Digestive disorders often arise from overeating or consuming the wrong kind of foods. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, flatulence, hiccups, and constipation or diarrhoea. An individual may experience one or multiple of these issues. Digestion can be impaired by eating too much fried or spicy food, particularly when one is not used to it. Eating in a large quantity, more than one’s usual intake can result in abdominal bloating, heartburn, vomiting, or rarely diarrhoea as well. Eating very fast also results in digestive disorders. Indigestion also occurs when one eats very late in the evening because the digestive system does not find adequate time to digest it. One can develop dyspepsia, nausea, and or vomiting due to allergy to chemicals present in processed or ready-to-eat fast foods. Vomiting also occurs due to the intake of alcohol. Some persons are unable to tolerate large quantities of tea and coffee and can develop dyspepsia due to it. Vomiting also occurs after overeating, eating fried foods, or food containing pepper to which one is not accustomed. Physical and or mental stress affects digestion as well along with other problems, resulting in heartburn, vomiting, and or constipation. Nausea, uncomfortable bloating sensation in the abdomen, and burning sensation in the chest and or abdomen, may precede actual vomiting. There may be an associated sour taste in the mouth. Chronic constipation, where one does not clear bowels regularly, also leads to a sense of bloating and fullness in the abdomen along with heartburn. Taking small, frequent quantities of food is always recommended to prevent digestive disorders. A small quantity of food taken is always better tolerated and digested as compared to a big meal. The acid present in the inner lining of the stomach is neutralised by food taken. When one does not eat for a long time, this acid tends to build up causing burning pain in the abdomen and even chest. Taking a heavy meal after staying without food for a long time loads the stomach, adding to abdominal bloating and discomfort. If one is not used to eating very hot or spicy food, one should best avoid it. Freshly cooked food is always better than ready-to-eat processed foods. Evening meals should be taken early and not very late to prevent indigestion. Alcohol is harmful to the overall health of an individual in multiple ways and therefore best avoided. One should also avoid taking excess tea or coffee. Numerous home remedies have been proven to be useful for curing digestive disorders. Drinking hot water with half a teaspoon of lemon juice or a pinch of baking soda is useful to reduce bloating of the abdomen. Taking cold milk in small quantities is useful to reduce nausea and heartburn. Drinking hot water before sleeping, or first thing in the morning, clears the bowels and cures constipation. They are very beneficial as first aid remedies when somebody has a heartburn or constipation. In mild problems, they can also serve as a cure by reducing uncomfortable symptoms and preventing exacerbation. Numerous spices like mint, cumin, anise, coriander, etc. aid in digestion. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day is useful for digestion. Green vegetables and fresh fruits help in good digestion and prevent digestive disorders. Adequate physical and mental relaxation also helps in preventing digestive disorders. Nausea, vomiting, and heartburn can be treated symptomatically with medicines that reduce the increased acid production in the abdomen. Anti-emetic drugs like metoclopramide or domperidone are useful for stopping vomiting, and mild laxatives can be used to treat constipation. After recovering from a bout of digestive disorder, one should take a light meal to rest the digestive system and allow it to recuperate well. Dr Rachna Pande is a specialist in internal medicine.