After all our friends and family sit at the table together and eat a delicious meal, we all feel that our stomachs are swollen, this is normal. However, in some cases, this feeling of swelling becomes unbearable and is called dyspepsia. Dyspepsia, also known as indigestion among the public, is actually a type of digestive problem and is generally not considered a very harmful condition.
Since dyspepsia is an annoying condition, even if it is harmless, some treatment methods will be applied when you visit a specialist physician. In some cases, dyspepsia is considered a symptom rather than a disease. Because chronic indigestion can be a sign of other diseases, especially when it comes with some symptoms. There is no need to worry because dyspepsia often improves with minor lifestyle changes.
Let’s start by defining our problem; What is dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, is a feeling of pain and discomfort felt especially in the upper abdomen. It most often occurs after a heavy meal, but sometimes it can become chronic. A person experiencing dyspepsia will feel abnormally full during or immediately after eating.
Not every swelling is dyspepsia; Here are some of the most common symptoms:
- Early feeling of fullness
- Feeling of fullness after meals
- Pain in the upper part of the abdomen
- Burning in the upper abdomen
- Nausea
- excessive gas
- Burning sensation in the chest
- dark colored vomit
- difficulty swallowing
- dark stools
- pain in chest
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Feeling like there is a lump in the stomach
- Constant fatigue
These are some of the symptoms commonly seen in people with dyspepsia. Of course, not all of these symptoms occur in every case of dyspepsia. Depending on the person’s condition, often several of these symptoms may occur in different intensities. Some symptoms are short-term and some are chronic.
Okay, but what causes dyspepsia?
- eat a lot
- Fast food
- Food that is too oily and spicy
- Consuming too much alcohol and caffeinated drinks
- Going to bed directly after eating
- still life
- To smoke
- extreme stress
- Different drug uses
- Unnecessary use of painkillers and similar medications
- reflux
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- inflammation of the pancreas
- Pancreas and gallbladder anomalies
- Constipation
- Lactose or gluten intolerance
- intestinal knotting
- stomach laziness
- Intestinal vein obstruction
- stomach inflammation
- Diabetes
- celiac disease
- thyroid diseases
- gallbladder stone
- Gastric cancer
These are some of the diseases and conditions that are generally known to cause dyspepsia. Don’t worry, most of the time, the reason why a person develops dyspepsia is the lifestyle-related actions mentioned in the first items. In other words, dyspepsia is also seen in people who do not have any disease but live unhealthy lives.
How to diagnose whether you have dyspepsia?
If you feel the above symptoms regularly, you should first go to a specialist physician and explain your complaints. Your doctor may ask you for a blood test, breath test, stool test, endoscopy or bowel scan. According to the results of these tests, your doctor will diagnose whether you have dyspepsia. Of course, these tests may not always be requested. Your doctor will make this decision.
So how is dyspepsia treated?
As we mentioned in the introduction, dyspepsia is not always considered a disease on its own. If your physician thinks that dyspepsia is caused by any other disease, he can diagnose that disease and follow an appropriate treatment method. If there is no disease behind this situation, a digestive regulator, stomach acid regulator or a different stomach medication may be prescribed. Most of the time, dyspepsia can be eliminated with lifestyle changes without even needing medication.
What you can do to prevent dyspepsia or reduce its severity:
- Follow the doctor’s advice.
- Stay away from foods that trigger your indigestion.
- Consume small portions.
- Eat slowly.
- Limit alcohol use.
- Limit caffeine use.
- Quit smoking.
- Do not use medicine as you wish.
- Get rid of your excess weight.
- Exercise regularly.
- Drink mint lemon, cumin, fennel and chamomile teas.
- Sleep with a pillow under your head to keep it elevated while you sleep.
- Control stress.
Here’s what you can do to prevent dyspepsia and reduce its severity. When you look at the list, you will see that they are all essential for a healthy life. So, if you are healthy, you will not experience dyspepsia.
When should you go to the doctor?
If you have started to lose your appetite, if you have started to lose weight abnormally, if you are constantly vomiting, if this vomiting is bloody, if the color of your stool has constantly become very dark, if swallowing problems have become chronic, if the feeling of fatigue has reached an abnormal level, you should definitely be examined by a specialist physician. If shortness of breath, chest pain and sweating are intense, urgent intervention may be required.
Let’s summarize; What does dyspepsia mean?
Dyspepsia, or indigestion, is a type of digestive problem and can be seen in people of all ages. It is normal to experience indigestion from time to time when you eat too much, but if it becomes chronic, it may raise suspicion of different diseases. Especially if some of the symptoms mentioned above begin to appear intensely, it means it is time for you to be examined by a specialist physician.
We answered frequently asked questions such as what is dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, what is good for it, and how to cure it. What we say is for informational purposes only. Remember that, as with all health issues, you should get the most accurate and personalized information about dyspepsia from a specialist physician.
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