🍽️ Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, refers to a group of symptoms affecting the upper digestive tract, causing discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen.
🔍 Common Symptoms
- Upper abdominal pain or discomfort
- Bloating
- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Nausea
- Belching or gas
- Heartburn (sometimes)
🧨 Causes
- Functional dyspepsia: No identifiable structural cause; often related to stomach motility or sensitivity
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Peptic ulcers
- Gastritis (stomach lining inflammation)
- Helicobacter pylori infection
- Medications (NSAIDs, antibiotics)
- Lifestyle factors: Stress, smoking, alcohol, spicy foods
🩺 Diagnosis
- Medical history and physical exam
- Tests to rule out ulcers, GERD, or H. pylori infection (breath test, endoscopy)
- Sometimes abdominal ultrasound
🛠️ Treatment
- Lifestyle changes: Avoid spicy/fatty foods, eat smaller meals, reduce stress
- Medications:
- Antacids
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
- H2 blockers
- Prokinetics
- Antibiotics (if H. pylori present)
- Avoid NSAIDs and other irritants