Disorders of the digestive system, digestive problems,
dyspepsia … all rather common and frequent problems. How to recognize if you
have a digestive problem, and what are the causes and symptoms can
take into consideration
. Silvio Danese, Head
of the Center for Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases of the Humanitas Center,
during an episode of the RAI 3 TV program “Whole Health”. The important role of chewing in digestion
Prof. Danese explained how important the role of
chewing is. This «is fundamental for various reasons – underlines Danese – first of all
the trituration of the food that takes place in the mouth helps the subsequent work of the
stomach. There are also enzymes in the saliva that facilitate digestion, and
it was then recently discovered that when we chew, small
wounds (microtrauma) are created on the gums, through which the cells of the
immune system hear food and prevent it from triggering a aggressive response
against food ». Typical symptoms of indigestion or dyspepsia
But what are the most common symptoms of
indigestion
“Digestive problems usually manifest themselves with
pain, heartburn, a sense of heaviness, early satiety and bloating –
explained prof. Danish – Sometimes, some lifestyles and
incorrect behavior make it more difficult for the stomach: for example
, insufficient chewing, eating hastily, eating
large meals and lying down after eating. Post-meal sleepiness is a
process that can occur, because when we digest the blood it is
drawn back to the digestive system and this can lead
to drowsiness, difficulty concentrating and headaches. Furthermore, dyspepsia is often
associated with alterations in mood, so during times of stress
it can be more frequent. We must not forget the quality of what
we eat because good digestion begins in the kitchen ». The causes of indigestion or dyspepsia
When it comes to dyspepsia, what are the causes
“If
dyspepsia is chronic, and therefore the symptoms last for 2-3 months – specifies
prof. Danish – it is good to consult your doctor or specialist in order to
understand the underlying causes. Although unfortunately in three out of four times
it is not possible to identify what causes poor digestion. Sometimes, this
can be due to the presence of gastritis, an ulcer, gastroesophageal
reflux, problems affecting the biliary system or taking
certain medications. In these cases it is possible to solve the problem. In the remaining
75% of the cases in which dyspepsia is idiopathic is intervened by treating the symptoms “. How dyspepsia is treated
If one is therefore suffering from dyspepsia, how can it be treated
“Where dyspepsia is idiopathic, we proceed with drug therapy – explains Danese – Initially, we are directed towards antisecretive drugs, which reduce the production of acid or drugs which help the motility and therefore the gastric emptying. For each patient it will be necessary to find an effective therapy, because not all respond in the same way to the same specific treatment ».
You can see the complete interview with prof. Danish on Rai Play. See Also: Watch Out For These Symptoms: It Might Be A Vitamin B12 Deficiency
