Nonulcer Dyspepsia

Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen that is not associated with a structural abnormality. This type of general indigestion is more common in adults, more common in males and risk factors include: stress, being overweight, smoking and certain dietary habits.

Nonulcer Dyspepsia describes recurrent and persistent indigestion that occurs without an identifiable cause or abnormality of the digestive tract. The condition is more common in adults, especially men, and may be made worse by stess, obesity, smoking and a diet high in rich, fatty foods.

Symptoms Of Nonulcer Dyspepsia

The symptoms of dyspepsia may include pain in the upper abdomen, often made worse by eating, and nausea, particularly in the morning. Patients with Nonulcer Dyspepsia often experience these symptoms several times a week for months. If you have such symptoms of this type of general indigestion it is best to talk to your doctor because they could be a sign of a more serious underlying disorder such as a peptic ulcer or, in rare cases, stomach cancer.

Treatment For Nonulcer Dyspepsia

Your doctor will probably arrange for tests to exclude other digestive disorders. A blood test may be carried out to check for infection of the stomach lining from the bacterium H. pylori (herlicobacter pylori infection). Also, upper digestive tract endoscopy or contrast X-Rays may be carried out to look for abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract. If no underlying disorder is found to cause your indigestion, you will be diagnosed with Nonulcer Dyspepsia.

How To Prevent Indigestion – Self-Help Measures

In order to help reduce both the frequency and severity of bouts of indigestion, follow these steps:

• Eat small portions of food at regular intervals, without eating too fast or overfilling your stomach.
• Avoid eating in the three hours before going to bed to allow your body enough time to digest food.
• Reduce or eliminate your intake of alcohol, coffee and tea.
• Avoid rich, fatty foods such as butter and fried foods.
• Learn to overcome stress, which can often trigger episodes of abdominal discomfort.
• If overweight, try to reduce weight and avoid tight fitting clothing.
• If possible, avoid medicines that irritate the digestive tract, such as aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

If these measures do not resolve the problem, your doctor may prescribe a drug to neutralize or reduce stomach acid production. There are also other drugs – antispasmodic drugs and motility stimulants – that can help the stomach to empty more effectively, thus reducing this type of digestive complaint.