What to do with functional dyspepsia?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Doctor Vo Thi Thuy Trang - Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International Hospital.
Functional dyspepsia is one of the common upper gastrointestinal disorders, especially in today's stressful modern life. The cause is often unclear and although it does not cause serious harm, the disease affects the quality of life more or less. However, although abnormalities on laboratory tests are usually negative, with lifestyle changes and dietary modifications can significantly improve these unpleasant symptoms.
Specifically, people with functional dyspepsia need the following changes and adjustments:

1. Understand your own situation

Functional dyspepsia usually affects younger people than older adults, and women are affected more often than men. At the same time, disease manifestations will be worse when the subject is under stress, psychological disorders.
Therefore, the most important thing is to understand that your intestinal discomfort also has a root in your head. If you have questions or concerns about your symptoms or treatments, talk to your doctor honestly. If you have psychological problems, such as excessive anxiety or insomnia or depression, you should see a mental health specialist or a social worker or psychologist. At this point, even without taking any medication, emotional relief can help improve symptoms greatly.

2. Diet

Some people will find that their symptoms of indigestion become more severe in relation to food as they ingest. Accordingly, if you limit certain foods, the patient may find the digestive tract becomes lighter. Eating habits that need to be changed include:
Focus on enjoying food, chewing slowly and thoroughly; Eat small meals and eat often. Instead of three large meals, eat five or six small meals; Chew with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing more air, which can easily cause bloating; Limit talking while you are chewing; Avoid fatty foods, as fat slows stomach emptying; Avoid foods that are too hot, contain many flavors, pungent, sour, bitter, because they make the digestive tract more easily irritated; Avoid eating late at night; Never lie down immediately after eating. It is recommended to raise the bed when sleeping; Avoid eating late at night; Do not wear clothes that are too tight as this will limit esophageal movement and increase stomach contractions; Avoid drinking too much alcohol, beer as well as alcoholic beverages in general, carbonated soft drinks. In addition, if you have questions and concerns about what to eat or not to eat, talk directly and frankly with your doctor or dietitian.

3. Acid reducers

Symptoms of bloating, heartburn, heartburn, and nausea will be completely relieved when the patient is treated with drugs that reduce stomach acid. These classes of drugs include:
Proton pump inhibitors: These are the most potent of the acid-reducing medications to improve upper gastrointestinal pain, including omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), and omeprazole (Prilosec). ), lansoprazole (Prevacid), dexlansoprazole (Dexilant), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (AcipHex); Histamine blockers: May be effective in some people, including ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet), and nizatidine (Axid); Antacids: This group of drugs is also often used in conjunction with the above groups because the effect of treatment alone is somewhat more limited in people with functional dyspepsia. Examples of antacids are Tums, Maalox, and Mylanta.

4. H. pylori treatment

If you are diagnosed with H. pylori infection and also have peptic ulcer disease, the symptoms you experience are not called functional dyspepsia at all. At this point, the eradication of H. pylori is mandatory.
In case you have evidence of H. pylori but absolutely no damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa, adherence to this antibiotic regimen has also been shown to help relieve difficult symptoms. pepper.

5. Anti-anxiety and pain relievers

Low doses of antidepressants can help relieve symptoms of indigestion even if you are not depressed. One of the most commonly used classes of antidepressants are tricyclic antidepressants, which have been shown to improve pain and intestinal motility even at the starting dose. The initiation of treatment can sometimes make many people feel tired; However, if taking the drug in the evening, the drug will help patients feel more refreshed when they wake up because it also improves the quality of sleep during the night. The use of the drug should be carried out for a short time and stopped when symptoms have improved significantly as well as when other combined measures have worked.
Meanwhile, pain relievers should be avoided as there is ample evidence to cause indigestion side effects. These include over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). On the other hand, prescription pain relievers, such as codeine, hydrocodone, or oxycodone are also not recommended long-term due to their constipating and addictive side effects.

6. Some herbal medicine

The digestive tract after a meal will be more active, fast food becomes easier to absorb if the patient is relaxed, enjoying the taste of some herbs. Although the evidence of effectiveness has not been clearly studied, the experience of using these types of natural products is still handed down to this day.
Peppermint Tea: Mint is not only a breath freshener, it also has an antispasmodic effect on the upper digestive tract of the body. Therefore, it is a great option to relieve stomach problems such as nausea and indigestion. Drinking a cup of peppermint tea after a meal to quickly soothe your stomach or keeping a few mints in your pocket to suck on after eating are cheap but effective ways; Chamomile Tea: Chamomile is known to induce sleep and calm anxiety. This herb is also made into a tea to help relieve intestinal discomfort and relieve indigestion by reducing stomach acid in the digestive tract. Not only that, chamomile also works as an anti-inflammatory, pain reliever; Ginger: Ginger is a natural remedy with high heat properties. Drinking a cup of ginger tea will improve indigestion by reducing stomach acid. Other options include eating ginger candies, drinking ginger ale, or making your own ginger juice simply by adding boiled water to a few thin slices of ginger. You can add a little honey before drinking to make the taste more delicious; Fennel seeds: This herb is also antispasmodic, remedying indigestion after meals, as well as soothing other gastrointestinal problems like nausea and bloating. Putting 1/2 teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds in boiling water for 10 minutes before drinking is a solution after eating foods that cause indigestion; Licorice Root: Licorice root can also soothe sphincter spasms in the digestive tract. Mixing licorice root in boiling water to drink after meals helps to quickly absorb food, as well as chewing licorice root directly, it is also used to relieve pain and calm nerves.

7. Build a healthy lifestyle, reduce stress

This natural remedy may sound too simple, but it is actually very effective for people with indigestion when there is a direct correlation with stress and anxiety in life.
Ideal relaxation methods vary from person to person. Some suggestions can be to develop a reasonable work and study plan, ensure a rest period, sleep on time and get enough sleep... Besides, the patient should also spend time outside the environment. nature school, exercise, yoga, massage... as well as entertainment and entertainment.
In addition, some bad habits that need to be quit early are smoking, drinking alcohol or using stimulants.
In summary, functional dyspepsia is one of the common upper gastrointestinal disorders, especially in today's stressful modern life. The only difficulty in diagnosing the disease is excluding other causes of physical damage. Once the disease has been identified, it is necessary to persistently apply the above measures, especially psychological stabilization and lifestyle adjustment, which will greatly improve functional dyspepsia and improve quality of life.
With nearly 20 years of working at Da Nang General Hospital in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy - hepatobiliary disease, every year, Doctor Vo Thi Thuy Trang participates in endoscopy more than 1500 cases including: endoscopic diagnosis of diseases stomach, colon such as: detecting inflammation, ulcers, polyps, cancer, finding HP bacteria, detecting cancer early in the digestive tract...; Endoscopic treatment such as: Hemostasis in gastrointestinal bleeding, esophageal varices ligation in cirrhosis, endoscopic gastrointestinal polypectomy...

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