Dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, is a condition of impaired digestion. It is a medical condition characterized by chronic or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen, upper abdominal fullness and feeling full earlier than expected when eating. It can be accompanied by bloating, belching, nausea, or heartburn. Dyspepsia is a common problem and is frequently caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or gastric. In a small minority it may be the first symptom of peptic ulcer disease (an ulcer of the stomach or duodenum) and occasionally cancer. Hence, unexplained newly onset dyspepsia in people over 55 or the presence of other alarming symptoms may require further investigations.
Causes
Non-ulcer dyspepsia
In about 50-70% of patients with dyspepsia, no definite organic cause can be determined. In this case, dyspepsia is referred to as non-ulcer dyspepsia and its diagnosis is established by the presence of epigastralgia for at least 6 months, in the absence of any other cause explaining the symptoms.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
When dyspepsia can be attributed to a specific cause, the majority of cases concern gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease. Less common causes include gastritis, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, coeliac disease, food allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic intestinal ischemia and gastroparesis.
Non-ulcer dyspepsia
In about 50-70% of patients with dyspepsia, no definite organic cause can be determined. In this case, dyspepsia is referred to as non-ulcer dyspepsia and its diagnosis is established by the presence of epigastralgia for at least 6 months, in the absence of any other cause explaining the symptoms.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
When dyspepsia can be attributed to a specific cause, the majority of cases concern gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease. Less common causes include gastritis, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, coeliac disease, food allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic intestinal ischemia and gastroparesis.
Liver and pancreas diseases
These include cholelithiasis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Drugs: The list of drugs causing dyspepsia is long and includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics (mostly macrolides and metronidazole), oral ferrous sulfate, corticosteroids, cardiac medications (such as digoxin, calcium channel blockers and nitrates), theophylline, colchicine, bisphosphonates, oral contraceptives and L-DOPA.
These include cholelithiasis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
Drugs: The list of drugs causing dyspepsia is long and includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics (mostly macrolides and metronidazole), oral ferrous sulfate, corticosteroids, cardiac medications (such as digoxin, calcium channel blockers and nitrates), theophylline, colchicine, bisphosphonates, oral contraceptives and L-DOPA.
Signs and symptoms
The characteristic symptoms of dyspepsia are upper abdominal pain, bloating, fullness and tenderness on palpation. Pain worsened by exertion and associated with nausea and perspiration may also indicate angina. The presence of gastrointestinal bleeding (vomit containing blood), difficulty swallowing, and loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, abdominal swelling and persistent vomiting are suggestive of peptic ulcer disease or malignancy, and would necessitate urgent investigations. In some cases, the clinical manifestations include symptoms indicative of more severe disease like cancer.
Treatment
-A systemic review of herbal products found that several herbs, including peppermint and caraway, have anti-dyspeptic effects for non-ulcer dyspepsia with "encouraging safety profiles.
- Red pepper powder has also found to be promising.
- Ginger and related products made there from have been shown to have some positive alleviation of symptoms, in particular for motion sickness and pregnancy-related nausea.
- Acotiamide is a new drug approved in Japan in March 2013 for the treatment of meal related symptoms of functional dyspepsia. It is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
REMEMBER: ADEQUATE NUTRITION, HEALTHIER SOCIETY.
-A systemic review of herbal products found that several herbs, including peppermint and caraway, have anti-dyspeptic effects for non-ulcer dyspepsia with "encouraging safety profiles.
- Red pepper powder has also found to be promising.
- Ginger and related products made there from have been shown to have some positive alleviation of symptoms, in particular for motion sickness and pregnancy-related nausea.
- Acotiamide is a new drug approved in Japan in March 2013 for the treatment of meal related symptoms of functional dyspepsia. It is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
REMEMBER: ADEQUATE NUTRITION, HEALTHIER SOCIETY.
FOR MORE INFO. CONTACT
Kenneth Mercy (B.sc Human Nutrition & Dietetics)
Consultant Nutritionist
http://mercynutritioncorner.blogspot.com
kennethmercy@yahoo.com
+234 806 134 4343
Consultant Nutritionist
http://mercynutritioncorner.blogspot.com
kennethmercy@yahoo.com
+234 806 134 4343
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