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What Happens To Untreated Functional Dyspepsia & When To Go To Doctor?

It has long been understood that tension and anxiety alter both the abdomen and colon. This has been proven by the very high incidence of digestive symptoms among people with a psychiatric disorder. These are perhaps typical symptoms of functional dyspepsia.

Functional dyspepsia is a disorder that triggers a disturbed stomach or ache or irritation in the upper belly, near the ribs. This apparently shows no established evidence for structural diseases. For many patients, the symptoms show up after their endoscopy or ultrasound abdomen.

What Happens To Untreated Functional Dyspepsia?

What Happens To Untreated Functional Dyspepsia?

If left untreated, functional dyspepsia can become very uncomfortable, causing problems with swallowing, ulcers, scarring of the esophagus, and result in serious consequences such as

Esophageal Ulcer- A type of peptic ulcer located in the lining of the lower part of the esophagus, at the junction of the esophagus and stomach. It causes pain and a burning sensation between the throat and the stomach. In severe cases, it results in upper gastrointestinal bleeding, excessive weight loss due to appetite loss and difficulty swallowing, esophageal rupture. In the worst case scenario, it ends with esophageal cancer.

Esophageal Stricture- This condition occurs when the esophagus becomes abnormally narrow. Benign esophageal stricture results in restricting or contraction of the esophagus. This is due to ulcers or chronic inflammation of the esophagus. Esophageal stricture results in problems such as swallowing that can prevent you from getting enough food and liquid. 3.

Therefore, it is just as important to treat the underlying conditions in these instances.

When To Go To The Doctor For Functional Dyspepsia?

When you have persistent symptoms that make you worry, you should seek immediate medical attention. This includes

  • Vomit with traces of blood
  • Brown or tarry bowel movements
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Excessing pain that progresses to jaw, neck, and arm
  • Unpredictable weight loss

This wide range of probable triggers of functional dyspepsia may ensue in your physician assessing you for a certain disorder as well as considering varied therapy options for the ailment. Your physician will primarily talk about your health record to ascertain your situation. There are no specific tests or therapies for functional dyspepsia, however, the patients will be subjected to a series of medical examinations one other test for other conditions come back as normal.

Based on your test results, the doctor will recommend medications, antidepressants, prokinetic agents and antibiotics. 4. 5.

Common Symptoms Of Functional Dyspepsia

The meaning of functional dyspepsia is recurring signs and symptoms of indigestion that have no obvious cause. The most common symptoms of functional dyspepsia include:

  • Discomfort or irritation in the chest or upper belly, generally after consuming
  • Upset stomach
  • Bloating
  • Feeling full quickly when eating
  • Burping and a sour taste in the mouth

Although there is no cure for functional dyspepsia, yet some children reveal symptoms that last for a persistent duration. When patients adhere to strict lifestyle changes with regard to diet and exercise, they can manage their symptoms well without further complexities. This, in turn, make the symptoms occur much less frequently or go away completely.

However, if you brush off the symptoms, it becomes more serious and leads to other health issues. When your stomach juices get irritated, it results in heartburn. Over time, it can damage your esophagus, teeth and more.

A study was conducted on a total of 247 patients with dyspeptic symptoms who had a negative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. In most of these patients, severe dyspeptic symptoms and heartburn were noticed and they were characterized by a higher prevalence of epigastric pain. In order to manage these symptoms and discomforts, your GP will suggest suitable treatment and medication. 1. 2.

References:

  1. The Risks of Untreated Heartburn and GERD – WebMD https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/untreated-heartburn#1
  2. Understanding FD | Digestive Distress http://www.digestivedistress.com/intro
  3. Functional Dyspepsia and Acid Reflux https://www.healthcentral.com/article/functional-dyspepsia-and-acid-reflux
  4. Functional Dyspepsia Overview https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/functional-dyspepsia/
  5. Patient education: Upset stomach (functional dyspepsia) in adults (Beyond the Basics) https://www.uptodate.com/contents/upset-stomach-functional-dyspepsia-in-adults-beyond-the-basics

Also Read:

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:December 16, 2019

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