Symptom: Dyspepsia

Introduction: Dyspepsia

The symptom "dyspepsia" or "indigestion" is not usually accurate enough for a full diagnosis. People use the word indigestion to mean various abdominal symptoms such as gas, wind, diarrhea, heartburn, reflux, nausea, abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, abdominal swelling, or other digestive symptoms. The causes of indigestion and these various digestive symptoms needs to be explored for more precise information.

» Review Causes of Dyspepsia: full list

Causes of Dyspepsia:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Dyspepsia. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Various other possible symptoms described as "indigestion":
  • Gas
  • Wind (see Belching)
  • Diarrhea
  • Heartburn
  • Reflux
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Abdominal swelling
• Pregnancy
• Peptic ulcer
• Non-ulcer dyspepsia
• Esophagitis
• Hiatal hernia
• Gallstones
• Stomach cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Achalasia
• Chronic pancreatitis
• See also causes of gas, wind, diarrhea, heartburn, reflux, abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, abdominal swelling, or other digestive symptoms
• Cirrhosis
• Duodenal ulcer
• Acute gastric dilation
• Gastric ulcer
• Chronic gastritis
• Heart failure
• Hepatitis
• Pulmonary embolus
• Pulmonary tuberculosis
• Uremia

See full list of 56 causes of Dyspepsia

» Review Causes of Dyspepsia: full list

Causes of Types of Dyspepsia:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Dyspepsia:

• Indigestion (90 causes)
• Non-ulcer dyspepsia

More types of Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Dyspepsia, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Dyspepsia: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Dyspepsia and Digestive symptoms (41 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Pain (41 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Abdominal symptoms (40 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Indigestion (40 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Nerve symptoms (40 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Sensations (38 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Abdominal pain (36 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Swelling symptoms (29 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Vomiting (29 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Nausea (27 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Bowel problems (23 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Stool symptoms (23 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Eating symptoms (23 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Abdominal swelling (22 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Respiratory symptoms (22 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Fatigue (22 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Food symptoms (22 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Bleeding symptoms (20 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Weight loss (20 causes)
• Dyspepsia and Chest pain (20 causes)

See full list of 680 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Dyspepsia

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Indigestion (90 causes)
• Digestive symptoms (2184 causes)
• Abdominal symptoms (1394 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Dyspepsia

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Dyspepsia:

• Acid reflux
• Indigestion (90 causes)
• Stomach ulcer

Diagnostic Guides for Dyspepsia

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Dyspepsia from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Dyspepsia. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Dyspepsia

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Dyspepsia

Chronic digestive conditions often misdiagnosed: When diagnosing chronic symptoms of the digestive tract, there are a variety of conditions that may be misdiagnosed. The best...read more »

Intestinal bacteria disorder may be hidden cause: One of the lesser known causes of diarrhea is an imbalance of bacterial in the gut, sometimes called intestinal imbalance. The digestive system contains a variety of "good" bacteria that...read more »

Antibiotics often causes diarrhea: The use of antibiotics are very likely to cause some level of diarrhea in patients. The reason is that antibiotics kill off not only "bad" bacteria, but can also kill the "good" bacteria in the gut. This leads...read more »

Food poisoning may actually be an infectious disease: Many people who come down with "stomach symptoms" like diarrhea assume that it's "something I ate" (i.e. food...read more »

Mesenteric adenitis misdiagnosed as appendicitis in children: Because appendicitis is one of the more feared conditions for a child with abdominal pain, it can be over-diagnosed (it can, of course, also fail to be diagnosed with fatal effect). One of the most...read more »

Celiac disease often fails to be diagnosed cause of chronic digestive symptoms: One of the most common chronic digestive conditions is celiac disease, a malabsorption disorder with a variety of symptoms (see symptoms of celiac disease). A variety...read more »

Chronic digestive diseases hard to diagnose: There is an inherent difficulty in diagnosing the various types of chronic digestive diseases....read more »

Common case of dyspepsia: Dyspepsia is a difficult and vague symptom evaluate and requires careful questioning. The discomfort may sometimes amount to pain and some of the...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Dyspepsia

Diagnostic tests for Dyspepsia:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Dyspepsia. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Look for evidence of anemia - e.g. pale skin and conjunctiva - may suggest chronic oesophagitis, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer or stomach cancer.
  • Look for evidence of jaundice - e.g. yellows skin and sclera of eyes - may suggest gallstones that pass into common bile duct or cancer of the pancreas.
  • Abdominal examination for tenderness - e.g. tenderness in epigastric area (midline below ribs) may suggest peptic ulceration; tenderness over the right upper abdomen may suggest gall bladder disease.
  • Abdominal examination for mass - e.g. epigastric mass may suggest stomach cancer.

