What is Dyspepsia (Indigestion)? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Methods

Dyspepsia, commonly known as indigestion, can be defined as the presence of one or more of the following symptoms: epigastric (upper abdominal) pain, heartburn, post-meal bloating, or early satiety. While indigestion itself is not a standalone health problem, many health conditions such as reflux, gastritis, and gallstones can lead to dyspepsia. Some studies show that approximately 30-40% of people experience indigestion issues for various reasons. Experiencing symptoms such as nausea and abdominal pain after eating may be an indicator that the digestive system is not functioning as it should. However, this situation is not always caused by an underlying health problem. Many environmental factors, such as consuming excessive fatty foods, stress, smoking, and alcohol use, can be the cause of indigestion.

What Is Dyspepsia?

Indigestion, which usually occurs after eating, can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. During this time, the pancreas and gallbladder, which are organs that aid digestion, secrete bile and various enzymes to facilitate the digestive process. With the help of these enzymes, food is typically passed from the stomach to the intestines within 3 to 5 hours. If the time it takes for food to pass from the stomach to the intestines is prolonged, this condition can be defined as indigestion.

How Does Dyspepsia Occur?

Dyspepsia usually occurs after heavy meals. The primary reason for this is that when too much food is consumed, the digestive system has to work harder to complete the digestion process. After heavy meals, digestive organs and accessory digestive organs such as the stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas contract more intensely to secrete digestive fluids. The strong fluids secreted during this process can cause irritation in the digestive system, leading to the manifestation of indigestion, or dyspepsia. On the other hand, chronic dyspepsia—meaning long-lasting indigestion—may develop due to another underlying health problem. In some cases, chronic indigestion may have no discernible cause.

Depending on its causes, dyspepsia is examined in two classes: organic dyspepsia and functional dyspepsia. Organic dyspepsia is mostly related to stomach acid found within gastric juices. Under normal conditions, the protective barrier of the stomach, which is covered with mucus, protects the stomach from acid-induced irritation; however, in some cases, this protective barrier can erode due to reasons such as H. pylori bacterial infection and the excessive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As a result, the gastric lining can be damaged and become inflamed. The main digestive system problems that can cause dyspepsia are:

● Gastric ulcer: Gastric ulcer, commonly known as a stomach ulcer, is among the primary causes of indigestion. H. pylori bacterial infection and long-term use of painkillers (especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause the stomach lining to erode and sores to form in the stomach. When speaking of stomach ulcer symptoms, heartburn and indigestion are the first things that come to mind.

● Gastroesophageal reflux: Reflux is the backflow of stomach acid resulting from the dysfunction of a valve located at the lower part of the esophagus, known as the sphincter, which prevents stomach acid from flowing back into the esophagus. Experiencing heartburn or indigestion more than twice a week may indicate reflux.

● Gallstones: The accumulation and crystallization of biliary sediment in the gallbladder or bile ducts can block the bile ducts. Symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and stomach pain may occur, especially after meals.

● Gastritis: Characterized by the inflammation of the protective lining of the stomach due to infectious diseases, excessive drug use, or similar reasons, gastritis can manifest with symptoms such as stomach pain and dyspepsia.

● Pancreatitis: Also known as inflammation of the pancreas, pancreatitis can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, post-meal indigestion, bloating, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, and fatty stools.

● Irritable bowel syndrome: Also referred to as spastic colon, irritable bowel syndrome is a health issue that develops as a result of the intestines contracting more or less than they should. Irritable bowel syndrome, whose primary symptoms include dyspepsia and bowel movement problems such as diarrhea and constipation, can often be controlled through dietary changes.

In addition to those listed, food sensitivities such as gluten intolerance or lactose intolerance, or serious health problems like stomach cancer, can also lead to indigestion. Individuals suffering from chronic dyspepsia often experience ulcer-like symptoms during and after meals, such as stomach pain, bloating, heartburn, and belching. However, it is observed that only one-third of patients have ulcers, while the cause of indigestion in the rest is functional dyspepsia. Functional dyspepsia is indigestion that persists for a long time and frequently recurs despite the absence of any known health problem. The primary causes of functional dyspepsia are:

● Disruption of the balance between harmful and beneficial bacteria in the gut,

● Infectious diseases such as gastroenteritis (stomach flu),

● H. pylori bacteria,

● Unhealthy habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption,

● Unhealthy dietary habits.

Approximately 20% of people worldwide experience symptoms of functional dyspepsia. Some research indicates that factors such as obesity, high stress levels, and acute gastroenteritis may increase the risk of functional dyspepsia.

What Are the Symptoms of Dyspepsia?

When discussing dyspepsia symptoms, abdominal pain and bloating are the first things that come to mind. If digestive organs and accessory digestive organs have difficulty digesting food after a meal, indigestion symptoms may appear. Accordingly, the primary dyspepsia symptoms are:

● Pain in the upper abdomen where the stomach is located,

● Heartburn and acid reflux,

● Early satiety or feeling full for a long time,

● Bloating,

● Trapped gas,

● Nausea,

● Belching,

● Backflow of swallowed food from the stomach.

