What is Dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia is a condition that can cause discomfort in the upper abdomen due to stomach acid problems or stomach ulcers.
However, dyspepsia does not actually indicate a disease, but rather a symptom of a health problem that occurs in the digestive tract, one of which is acid reflux disease or what is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Please be aware that dyspepsia that is not treated immediately can develop into a more serious health condition.
Symptoms of Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia can be characterized by several signs and symptoms, including:
- Feeling full quickly when eating.
- Stomach feels bloated and full after eating.
- There is a feeling of discomfort in the upper abdomen, which can also be accompanied by pain and burning.
- A burning or hot feeling in the pit of the stomach. Sometimes this burning sensation can spread from the pit of the stomach to the throat.
- Nausea and sometimes can be accompanied by vomiting, although this is rare.
Causes of Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia can occur due to various conditions. Often, this health problem is associated with an unhealthy lifestyle.
However, consumption of food, drinks, and side effects of drugs also contribute to this condition.
- Consuming food in excessive portions.
- Eat in a hurry.
- Eating fatty, oily and spicy foods.
- Consuming too much alcohol, carbonated drinks, caffeine and chocolate.
- Bad habit of smoking.
- Experiencing excessive anxiety.
- Taking several types of antibiotics and painkillers
Sometimes, dyspepsia can also be a sign of other health problems in the digestive system, such as:
- Gastritis.
- Peptic ulcer.
- Celiac disease.
- Gallstones.
- Pancreatitis.
- Gastric cancer.
Risk Factors for Dyspepsia
In addition, there are also several conditions that increase a person’s risk of experiencing dyspepsia, for example:
- Smoking.
- Taking certain medications.
- Often consume spicy and fatty foods.
- Consuming soda or caffeinated drinks.
Diagnosis of Dyspepsia
In order to get a more accurate diagnosis, the doctor will conduct a medical interview session related to the signs and symptoms that appear. In addition, the doctor also examines the overall health condition of the sufferer.
After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination or supporting examination if needed. This supporting examination is performed if the doctor suspects dyspepsia is a sign of digestive system disease.
Supporting examinations that are generally carried out are:
- Blood test.
- Breath test.
- Stool examination.
- Ultrasonography abdomen.
- Endoscopy.
- Imaging examinations (X-ray or CT Scan).
Dyspepsia Treatment
Dyspepsia treatment is done either primary or secondary. Primary treatment is done by changing lifestyle, such as:
- Limit consumption of foods that can cause dyspepsia.
- Eat small portions, but often and it is recommended to eat 5-6 times a day.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption.
- Avoid using or consuming painkillers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Use other painkillers that are safer for the stomach, such as paracetamol.
- Control stress and anxiety.
If dyspepsia has caused severe pain, the doctor will prescribe several medications to help relieve the pain.
Some of the drug options are:
- Antacids.
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI). This class of drugs can reduce stomach acid production.
- H-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) to reduce stomach acid production.
- Prokinetics can help the gastric emptying process.
- Antibiotics, which are given if dyspepsia is caused by infection.
- Antidepressants can also be used to relieve the discomfort caused by dyspepsia by reducing the sensation of pain experienced.
Complications of Dyspepsia
Although digestive disorders such as dyspepsia usually do not cause serious complications, this condition can affect the quality of life of sufferers.
Because, untreated dyspepsia will continue to cause discomfort in the stomach, reduced appetite, and difficulty swallowing.
Prevention of Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia prevention is done by adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as:
- Eat small portions but often. Chew food slowly before swallowing.
- Avoid things that can trigger dyspepsia. For example, consuming spicy and fatty foods or carbonated drinks, alcohol, and drinks containing caffeine.
- Quit or not smoke
- Maintain your ideal weight.
- Regular exercise can also help reduce the risk of excess weight and maintain ideal body weight.
- Dealing with stress and anxiety. This can be done by doing sports such as yoga or meditation and ensuring sufficient sleep.
- If there is an alternative, replace the drugs that can irritate the stomach. However, if there is not, make sure that the consumption of drugs is always done after eating (not on an empty stomach).
