Dyspepsia is a word of Greek origin meaning indigestion or difficulty in digestion. Any gastrointestinal symptom associated with taking of food is called dyspepsia. It is one of the most common ailments today and results from dietetic errors.
The stomach, which is the most used organ of the body, resembles a pear shaped pouch. It forms part of the digestive tract which is a tube coiled in loops, nearly 28 feet long. It varies in size and position depending on how much food it contains. An overloaded stomach prevents the diaphragm from functioning properly. It may also press on the heart.
Symptoms
Abdominal pain, a feeling of over-fullness after eating, heartburn loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting and flatulence or gas are the usual symptoms of dyspepsia. Vomiting usually produces relief. What is vomited is intensely sour to the taste. Other symptoms are a foul taste in the mouth, coated tongue and bad breath. At times a sensation of strangling in the throat is experienced. IN most cases of indigestion, the patient suffers from constipation which adds to the acidity of the system.
Causes
The main causes for dyspepsia are overeating, eating wrong food combinations, eating too rapidly and neglecting proper mastication and salivation of food. Overeating or frequent eating produces a feverish state in the system and overtaxes the digestive organs. It produces excessive acid and causes the gastric mucous membrane to become congested.
Hyperacidity is the common result. Over-eating makes the work of the stomach, liver, kidneys and bowels harder. When this food putrefies, its poisons are absorbed back into the blood and consequently, the whole system is poisoned.
Many persons, who gulp their food to stress and hurry, suffer from this ailment. When food is swallowed in large chunks, the stomach has to work harder and more hydrochloric acid is secreted. Eating too fast also causes one to swallow air. These bad habits force some of the digestive fluid into the oesophagus, causing burning, a stinging sensation or a sour taste, giving an illusion of stomach acid.
Certain foods, especially if they are not properly cooked, cause dyspepsia. Some people react unfavourably to certain foods like beans, cabbage, onions, cucumber, radishes and sea-foods. Fried foods as well as rich and spicy foods often cause abdominal discomfort and gas or aggravate the existing condition.
Excessive smoking and intake of alcohol can also cause stomach upset. Con- stipation may interfere with the normal flow through the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in gas and abdominal pain. The habit of eating and drinking together is another cause of indigestion as taking liquids with meals dilutes the digestive juices and diminishes their potency. Insomnia, emotions such as jealousy, fear and anger and lack of exercise are among the other causes of this ailment.