User:Mr. Ibrahem/Indigestion

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia or upset stomach, is the symptoms of upper abdominal discomfort, heartburn, or reflux. It may also include abdominal fullness, nausea, belching, and feeling full earlier than expected when eating. These symptoms are often long-term or recurrent. It may decrease quality of life.

Causes may include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, esophageal spasm, delayed gastric emptying, lactose intolerance, coronary artery disease, and cancer. A number of medications may also causes problems including NSAIDs, bisphosphonates, and corticosteroids. Functional indigestion may be diagnosed when there are symptoms but no evidence of underlying disease.

In people over the age of 60 or with worrisome symptoms such as trouble swallowing, weight loss, or low red blood cells, endoscopy (a procedure where a camera on a flexible tube is inserted down the throat to the stomach) is recommended to assess potential causes. In people under 60, testing for the bacteria H. pylori and if positive, treatment is recommended. In Asia endoscopy is recommended in those over 35 years old.

Measures that may help include avoiding smoking, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, fatty foods, and being overweight. Not eating just before bed and raising the head of the bed may also help. Often antacids help, while the addition of viscous lidocaine is of unclear benefit. Proton pump inhibitors are often used, and H2 receptor antagonists may be added to this.

Indigestion is common, affecting about 20% of people at some point during their life. Functional indigestion makes up the majority of cases in Western countries, affecting about 15% of people. Indigestion is not associated with a decrease in life expectancy. The term is from the Greek "dys" meaning "bad" and "pepse" meaning "digestion". Desciptions of the condition date from the 18th century.