Definition: Dyspepsia is a term used to describe the discomfort that occurs in the upper abdomen, and is often provoked by eating. Symptoms of dyspepsia may be one or more of the following:
- A gnawing or burning pain in the stomach
- Bloating
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Burping
Indigestion can be caused by a condition in the digestive tract such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, cancer, or abnormality of the pancreas or bile ducts. If the condition improves or resolves, the symptoms of indigestion usually improve.
Sometimes a person has indigestion for which a cause cannot be found. This type of indigestion, called functional dyspepsia, is thought to occur in the area where the stomach meets the small intestine. The indigestion may be related to abnormal motility—the squeezing or relaxing action—of the stomach muscle as it receives, digests, and moves food into the small intestine.
Pronunciation: diss-PEP-see-uh
Also Known As: Indigestion
