What is dyspepsia? How to avoid one of the ailments that most takes us to the doctor

Digestive functional disorders are very common in the age groups between 30 and 50 years, especially in women.

So much so, that it is estimated that the prevalence of these pathologies is between 25 to 45% of the population.

As he explains Dr. Jose Manuel Cucalonmember of SEMG Aragon.

• “Digestive problems are highly prevalent within the medical consultations that we attend to daily from our centers and offices. The digestive tract can be the seat of multiple pathologies, both of organic and functional origin, which must be assessed by family doctors to establish the most appropriate corrective or preventive measures for each situation”.

And among the variety of these digestive disorders, functional dyspepsia, or what we more commonly know as ‘bad digestion’, stands out as one of the most frequent.

Dr. Cucalón explains that this disorder has a prevalence in Primary Care consultations of 8-10%.

This digestive disorder is one of the most frequent in primary care consultations.

symptoms of dyspepsia

As defined by the , dyspepsia is “any pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen.” This definition already tells us that their symptoms “are vague, non-specific or subjective, which makes their clinical definition difficult, explains Dr. Cucalón.

We know the main discomforts caused by this disorder very well because we have all probably suffered from them at some point, and they are:

• Abdominal swelling.

• Flatulence.

• Eructation.

• early satiety

• Gastric fullness.

• Nausea or vomiting.

• Heartburn or burning sensation in the stomach.

Should I worry if I have dyspepsia?

So far, the causes of functional dyspepsia are unknown and probably very varied.

There are certain factors that can cause non-functional dyspepsia such as:

• Drug consumption.

• The existence of the disease by (GERD).

• Helicobacter Pylori infection.

• Other organic pathologies such as tumors, lymphomas, etc.

Once any of these causes have been ruled out, we can now say that it is functional dyspepsia and seek treatment.

There is no fully effective treatment for functional dyspepsia.

Recommendations to improve functional dyspepsia

Although not serious, functional dyspepsia is bothersome. And the worst thing is that there is no totally effective treatment.

For this reason, it offers some recommendations with the aim of improving functional dyspepsia, which will also improve our general health.

Among them the specialists stand out:

• Take care of the weight “Maintaining a normal weight markedly decreases reflux symptoms and sometimes dyspepsia.”

• Avoid very large meals.

• You have to try not to eat too late and neither go to bed as soon as you eat.

• If we are going to take anti-inflammatories for any ailment, it is better that we consult the doctor beforehand. These types of drugs can cause symptoms.

• No alcohol or tobacco. “They are two of the most important causes of reflux or dyspepsia symptoms,” explain the specialists from the Catalan Society of Digestology.

When, despite following these recommendations, the discomfort is recurrent, you can choose to take some medication, with a doctor’s prescription.

The most effective drugs “are those that reduce the production of stomach acid, especially those of the family of and those that help the emptying of the stomach that are called prokinetics,” explain the digestive experts.

When should I go to the emergency room?

As we have already seen, it is not a serious disorder. But there are a series of signs that, if they appear, should lead us to see a specialist. Among these signs, specialists point out:

• Indigestion that you have never had before if you are over 55.

• Unexplained persistent vomiting.

• Vomiting blood or black stools.

• Unintentional weight loss without dieting.

• Difficulty or pain when swallowing.

• Pain in the pit of the stomach that appears when you make an effort.