Dyspepsia is a term which includes a group of symptoms that come from a problem in your upper gut. It is a pain or an uncomfortable feeling in the upper middle part of your stomach. The pain might come and go, but it’s usually there most of the time.

People of any age can get dyspepsia. Both men and women get it. About 1 of every 4 persons gets dyspepsia at some time.

Symptoms

Various conditions cause dyspepsia. The main symptom is usually pain or discomfort in the upper tummy (abdomen). In addition, other symptoms that may develop include:

• Bloating.
• Belching.
• Quickly feeling full after eating.
• Feeling sick (nausea).
• Being sick (vomiting).

Common causes

Non-ulcer dyspepsia

This is sometimes called functional dyspepsia. It means that no known cause can be found for the symptoms. That is, other causes for dyspepsia, such as duodenal or stomach ulcer, acid reflux, inflamed oesophagus (oesophagitis), gastritis, etc, are not the cause. The inside of your gut looks normal.
It is the most common cause of dyspepsia. About 6 in 10 people who have recurring bouts of dyspepsia have non-ulcer dyspepsia. The cause is not clear, although infection with a germ (bacterium) called Helicobacter pylori may account for some cases.

Duodenal and stomach (gastric) ulcers

An ulcer occurs when the lining of the gut is damaged and the underlying tissue is exposed. If you could see inside your gut, an ulcer looks like a small, red crater on the inside lining of the gut. These are sometimes called peptic ulcers. See separate leaflets called Duodenal Ulcer and Stomach (Gastric) Ulcer for more detail. Duodenitis and gastritis (inflammation of the duodenum and/or stomach) – which may be mild, or more severe and may lead to an ulcer.

Acid reflux, oesophagitis and GERD

Acid reflux occurs when some acid leaks up (refluxes) into the oesophagus from the stomach. Acid reflux may cause oesophagitis (inflammation of the lining of the oesophagus). The general term gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) means acid reflux, with or without oesophagitis.

Hiatus hernia

This occurs when the top part of the stomach pushes up into the lower chest through a defect in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large flat muscle that separates the lungs from the tummy
(abdomen). It helps us to breathe. A hiatus hernia commonly causes GORD.

Medication.

Some medicines may cause dyspepsia as a side-effect.
Anti-inflammatory medicines are the most common culprits. These are medicines that many people take for arthritis, muscular pains, sprains, period pains, etc. For example: aspirin, ibuprofen, and diclofenac – but there are others. Anti-inflammatory medicines sometimes affect the lining of the stomach and allow acid to cause inflammation and ulcers.

Various other medicines sometimes cause dyspepsia, or make dyspepsia worse. They include: digoxin, antibiotics, steroids, iron, calcium antagonists, nitrates, theophyllines and bisphosphonates.