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Digestive Diseases

Functional Dyspepsia

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• Symptoms of Functional Dyspepsia
• Diagnosis of Functional Dyspepsia
• Treatment for Functional Dyspepsia
• Research for Functional Dyspepsia
• Contact Information

Functional Dyspepsia is indigestion or an upset stomach for which there is no detectable structural cause, such as an ulcer, but rather, a functional reason, such as muscles or nerves that control the organs not functioning properly. It is very common in the US, with an estimated 20% of Americans reporting symptoms.

Symptoms of Dyspepsia include a pain or burning feeling in the upper abdominal area, belching, nausea, and sometimes vomiting, and bloating. These symptoms often come after eating.

Certain tests can reveal whether the gastrointestinal tract is functioning properly, such as gastric-emptying tests or motility studies. Other tests may be done to rule out other conditions associated with dyspepsia, which include other gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and diabetes and hyperthyroidism, respectively.

Your physician will take a full medical history, including what drugs – over-the-counter and prescription – you are taking, as dyspepsia may also be caused by certain medications. Your diet will also be discussed, and a food diary requested to rule out any food sensitivities.

Tests that may be given to rule out other conditions include an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series of x-rays to visualize the stomach and duodenum, and a barium enema and colonoscopy to view the lower gastrointestinal tract.

A blood test or urea breath test may be done to check for helicobacter pylori bacteria (H. pylori bacteria), which is associated with peptic ulcers, and imaging tests such as abdominal ultrasound sonography, computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done to rule out non-intestinal diseases.

An esophageal motility study measures pressure in the esophagus and muscle contractions, and a gastric emptying test involves swallowing food or drink which is labeled with radioactive material while a device placed over the abdomen measures the speed by which the substance empties from the stomach. In the case of nausea and vomiting, an electrogastrogram (EGG) may be done to measure electric rhythm of the stomach.

Treatment of Dyspepsia, once other problems have been ruled out, such as ulcers, will include quitting smoking, and may include drugs for acid indigestion (H-2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors), smooth-muscle relaxants, low-doses of certain antidepressants, and stress-management such as yoga, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and biofeedback.

We are currently conducting a study using the medication R-Tofisopam for women with non-constipated Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).