While there are many things that can cause indigestion, stress often plays a role. If a person has symptoms of indigestion, for example, stress can make it worse. In some cases, stress can even cause indigestion by interfering with hormones and nervous system signals that are involved with digesting food. As a result, a person may experience indigestion when feeling stressed.
Many people think that stress is only a mental problem, but it can also have physical effects on the body. As such, stress and indigestion can go hand in hand. Often, a person experiencing emotional stress will also report nausea or an upset stomach. This is due to the fact that stress usually triggers changes within the body that cause actual symptoms of indigestion.
Stress and indigestion are related due to the body's typical response to stress. When an individual feels stressed, the nervous system begins a response that can lead to, or at least contribute to, indigestion. For example, adrenaline is often released in the body in response to stress, as are cortisol and other stress-related hormones. This is a normal and protective process within the body, but it can have a negative effect on a person's digestion. In an effort to prepare the body to face perceived danger, stress hormones can slow non-critical bodily processes such as digestion, resulting in indigestion.
When a person's stress level leads to indigestion, they may experience more than just nausea. A person dealing with the effects of stress and indigestion may also feel bloated, have heartburn, or feel the need to release gas in the form of burping and flatulence; Some people may also notice a sour taste in their mouth. In some cases, a person will develop diarrhea as a symptom of stress-related indigestion. For example, a stressed student may develop diarrhea just before an important exam. In some cases, stress-related indigestion is even severe enough to cause vomiting.
While the connection between stress and indigestion is unpleasant, a person with chronic stress may have more than just an upset stomach to worry about. A person dealing with chronic stress may have a weakened immune system and be more prone to short- and long-term conditions. For example, a person who is under a lot of stress for a long period of time may be at higher risk of developing colds, flu, ulcers, anxiety, and depression. In fact, chronic stress can even increase a person's risk of having a heart attack.