About

Indigestion or dyspepsia is referred to nonspecific symptoms or discomfort that causes persistent pain or fullness in the upper abdomen, soon after the meal starts and causes symptoms related to digestive system and may requie specific treatment including drugs that reduce gastric acid, stimulate motility, or decrease gastric sensitivity.

The word dyspepsia comes from Latin or from Greek duspepsia, from dys- + pepsis digestion.

What is indigestion? What are the symptoms?

Indigestion or dyspepsia is referred to as nonspecific symptoms or discomfort characterized by features like:

Persistent or recurrent pain in the upper abdomen/ lower chest pain
Feeling of fullness soon after the meal starts. The individual can’t finish the meal.

Feel of excessive fullness following a meal, like the food is staying in the stomach too long
Bloating, belching, flatulence
Anorexia, nausea, vomiting

Indigestion is common in adults. It has to be understood that heartburn is distinct from dyspepsia. It is a painful and burning feel in the chest that radiates towards the neck or back. Heartburn is caused by stomach acid rising into the food pipe (the eosophagus) and this condition may be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Both indigestion and heartburn can occur in the same individual and together.

The prevalence of indigestion or dyspepsia is about 25%.

References

Cecil Medicine, 23^rd Ed.
Harrison's PRINCIPLES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, 17^THEdition

Published on Nov 10, 2012
Last Updated on Oct 22, 2019

Latest Publications and Research on Indigestion

Ascites in a young male: idiopathic FIP1L1-PDGFRA-negative hypereosinophilic syndrome. - Published by PubMed
Health benefits and risks during 10 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. - Published by PubMed
Metronidazole-resistant Helicobacter pylori isolates without rdxA mutations obtained from Iranian dyspeptic patients. - Published by PubMed
The Potential of Integrated Nurse-Led Models to Improve Care for People With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A Systematic Review. - Published by PubMed
D-methionine improves cisplatin-induced anorexia and dyspepsia syndrome by attenuating intestinal tryptophan hydroxylase 1 activity and increasing plasma leptin concentration. - Published by PubMed

Citations

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APA

Dr. Nithin Jayan. (2019, October 22). Indigestion or Dyspepsia - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment. Medindia. Retrieved on Jun 24, 2022 from https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/indigestion.htm.
MLA

Dr. Nithin Jayan. "Indigestion or Dyspepsia - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment". Medindia. Jun 24, 2022. <https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/indigestion.htm>.
Chicago
Dr. Nithin Jayan. "Indigestion or Dyspepsia - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/indigestion.htm. (accessed Jun 24, 2022).
Harvard
Dr. Nithin Jayan. 2021. Indigestion or Dyspepsia - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment. Medindia, viewed Jun 24, 2022, https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/indigestion.htm.