Do Gastric Issues increase with ageing?

Growing older has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that you can have more time to unwind and enjoy life. The disadvantage is that you may have to face several uninvited health problems due to changes in gut health, including an increase in gastric issues, colon cancer, acid reflux, drug sensitivity in the stomach, and a reduction in some nutrient absorption, etc. Even though sometimes it doesn't affect the digestive system, it still has an impact on other body organs.

Continue reading to find out more about the effects of ageing on the gastric, the ayurvedic view on this problem, the factors that impact it, and the best ayurvedic medicines for gastric problems.

Ageing and Gastric Issues

As we age, our stomachs produce less acid, which contributes to some digestive disorders. Without acid protection, it may be harder to handle stomach-burning medications like ibuprofen. In addition, the muscles in our digestive system, including the oesophagus and intestine, may become less active or slow, just as the muscles in the rest of your body may tire more quickly than they did in your 20s and 30s. This typically worsens symptoms in those over 65, such as constipation or acid reflux, respectively.

Seniors may also display unusual symptoms of more serious digestive illnesses, which are frequently disregarded. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centre, older people may experience less common reflux symptoms like coughing or wheezing. However, GERD tends to be more severe in this age range.

Ayurveda’s View on Gastric Issues

Eating is a necessary part of life. All living things, and even non-living things, even inanimate objects, need food or fuel to function correctly. The right timing, amount, and quality of the food are also necessary, in addition to the food itself. The fact that not everyone will experience the aforementioned factors is the most crucial factor to take into account. Ayurveda differentiates people according to the 3 main components of the body – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The presence of these elements defines the Prakrati of a person and the kind of food required by his/her body. However, the problem is that individuals are becoming extremely well-educated about everything other than their oodies.

Listed below are some factors responsible for causing various Gastric issues:

1. Dietary Habits: 

Ayurveda emphasises consuming food ibya person's Prakriti as well as in the right quantity at the right time. As eating habits are usually the primary source of health-related issues. Avoiding junk or fast food, fatty, and non-vegetarian foods can help the digestive system function better. A poor diet can always cause stomach cramps, bloating, and general stomach discomfort. 

2. Less Physical Work: 

Today's pressures on our personal, educational, and professional lives severely limit our ability to exercise. Even when we work out or engage in physical activity, we often only use our hands and legs. The stomach and the tissues around it, however, did not receive any physical exercise. As a result, muscles weaken and become inactive, making them incapable of managing the digestion process, which leads to Gastric problems.

3. Lifestyle: 

People's lifestyles have undergone significant alterations. A calm, rejuvenating walk in the fresh air has been replaced by stress and electronic devices. Improper food digestion has impacted the body's hormones and weakened the immune system. Many people today travel frequently for work and eat unhealthily purchased meals from nearby stores. Especially in urban cities, this is the most common cause of digestive issues.

4. Overeating: 

Many people have the habit of overeating. They consume in accordance with taste rather than hunger or physiological needs. This extra food that has been consumed is stored in the stomach, which has a limited capacity. In reality, our stomachs have three sections: one for food storage; one for gas production; and one for churning, which allows food to move around and be broken down. However, eating too much results in the stomach becoming overstuffed and the food having little area to move around, which slows proper digestion and also creates Gastric problems like acidity.

5. Biological clocks for eating: 

The medical system that best emphasises the significance of eating according to biological clocks is Ayurveda. Agni (fire), being one of the Panchamahabhuta, is responsible for the proper digestion of food. This Agni functions in accordance with its association with the sun. In this manner, Ayurveda aims to link our body and mind to the environment. According to Ayurveda, lunch should be the largest meal of the day because the sun is at its greatest between 12 and 2 p.m., when our digestive strength, Agni, is at its best and most potent. Dinner should be served lighter and ideally before 8 p.m. because Agni's ability to digest food diminishes as the sun sets. Eating late at night, especially after 10 p.m., produces toxins that accumulate and make you sleepy the next day and contribute to a number of other problems.

6. Intake of incompatible food: 

Today, there is a huge craze for restaurants. People today simply combine different foods to improve flavour and texture without thinking about compatibility. The ideal foods to consume at one time are unknown to most people. They choose to consume according to comfort and flavour, despite the fact that they are aware of the facts. Drinking cold beverages or water with meals should be avoided because they weaken the intestine's ability to digest food. Similarly, sour foods along with milk or dairy products must be avoided, which creates many digestion problems.

Also Read: Ayurvedic Ways to Improve Digestive Health

Ayurvedic Remedies for Gastric Issues 

In Ayurveda, the main principle is to balance the digestive Agni, which not only assists with digestion but also a number of other health conditions related to digestion. The following table shows the top-recommended ayurvedic medicine for acidity and gas with its dosage that is effective in solving Gastric issues that arise due to ageing:

Conclusion

Ayurveda, a type of traditional Indian medicine, is highly successful at treating bodily ailments. The three digestive or stomach problems that Ayurvedic medicine tackles are constipation, bloating, acid reflux, and diarrhoea by addressing the underlying issue that arises with ageing. It indicates that the general rule of thumb for efficient digestion is to consume lots of water and fresh, home-cooked, fibre-containing foods. If you follow a healthy lifestyle in addition to using the best ayurvedic medicine for gastric problems, you will be in excellent health and have a positive effect on both your physical and mental well-being.

You can speak with a renowned Ayurvedic doctor Dr Shivani Nautiyal (BAMS, Ayurvedacharya with 3 years of exp.) on HealthyBazar for further details and customised treatment for gastric or other digestive issues. We also advise getting the aforementioned medications from HealthyBazar at a reasonable price following a doctor's consultation.