If the cause of indigestion is a serious health problem, dyspepsia may be accompanied by symptoms such as bloody or brown vomit, unexplained weight loss, black or nearly black stools, and difficulty swallowing. If alarm symptoms of dyspepsia—such as unexplained weight loss, frequently recurring vomiting, a palpable mass in the upper abdominal region, anemia, and jaundice—are observed, it is important to determine the underlying organic cause and plan the necessary treatment as soon as possible.

How Is Dyspepsia Diagnosed?

During the diagnosis of dyspepsia, specialists first perform a physical examination of the patient. If the indigestion presents with mild symptoms and the patients do not have symptoms such as unexplained weight loss or frequently recurring vomiting, specialists may not resort to additional tests. However, if dyspepsia is accompanied by symptoms like weight loss and recurring vomiting, or if it starts suddenly, specialists can benefit from other examinations.

At this stage, gastroenterology specialists primarily use laboratory tests to investigate the presence of anemia, Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection, or other diseases. In addition, tests such as breath tests and stool tests can be utilized to investigate H. pylori bacteria.

If the patient has alarm symptoms such as rapid weight loss, signs of bleeding, or severe difficulty swallowing, advanced diagnostic methods such as endoscopy may be employed. With the help of endoscopy, the stomach and esophagus can be examined in detail to detect ulcers, reflux, or other structural problems. In addition to these, if it is suspected that a health problem such as intestinal obstruction is causing the indigestion, imaging methods such as X-rays or computed tomography may also be used. If the report provided by the doctor following the tests contains the phrase "k30 dyspepsia," this expression means that the patient has an indigestion problem. If no health problem causing indigestion is found as a result of the tests, specialists may diagnose functional dyspepsia.

How Is Dyspepsia Treated?

Dyspepsia treatment varies depending on the underlying cause of the problem. Dietary habits play an important role in dyspepsia. Most of the time, making certain changes in diet and lifestyle habits can help alleviate symptoms. Some recommendations that may help alleviate dyspepsia symptoms include:

● Staying away from foods that can cause indigestion, especially excessively fatty foods,

● Eating small and frequent meals instead of large ones,

● Avoiding unhealthy habits such as alcohol and smoking,

● Limiting the consumption of caffeinated beverages,

● Limiting the use of painkillers unless recommended by a doctor,

● Utilizing methods such as meditation to manage stress and anxiety.

If changes in diet and lifestyle habits do not help control symptoms, specialists may prescribe various medications. During dyspepsia treatment, certain medications may be recommended depending on the underlying health problem. In cases where the cause of indigestion is an H. pylori infection, antibiotic therapy may be employed. Additionally, certain medications that help the stomach empty more rapidly can also be utilized.

Frequently Asked Questions

While dyspepsia can often stem from a simple cause such as overeating, serious health problems like stomach cancer can sometimes be the cause of indigestion. According to some studies, stress is the primary cause of functional dyspepsia, where conditions like ulcers, stomach cancer, and reflux have been ruled out through performed tests. Untreated or resistant dyspepsia can lead to serious complications in later periods, depending on the cause of the problem. For instance, if the cause of indigestion is a health problem like pancreatitis, untreated pancreatitis can lead to pancreatic cancer. Dyspepsia patients can help alleviate symptoms by avoiding foods that can strain the stomach, such as fatty foods, fried items, fast food, and alcohol. Instead, a dyspepsia diet should consist of vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat foods that do not upset the stomach. Some research shows that broccoli, radishes, celery, olive oil, and nuts may trigger symptoms in some patients. In addition to these, drinking water regularly can also help facilitate digestion. Dyspepsia does not generally lead to sweating. Since the accompaniment of symptoms such as sweating, shortness of breath, and a feeling of pressure in the chest to indigestion may indicate a serious health problem like a heart attack, it is important to consult a specialist physician without wasting time. Individuals experiencing indigestion issues can consult a specialist internal medicine physician or gastroenterology specialist. Eating slowly, avoiding carbonated and caffeinated beverages, consuming drinks such as ginger, fennel, and peppermint tea, and utilizing apple cider vinegar in cases where low stomach acid causes indigestion can help alleviate dyspepsia symptoms. Reducing portion sizes and utilizing stress management techniques can also alleviate dyspepsia symptoms. It is recommended that dyspepsia patients avoid foods that can trigger reflux symptoms, such as fatty and spicy foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks, caffeine, chocolate, and onions. Dyspepsia generally occurs alongside symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, early satiety, or long-term fullness. From this perspective, dyspepsia can indirectly lead to weight loss. If dyspepsia progresses, damage to the stomach's protective barrier may advance. This situation can lead to chronic digestive system diseases. Furthermore, as dyspepsia progresses, serious complications such as difficulty swallowing, bloody stools, and weight loss may develop.

If you have long-standing complaints of stomach pain, bloating, early satiety, or indigestion, the underlying cause must definitely be investigated.

At the Hisar Hospital Intercontinental Department of Internal Medicine, all digestive system diseases that may lead to dyspepsia are evaluated using modern diagnostic methods, and personalized treatment plans are created.

Do not postpone your stomach health; schedule an appointment with specialist Internal Medicine physicians to have your detailed examination performed.