Sous said those experiencing upset stomachs should be drinking only clear liquids; any more eating or taking aspirin or Alka Seltzer will just bring on an encore.
Sometimes, trips to the hospital are triggered by a fish bone stuck in the esophagus. Other times, it's a chicken bone. Or a large piece of pork. Or a chunk of steak.
Such a sufferer can breathe but might not be able to eat any more food or even swallow saliva.
When that happens, doctors can insert a long tweezer into the mouth to take out the offending item, or push down a long tube, with a tiny camera attached on it, to nudge the food to the stomach, said Dr. Gail Carruthers, director of the pediatrics emergency department at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children's Hospital.
She exhorted people to follow two bits of advice. "Don't overeat. Chew your food."
There are more serious scenarios people should keep in mind.
People with heart conditions should avoid too much salt, which can trigger an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe, Sous said.
And Carruthers warned that some symptoms of indigestion are similar to those of a heart attack. If you're having severe indigestion symptoms, especially if accompanied by sweating, you might consider going to the ER to have it checked out, Carruthers said.
"You may just have indigestion," she said, "but let us figure that out."
ron.lin@latimes.com
Sometimes, trips to the hospital are triggered by a fish bone stuck in the esophagus. Other times, it's a chicken bone. Or a large piece of pork. Or a chunk of steak.
Such a sufferer can breathe but might not be able to eat any more food or even swallow saliva.
When that happens, doctors can insert a long tweezer into the mouth to take out the offending item, or push down a long tube, with a tiny camera attached on it, to nudge the food to the stomach, said Dr. Gail Carruthers, director of the pediatrics emergency department at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children's Hospital.
She exhorted people to follow two bits of advice. "Don't overeat. Chew your food."
There are more serious scenarios people should keep in mind.
People with heart conditions should avoid too much salt, which can trigger an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe, Sous said.
And Carruthers warned that some symptoms of indigestion are similar to those of a heart attack. If you're having severe indigestion symptoms, especially if accompanied by sweating, you might consider going to the ER to have it checked out, Carruthers said.
"You may just have indigestion," she said, "but let us figure that out."
ron.lin@latimes.com
Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times
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