See full list of 25 diagnostic tests for Dyspepsia

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Dyspepsia. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had dyspepsia? - to determine if acute or chronic. Chronic dyspepsia is defined as occurring for more than 3 months.
• What exactly do you mean by dyspepsia and how would you describe the discomfort? Dyspepsia or indigestion is a difficult, sometimes vague, symptom to define or evaluate. Dyspepsia is a discomfort related to eating which may include one or more of the following symptoms during or after the ingestion of food :- nausea, heartburn, regurgitation, upper abdominal discomfort, lower chest discomfort, acidity, sensation of fullness or unease in the upper abdomen, abdominal distention or excess wind e.g. A burning pain may suggest gastro-esophageal reflux; constricting pain may suggest angina, heart attack or esophageal spasm; deep gnawing pain may suggest peptic ulcer
• Can you point to exactly where the discomfort is and where it radiates to? - can help with diagnosis e.g. discomfort between the shoulder blades may suggest esophageal spasm, gall bladder disease or a duodenal ulcer; discomfort behind the sternum (breastbone) may suggest esophageal disorders or angina; discomfort in epigastrium (midline just below ribs) may suggest disorders of the biliary system, stomach or duodenum.
• Is there anything that makes the discomfort worse? - e.g. eating food may aggravate a gastric ulcer; eating fried or fatty foods will aggravate biliary disease, esophageal disorders and functional dyspepsia ( dyspepsia when no specific cause can be demonstrated); bending over will aggravate gastro-esophageal reflux; alcohol will aggravate gastro-esophageal reflux, oesophagitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer and pancreatitis.
• Is there anything you have found that makes the discomfort better? - e.g. eating food may relive a duodenal ulcer.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Dyspepsia (37 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Dyspepsia) may include:

• Acid regurgitation? - may suggest gastro-esophageal reflux, or oesophagitis.
• Waterbrash (excess secretion of saliva into the mouth)? - may suggest gastro-esophageal reflux, hiatus hernia or peptic ulcer.
• Pain on swallowing? - may suggest oesophagitis (especially if with hot and cold fluids) or stomach cancer.
• Cough or wheeze at night? -may suggest gastro-esophageal reflux
• Symptoms of angina or heart attack? - e.g. a common mistake is to attribute the discomfort of angina or a heart attack to a disorder of the gastro-intestinal tract. Must consider heartburn symptoms to be ischemic heart disease until proved otherwise.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Dyspepsia (37 listings)

Stories from Users for Dyspepsia

Real-life user stories relating to Dyspepsia:

• Stomach discomfort after eating
• 4½ Yrs of Suffering!!! DISCOVERY - Have Hope!

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Dyspepsia or relevant symptoms:

• Respiratory (Lungs and Breathing) (136)
  • Chlorine/ammonia odor when I breathe
  • Chest Pain/Pain While Breathing
  • Clearing throat cough and breathing difficulties
  • Chest discomfort
  • Unable to get diagnosis....please help!
  • More user stories
• Gastrointestinal (Food - from entry to exit) (452)
  • Bloating/Distention/Intestinal Gas
  • Intense Abdominal Pain
  • Help Please! Extreme Abdominal Pain/Gas/Bowel Symptoms ++
  • Feels like a baby kicking-not pregnant
  • 7 year old with severe heartburn/stomach aches
  • More user stories
• Allergic/Immunologic (88)
  • Chronic hives
  • Spontaneous flushing and redness of face and body.
  • Non-stop itching, no rash
  • Swelling & itching
  • Problems with my scalp can anyone help me
  • More user stories

Videos for Dyspepsia

Patient Surveys for Dyspepsia

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about diseases related to your Dyspepsia
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Medications or substances causing Dyspepsia:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Dyspepsia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Choline Magnesium Salicylate
• Trilisate
• Choline Salicylate
• Arthropan
• Teejel

See full list of 25 medications causing Dyspepsia

Article Excerpts about Dyspepsia

Indigestion, also known as upset stomach or dyspepsia, is a painful or burning feeling in the upper abdomen, often accompanied by nausea, abdominal bloating, belching, and sometimes vomiting. (Source: excerpt from Indigestion: NIDDK)

Definitions of Dyspepsia:

A disorder of digestive function characterized by discomfort or heartburn or nausea
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Organs affected by Dyspepsia:

The list of organs typically affected by Dyspepsia may include, but is not limited to:

• Oesophagus
• Stomach

Detailed list of causes of Dyspepsia

The list below shows some of the causes of Dyspepsia mentioned in various sources:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Abdominal swelling
• Achalasia
• Achlorhydria - indigestion
• Acute gastric dilation

See full list of 56 causes of Dyspepsia

How Common are these Causes of Dyspepsia?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Dyspepsia. Of the 56 causes of Dyspepsia that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 4 causes are "very common" diseases
• 7 causes are "common" diseases
• 2 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 3 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 50 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 56 causes of Dyspepsia

Conditions listing symptoms: Dyspepsia:

The following list of conditions have 'Dyspepsia' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Dyspepsia Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Dyspepsia based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: