Functional dyspepsia or nonulcer dyspepsia is a collection of symptoms of upper digestive disorders that arise without a clear cause. This condition can be chronic and often causes discomfort to the sufferer
Functional dyspepsia is a fairly common condition. Symptoms caused by this condition can be similar to those caused by ulcers or gastric ulcers. However, as the name implies, this condition is not caused by an ulcer. Women are considered more at risk of experiencing functional dyspepsia than men.
Various Symptoms of Functional Dyspepsia
People who experience functional dyspepsia will generally feel symptoms of upper abdominal pain (heartburn) accompanied by feelings of bloating, belching, and nausea.
In addition, there are also several other functional dyspepsia symptoms that can appear, including:
- Quickly feel full when eating
- Can't finish eating normal portions
- Stomach feels very full after eating
- Mouth tastes sour or bitter
- Throw up
- Weight loss
Causes of Functional Dyspepsia
The cause of the emergence of functional dyspepsia symptoms is not clearly known. However, some experts think that this condition is related to acute inflammatory conditions in the intestine. In addition, there are certain diseases or conditions that can also increase the risk of functional dyspepsia, namely:
- Changes in the balance of gut bacteria
- Bacterial infection Helicobacter pylori
- Stomach acid disease
- Disorders of stomach function in processing food
- Inflammation in the upper digestive tract
- Side effects of drugs, such as NSAIDs
Apart from the things above, functional dyspepsia can also be influenced by unhealthy lifestyles, such as irregular eating schedules, too often consumption of spicy and sweet foods, too often consumption of caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages, and smoking habits.
Psychological stress, such as anxiety, stress, or depression, can also trigger symptoms of functional dyspepsia. These factors can also worsen the symptoms that appear.
Functional Dyspepsia Diagnosis and Treatment
How to deal with functional dyspepsia needs to be adjusted to the cause and severity of the symptoms. Therefore, before taking treatment, the doctor will conduct a search for the patient's complaints and a physical examination first.
To ensure that the complaint is not caused by another condition, the doctor may also perform several supporting examinations which include:
- Blood tests, to help detect diseases that trigger symptoms
- Bacterial test, to look for signs of bacterial infection pylori
- Endoscopy, to examine the condition of the stomach directly
After functional dyspepsia has been confirmed, then the doctor can provide appropriate treatment. The following are some medical treatments that can help with functional dyspepsia:
1. Simethicone
Drugs containing simethicone can help reduce gas in the intestines so that it is effective in overcoming flatulence due to functional dyspepsia,
2. H2 . antagonist
H2 antagonists can be used to reduce stomach acid production. These types of drugs include: famotidine and ranitidine.
3. Proton pump inhibitor
Proton pump inhibitors work by blocking the enzyme system that produces and releases stomach acid. These types of drugs include: omeprazole, lansoprazole, and pantoprazole.
4. Prokinetic agents
Prokinetic agents can help empty the stomach more quickly and also tighten the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, so that the stomach does not feel full and stomach acid does not rise. An example of this drug is metoclopramide.
5. Low dose antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants in low doses can also help reduce complaints of heartburn in functional dyspepsia, especially those strongly suspected to be associated with psychological distress. An example of this drug is amitriptyline.
6. Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be taken if the symptoms of functional dyspepsia that appear are triggered by a bacterial infection H. pylori. In this case, you are required to finish antibiotics to make sure the bacteria in the stomach have been completely destroyed.
In addition to using medical treatment, your doctor may suggest psychological therapy to treat functional dyspepsia. Doctors will also recommend adopting a healthy diet, namely by eating balanced nutritious foods and foods that are friendly to the stomach.
In addition, maintaining an ideal body weight, managing stress well, not smoking, and not consuming excessive alcoholic beverages can also have a great effect on improving functional dyspepsia symptoms.
If you experience functional dyspepsia and the symptoms seem to get worse, for example, causing vomiting, black bowel movements, and weakness, immediately consult a doctor for further examination, because these symptoms could be caused by a more serious illness. .