What Causes a Heavy Stomach and How to Relieve the Symptom
A feeling of heaviness in the stomach is an unpleasant symptom that can appear either as a result of poor nutrition or as a sign of gastrointestinal diseases. Most often, this heaviness appears because of excessive consumption of food that is difficult for the stomach to digest. In such a case, the best solution is to seek help from a qualified specialist. Self-treatment is not recommended, as uncontrolled use of medicines can only do harm and worsen the overall condition.
Why does this condition occur
The main causes of a feeling of heaviness in the epigastric area are:
- Poor eating habits: eating in a hurry, overuse of convenience foods, and consumption of food that is too fatty or spicy.
- Overeating during one meal.
- Excessive strain on the digestive system, especially at night.
- Irregular eating — eating only a few times during the day.
- Including foods in the diet that are hard for the body to digest or create unfavorable combinations;
- Eating while in a psychologically stressful state.
- The presence of diseases of the digestive tract in chronic or acute form: inflammatory processes of the stomach lining, impaired pancreatic function, erosive lesions, or problems with the gallbladder.
As for the period of waiting for a child, the mechanisms behind the appearance of discomfort in the stomach area have their own specifics. Such manifestations are typical for the vast majority of expectant mothers. One of the main causes is the growth of the fetus, which puts pressure on the stomach, thereby causing a feeling of discomfort. Another factor is toxicosis in the early stages of pregnancy, as well as increased intra-abdominal pressure at later stages. It is these changes in the body of the expectant mother that cause a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. In addition, unpleasant sensations may arise due to the accumulation of gas in the intestines, that is, as a result of flatulence. If such symptoms appear, it is necessary to consult a doctor, who will advise what to do in the case of severe heaviness in the stomach.
How heaviness in the stomach is treated
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor after a comprehensive examination of the patient and is carried out under his supervision. During treatment, the specialist may make changes to the prescriptions according to the patient's health condition and individual characteristics.
General advice on this matter: give up fatty and spicy food, establish a regular eating schedule, and limit the consumption of alcoholic and carbonated drinks. Food should be eaten in small portions. Fast food and quick snacks on the go are also not recommended. Special attention should be paid to your own psychological state.
The doctor may also prescribe special medicines — enzymes for a while to relieve the symptom. Such medicines, for example, are available at the pharmacy Good Day. And although these are quite harmless pills, you should still consult a specialist before taking them.
If you find it hard to breathe because of a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, do not put off a visit to the doctor and by no means self-medicate!
Prevention of heaviness in the stomach
A careful attitude toward your own health and following these tips will help prevent a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. The main preventive measures include:
- giving up harmful habits;
- eating often in small portions;
- chewing each bite thoroughly;
- avoiding fatty and spicy food;
- regularly having “unloading” days;
Also try to eat in a calm environment and in a good emotional mood.
