Sometimes people go to the doctor because they think they have an ulcer, but they don’t actually have an ulcer. Despite the grating pain in the upper abdomen, diagnostic tests do not show the presence of an ulcer or other digestive problem, and the results of all tests are normal, and the truth is that many of these suffer from non-ulcer indigestion.
This situation occurs for no apparent reason. One of the most prominent symptoms is pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. Similar to ulcers, the pain often goes away after eating food or antacids. Other symptoms of the condition include gas, bloating, nausea, or a feeling of fullness after eating a moderate amount of food.
Several theories as to the causes of the condition:
Non-ulcer dyspepsia is still widely unknown. It is possible that the pain arises from “irritation” in the lining of the stomach. Researchers have other theories as well.
Presence of H. pylori bacteria. Symptoms may represent an early case of infection with this bacteria despite the presence of an ulcer.
Response to drugs and supplements. Some pain relievers such as aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are known to cause stomach ulcers and inflammation. They may also irritate the digestive system without harming the stomach or intestines. The same goes for other drugs and supplements, including antibiotics, steroids, minerals and herbs.
Excessive secretion of stomach acid. The acid-producing cells in the stomach may produce more acid than normal. This may irritate the digestive tissues.
The patient may need some medication
upset stomach; An abnormality in the normal functioning of the stomach or its emptying may occur for unknown reasons. It is a condition that often follows viral infections.
Allergy to acid. Digestive tissues in the stomach and duodenum may be hypersensitive to normal acid levels and become easily irritated.
Food allergy. In some cases, the stomach and intestines are hypersensitive to certain foods or their components, and these foods often but not always include some spices, citrus fruits, and vegetables with a moderate to high level of acid. Some also note that coffee makes the symptoms worse.
Excessive response to natural stimuli. Nerve signals and the brain may suffer from a defect that causes it to display an exaggerated response to the natural changes that occur during digestion, such as the expansion of the stomach as it fills with food.
Stress. Pain is sometimes the body’s way of responding to stress.
Psychological disorders. Depression, anxiety, or other factors that affect mental health can play a role in nonulcer indigestion.
chronic pain
Living changes, a first step towards treatment:
Symptoms of non-ulcer indigestion are usually mild, and the condition is often treated by checking and changing daily habits. This entails avoiding or limiting foods that appear to aggravate symptoms, managing stress, and changing or limiting medications and daily supplements. Some believe that eating small but more frequent meals and reducing fat consumption contributes to the improvement of the condition. In the event that these measures are not successful, the doctor may prescribe a treatment with medicines, and he prescribes here many medicines used to treat ulcers, and sometimes even antibiotics. Notably, about half of people with nonulcer dyspepsia carry H. pylori. They do not have ulcers, although sometimes the bacteria that cause them are present, but eliminating the bacteria may not remove the symptoms.
Other treatments include:
pain killers. Medications that stop the pain or the feeling, including antidepressants, can help desensitize the digestive nerves. Antidepressants often work well with irritable bowel disease, a condition researchers think may be associated with nonulcer indigestion. However, studies are still needed to prove the effectiveness of antidepressant treatment.
antispasmodics; Prescription drugs, including dicyclomine (Bentyl) and eosylamine (Levsin), are often effective in stopping muscle spasms in the gut, but are not very promising in the treatment of nonulcer indigestion.
Behavioral therapy. If the doctor thinks the condition is due to stress or a psychological disorder, he may recommend that the patient see a doctor, psychologist or nursing counselor. These professionals can help him find ways to manage stress or deal with other life issues that may be causing the symptoms.
