What is Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diet, Prognosis, Risk Factors

Nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia is a disorder brought about by indigestion. It is very painful experience and bring a lot of discomfort and agony to the victim. It resembles ulcers but in reality it is not ulcers. With ulcers, the patient must have stomach wounds that are irritated by the stomach enzymes and acids bringing a burning and stinging effect in the stomach. Other symptoms such as belching, discomfort in the upper stomach, bloating and nausea are common to nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia as well as ulcers.

What is Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia?

Nonulcer stomach pain is also referred to as functional dyspepsia and is very common.

Causes of Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

There is no defined cause to this since there are very many suspicious causes that have not be proved medically. The disease depicts symptoms of indigestion thus it is always seen as caused by indigestion. It is best to note that nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia is not specifically caused by any disease.

Symptoms of Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

Nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia is associated with upper stomach pains /lower chest pains. This at times can be relieved by taking food antacids. Such pains can be a possible attack of nonulcer stomach pains and the patient should be able to consult medics for further examination.

Belching after meals can also be an indicatory sign to nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia. Belching or burping can be brought about by many thing and this can be a clear symbol of nonulcer stomach pains. Swallowing air followed by rapid drinking of water or taking carbonated soft drinks in plenty can be a real cause of belching. Starchy foods, fibres or sugar can also bring about belching.

Belching can also be accompanied by headache, fever of over 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius, chest pains and burning sensation in the throat or mouth.

Bloating is also another common symptom of nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia. Bloating is a medical disorder on its own level but can as well stand a sign for nonulcer stomach pain. It is characterized by abdominal discomfort, normally having that full stomach feeling where the patient feels that his or her stomach is full of gas with it being visible in that the stomach is physically swollen.

Other symptoms of nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia include nausea and early feeling of fullness after eating.

Tests to Diagnose Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

During the testing for the diagnosis of nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia, the doctors will first review the symptoms through interviews with the patient and physical examination of the stomach. This can be done by visual viewing and touching to establish the extend of swollenness.

After the physical examination and interview of the patient, blood test can be performed in order to rule out any other disease that might have similar symptoms.

A test for bacterium is also another test for nonulcer stomach pain performed by the medics to determine the exact cause of the symptoms. These bacterium test is meant to test for a bacteria known as helico bacter pylori and can be done by use of either breath, stool or blood.

There is also another important test that is usually performed to examine the upper parts of the digestive system including the throat, oesophagus, stomach and upper sections of small intestines. This is done by inserting a small instrument through your oesophagus via the throat deep into the stomach and small intestines.

Treatment for Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

It is possible to manage the nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia by assorted medication that are provided over the counter. Examples of these types of medication are the gas remedies obtainable over the counter. These drugs provide comfort since they contain specific ingredients charged by reducing the levels of gas in your stomach. The reagent or rather ingredient responsible for this is called the simethicone ingredient.

Reducing acid production in your digestive system can be of significant impact in reducing the nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia. These medication is known as the H2 Receptor blockers. Some of the medicine containing these ingredient include the nizztidine and ranitidine that are accessed over the counter. You can get heavier prescription of this kind of treatment if need arises.

There are also other medication that reduces acid pumps called proton pump inhibitors that function closing the acid pumps found in the stomach cells that secret the acid. These include the iansoprazole and omeprazole available over the counter but there is always an allowance to have stronger prescription by the specialists.

Other medicines such as prokinetic agents strengthen the esophageal sphincter reducing the abdominal discomfort by tightening the valve between your stomach and oesophagus.

Low-dose antidepressants act by inhibiting the neurons activity and as a result control the pain caused by nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia.

Antibiotics can be administered in case of diagnosis depicting presence of bacterium called helicobacter causing nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia. This will destroy the bacteria bring the situation under control.

Home Remedies for Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

Combining herbs such as caraway oils and peppermint can help in controlling the symptoms and is a good home remedy for nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia.

Also, avoiding stress and anxiety by making use of relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercisesyoga is also a good home remedy.

People with long term nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia can try to control the problem at home by stocking over the counter medication. This can come in handy especially during the night when most chemist and pharmacist are closed. Most of these medication can include gas remedies, acid production reduction medicines, acid pump blockers, medication that strengthen the esophageal sphincter, antidepressants and antibiotics in lower dosage can be accessed over the counter without prescription. For home remedies, it is very advisable to stock some of these and always remember to keep all medications out of reach of children.

How Long Does Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia Last?

These nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia can be long lasting if not attended to by the specialist. It is very advisable for the potion to seek medical attention immediately he or she starts feeling the signs and symptoms to this disorder. For a quick and progressive recovery, the patient must keep to the prescribed medicines with discipline. Avoid stress that will lead to prolongation of the nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia and reoccurring of the same. Your doctor can provide you with the proper details about the healing time or recovery period.

Diet for Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

Nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia is common and long term. People with high prevalence of the disorder should avoid high starch and high fibre foods. These will lead to stomach bloating which is a symptom of the disease. High sugars should also be controlled in the diet since it is a culprit to the disease causes. For immediate relief from the pain you can try milk or antacids.

Smoking should also be avoided together with carbonated soft drink. Alcohol also fall under the drinks and foods that should be limited.

Prevention of Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

In efforts to prevent the occurrence of the nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia, one should understand what works for him or her in terms of diet and strictly avoid the food and diet that might lead to the suffering of the nonulcer stomach related pains. Once affected, these can last for long time thus there is need to try to prevent the disease reducing off all the chances that might lead to the infection.

Risk Factors for Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

There are several factors that can make the nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia worse or elongated in time. These factors should be avoided at all cost by the patient in order to promote quick recovery. Drinking of alcohol in excess will probably be one of the risk factors. Alcohol is associated with too much gases especially carbon dioxide and a lot of sugars and starch that is as a result of the fermentation of the sugars and starch. Addition of the sugars, starch and the gas will worsen the situation since this will bloat further the stomach causing intensive pain to the patient. Smoking is also another risk discouraged by the specialist. Smoking might result in accidentally swallowing of the gas which at no point is helpful.

Never take unprescribed medicine especially over the pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These pain relievers can cause you serious stomach problems rather than helping you in recovery.

Prognosis for Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

The signs of nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia may come and go occassionally. The prognosis or outcome is excellent for patients’ who stick to diet plan and lifestyle changes recommended by the specialists.

Coping with Nonulcer Stomach Pain or Functional Dyspepsia

This disorder is always a long term disease and coping with the intense pain is very agonizing. This calls for a behavioural therapy who through their counselling, the patients can be comforted thus relieving the signs of the symptoms. Therapists are specialists trained in their line of duty to train the patient in relaxation techniques that aid in the coping up with the disease. These relaxation techniques are choreographed to keep the patient free of stresses in life preventing nonulcer pains from recurring.

  • Eating smaller and more frequent meals is a good way to cope with nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia.
  • Another good coping way is to chew the food thoroughly and slowly.
  • Avoiding the foods which trigger nonulcer stomach pain or functional dyspepsia is also a best way to cope with the situation.
  • Stress and anxiety also should be reduced in order to properly cope with the condition.
Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:June 8, 2017

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