by Ahmad Sadli

Created on: July 07, 2009

Dyspepsia is a certain pain or discomfort in the middle of the upper abdomen, usually described as a gnawing or burning pain. It is one of the digestive disorders that can happen and affect the digestive system. Dyspepsia also may be characterized by discomfort or heartburn or nausea.

There are many causes of dyspepsia but most of them are related with stomach disturbance such as duodenal ulcers, stomach ulcers and also stomach cancer.

There are also diseases such as hyperparathyroidism which comes from overactive parathyroid glands, which can cause dyspepsia. Other disease such as thyroid disease, diabetes, and severe kidney disease are classified as the potential causes. The majority of dyspepsia cases however, are known to be caused by a malfunction of the organs within the gastrointestinal tract or by the failure of nerves that control these organs.

Stomach inflammation in the form of gastric may also cause dyspepsia. Other than that, dyspepsia may be caused by gallstones that present in the tubes (duct) that drain bile from the gallbladder.

There are also some drugs, most notably aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that may cause symptoms of dyspepsia.

Certain bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori may aggravate the dyspepsia when they cause inflammation and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum (first segment of the small intestine).

Psychological factor also seems to influence dyspepsia. Anxiety, for instance, can cause or worsen dyspepsia. It is explained by a possibility that anxiety can increase a person's perception of unpleasant sensations, so much so that minor discomfort becomes very distressing. For a worse case, anxiety may worsen the abnormal stomach sensitivity and contractions. It may also cause a person to sigh or gasp and swallow air, a condition named aerophagia.

The feeling of pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen varies in intensity and quality. Most commonly described is as a burning or gnawing sensation. For some, simply eating will makes the pain worse, while for others, eating relieves the pain.

The other symptoms that could be observed may include a poor appetite, belching, nausea, constipation, flatulence and a loud intestinal sound (borborygmi). In certain people, no abnormality can be found regarding functional dyspepsia but symptoms are just linked to increased sensitivity in the stomach or increased contractions (spasm).

Most of all, you should handle dyspepsia properly. Do seek a professional assistant from a qualified doctor if the conditions persist and showing no signs of retreat. Prevention is always the best remedy.

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