In common terms dyspepsia may be referred to as indigestion or upset stomach. It describes discomfort or pain in the upper stomach.
- It is not a symptom but a group of symptoms which a person experience them in their lifetime.
- It is caused by digestive acid coming in contact of the mucosa of the stomach lining, which is the protective lining of the digestive system
- Stomach acids breakdown the mucosa, which cause irritation and inflammation, causing the symptoms.
Causes of dyspepsia:
There may be many causes of dyspepsia other than eating heavily or incorrect things, some symptoms of dyspepsia can be sings and symptoms of stomach cancer.
Certain causes include:
- Increase of stomach juices and gas caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Irritable bowel disease, disorder that affects the movement of food through the intestine
- Peptic (stomach) ulcer or duodenal ulcer.
- Lactose intolerance, inability to digest milk or milk products
- Gallbladder pain (biliary colic) or inflammation (cholecystitis).
- Anxiety or depression.
- Side effects of some caffeine, alcohol, or medicines
- Swallowed air.
- Food poisoning
- Stomach cancer
- Eating too much or too quickly
- Consuming too much fatty or greasy foods
Symptoms of dyspepsia:
Dyspepsia may show many symptoms, some of which may include:
- Belly pain or discomfort
- Bloating
- Feeling excessively full after eating
- Heartburn
- Nausea
Certain symptoms usually get relieved in 2-3 days, but if symptoms don’t get relieved in more than 3 weeks, and is there are other serious symptoms are seen, other causes such as stomach cancer can be the cause.
Such symptoms may include:
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Vomiting
- Black stools
- Jaundice (yellow colouring of eyes and skin)
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Chest pain radiation to the jaw, arm or neck
Treatments of dyspepsia:
Changing of lifestyle can relieve normal dyspepsia, for more serious cases related to dyspepsia a doctor should be consulted who can differ between dyspepsia and other stomach problems.
Changing of lifestyle can include:
- Eating of small meals in 2-3 hours, instead of eating it at a single time
- Not to lie down for atleast 2-3 hours after eating a heavy meal
- Not chewing or smoking tobacco
- Eating spicy food, food which has much acid in it (like oranges, tomatoes or lemons) can make dyspepsia worse
- Chocolate, mint and alcohol can make dyspepsia worse.
- Loosing of weight can help in many people.
Not wearing tight clothes around the middle especially in the night.
