eating includes some recommendations, which can significantly reduce the likelihood of this unpleasant symptom.
- Do not overload the digestive system before bed. Take as a rule that the last meal should be two to three hours before going to bed. Supper should be easy. Before going to bed, you can drink a glass of yogurt.
- A well-balanced food system and a balanced diet are the guarantee of normal functioning of the digestive system.
- In the process of feeding, portions should be small, but it should be eaten frequently and regularly (frequent diets adversely affect the kinetics of the digestive system). Intervals between receptions are welcomed from two to three hours.
- When a person eats, do not talk in parallel, read a newspaper or watch TV.
- Food should be thoroughly chewed. It is not superfluous to remember the wisdom: "who chews for a long time - that long lives"!
- Do not overeat, keeping track of your weight. A large excess of it dramatically increases the risk of developing a variety of diseases, which also provoke heaviness in the stomach after eating.
- It is necessary to remove from the diet sharp, fried and fatty foods, carbonated drinks.
- Refuse bad habits: alcohol, nicotine (harm brings both active and passive smoking). If immediately it is difficult to do, then you need to try to minimize the irritating gastric mucosa factor.
- Carefully monitor the compatibility of products used in a single meal.
- Try to learn to avoid stressful situations or adequately cope with them.
- Exclude physical activity and increased stress immediately after eating.
- If a person has a tendency to the appearance of heaviness in the stomach after eating, he is categorically contraindicated in prolonged starvation.
- Do not start eating right after a scandal or other psychologically negative situation. You must first calm down, and then start eating.
- It is necessary to adhere to the temperature regime of the food. In the case of dyspepsia, hot, like very cold food, is categorically contraindicated.
- It is necessary to exclude from the diet sweet refined products, fast food products, foodstuffs, which include stabilizers, preservatives, dyes and other harmful additives.
- Do not engage in self-medication - because the cause of gravity in the epigastrium may be used drugs.
- It is very neat to take and prescribed by the doctor preparations - some of them in side effects have a heaviness in the abdomen.
- People suffering from this unpleasant symptomatology should pay due attention to intensive movement. It is necessary to spend more time in the gym or on the dance floor, swimming, running and long walks in nature are perfect.
- Do not dehydrate the body. It is necessary to drink a lot of water - it helps in the process of digestion, and also will contribute to the fastest arrival of a sense of satiety, which will save you from overeating. Enter into the habit of taking a glass of warm water 30 minutes before the main meal. Water washes away the already existing gastric juice, warms the digestive organs, preparing them for work. After this, a new portion of gastric juice is produced - the stomach is ready for normal functioning. In this situation, it will be easier for him to work, and even when he has drunk the water, it is perfectly absorbed into the blood, compensating for the lack of liquid in the body.
- During the hot summer instead of warm water you can drink a glass of cool, but the interval before meals should be increased to 40 minutes.
- If you are thirsty during the consumption of food, you can take the liquid, but you do not need to drink it, but "chew" it.
- Do not immediately after meals, drink it with juices, compotes, tea or coffee. This contributes to a decrease in the level of gastric juice, which leads to a slowdown in the processing of products that have entered the stomach. Maintaining this habit for a long time, you can end up with a digestive dysfunction.
- If these preventive measures do not help to get rid of unpleasant symptoms, you need to seek help from a specialist and undergo a test for the detection of a pathological disease provoking this symptomatology.
- A positive rest in good health also brings a full rest. It is desirable to go to bed at the same time and not later than 11 pm.
- If, however, the heaviness in the stomach after eating is observed, it is worth analyzing your actions and nutrition the day before and, if possible, it is necessary to eliminate the irritant.
Adhering to the above simple recommendations, you can significantly reduce the intensity of unpleasant symptoms or completely prevent its occurrence. A healthy lifestyle, including constant physical activity, balanced nutrition and the exclusion of bad habits, will provide an opportunity to protect yourself from many pathological changes in the body.
Prognosis of severity in the stomach after eating
In many ways, the prediction of severity in the stomach after eating depends on the person himself. People who lead the right way of life significantly reduce the risk of getting unpleasant symptoms. But if an uncomfortable condition, still pestering, then a timely appeal to a specialist who will establish the cause and prescribe adequate therapy will allow you to make a prediction of the severity in the stomach after more than favorable, negating the further recurrence of the disease.
A high level of full-fledged life largely depends on how we feel. It's hard to imagine a person who flutters with joy when he is pestered by the heaviness in the stomach after eating. But everything, first of all, is in the hands of the person himself. After all, only he is able to hear the "complaints" of his body and take the necessary measures for recovery: the exclusion of bad habits, the conduct of an active lifestyle, filled with healthy food and a positive attitude. After all, only the person can decide to seek help from a doctor. Therefore, be more attentive to your body, and it will cease to "upset" you with such unpleasant symptoms.