Home » Indigestion AND Dyspepsia Information Page

Indigestion and Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is the name given to indigestion by doctors. So, if you have been told you have dyspepsia (dispepsia) or you have been told you have indigestion - they are one and the same diagnosis.

Indigestion (Dyspepsia) is so common that most people will experience it from time to time. Acid indigestion can occur after eating too rich food, very spicy or fatty food for example. Sometimes, indigestion arises from having eaten too much. In these cases, it is appropriate to allow our bodies time to process the food and recover from the dyspepsia (acid indigestion) in a natural way - it just takes a little time.

 

Indigestion and Dyspepsia

Indigestion is so common that for many people it is just something to bear, and live with.

Symptoms of Indigestion (Dispepsia) can vary from one person to another and can include: a burning feeling that rises up into the chest area, often described as heartburn; a general feeling of fullness and discomfort following a hot or spicy meal; a sharp localised pain just below the breastbone. Dyspepsia (indigestion) can be felt as a pain on its own or in combination with feelings of nausea.

Indigestion, or acid indigestion, can be caused by an underlying infection or just occur as a result of an unhealthy diet. Fatty foods and hot or spicy meals can cause acid indigestion and this can be successfully managed by a change of diet and an increased awareness of the effect of foods on our digestive system.

More serious underlying causes of dyspepsia (indigestion) could be, for instance, stomach ulcers caused by the Helicobacter pylori infection, which is a bacteria that lives in the stomach and attacks the stomach walls and stomach lining causing ulcers. Symptoms of this infection could be indigestion and heartburn. Be sure to see your health-care professional if you have recurring dispepsia.

Stomach ulcers are less common now than they used to be a few years ago, as the infection by Helicobacter pylori is also becoming less common. Investigations for stomach ulcers or the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection are a matter for your doctor and healthcare professionals.

If you want to reduce the pain from acid indigestion, first consult your healthcare practitioner, then consider managing some of the some factors that are known to contribute to indigestion and dyspepsia; excess alcohol, over-eating, heavy smoking, rushed meals, fatty and sugary foods. Controlling your intake of these to a more moderate level may well help you reduce the pain of indigestion.

This Indigestion and Dyspepsia Article is Copyright © 2006, Carbuncle. All rights reserved.

Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia (dispepsia) (from the Greek (Dys-), meaning hard or difficult, and (Pepsi), meaning digestion) refers to disorders of the stomach involving symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, pain, vomiting or general discomfort.

Many cases of dyspepsia are caused by stomach ulcers which may be diagnosed with a barium meal test or a gastroscopy. In some situations, for example, stomach ulcers, high levels of gastric acid may irritate the stomach lining and cause dyspeptic symptoms. Dyspepsia may also occur as a side effect from drugs treating other diseases.

Always seek professional mediacal help and advice from your doctor or pharmacist for any dyspepsia, indigestion and heartburn symptoms you are worried about. Disclaimer.