Functional Dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia, also called non-ulcer stomach pain, is a recurring sign of indigestion for no apparent reasons.
The condition can be long lasting with intermittent signs, resembling an ulcer, like pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, often accompanied by bloating, belching and nausea.

Understand the symptoms

The symptoms include pain or burning in the stomach, bloating, excessive belching, or nausea after meals. Also, pain in the stomach that happens unrelated to meals or maybe relieved with meals or an early feeling of fullness (satiety).

Consult the doctor

Talk to the doctor when you experience persistent signs that make you worry. Get immediate medical attention when you have bloody vomit, dark, tarry stools, shortness of breath, pain that shifts to the jaw, neck or arm and an unexplained weight loss.

Know the causes

Although the precise cause of functional dyspepsia remains unknown, doctors view it as a functional disorder, wherein routine testing may not show any abnormalities. So, this is diagnosed based on symptoms.

Recognize the risks

Factors that raise the risk of functional dyspepsia are smoking, anxiety or depression, history of childhood physical or sexual abuse, helicobacter pylori infection. Also, some over-the-counter pain relievers, like aspirin and ibuprofen, may cause stomach problems and women are more prone to this condition.

Measures for prevention

Some lifestyle changes can help control the occurrence of functional dyspepsia, such as:

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals as an empty stomach can make you feel sick. Try eating a small snack, like a cracker or a piece of fruit. Never skip meals but eat smaller meals more frequently.
• Avoid trigger foods like fatty and spicy foods, carbonated beverages, caffeine, and alcohol.
• Chew the food slowly and thoroughly.
• Reduce stress in your daily life with stress-reduction techniques or relaxation therapy, and do things that you enjoy, like hobbies or sports.