The medical term "dyspepsia" is understood to mean a large number of various external symptoms associated with problems of the gastrointestinal tract, which are caused by a violation of the digestion of food. Hence the name, because dyspepsia in Greek means "digestive problems."
A separate variety of the entire complex of disorders is functional dyspepsia. Its signs: dull or burning pain in the abdominal cavity (the so-called epigastric triangle). In addition to discomfort, the patient experiences a feeling of heaviness and fullness of the abdomen. Flatulence, nausea, heartburn, and belching may also occur. Moreover, in the process of diagnosis, it is not possible to detect any organic pathologies (there is no morphological or biochemical cause).
This is what distinguishes functional dyspepsia, the treatment of which has some features.
Consider these issues in more detail.
Disease statistics
Digestive problems are one of the most common disorders that occur in the gastrointestinal tract. During various statistical events, it was found that out of the total number of patients seeking help from a gastroenterologist, the number of people diagnosed with functional dyspepsia of the stomach is about 70%. In European countries, the number of people exposed to the described disease reaches 40%, and in African countries - more than 60%.
Despite the fact that functional dyspepsia, whose symptoms are very unpleasant, causes considerable discomfort to a person, only a quarter of the victims turn to a medical specialist for help. Moreover, in the overwhelming majority of cases, it is the functional, and not the organic form of the disease that is diagnosed.
In women, a similar condition occurs about one and a half times more often.
The main age of patients with this problem is from 20 to 45 years. In the elderly, this gastrointestinal dysfunction is much less common. Instead, there are more serious diseases of the digestive system, which, however, have similar symptoms.
Types of Violation
Functional gastric dyspepsia, as you already understood, is not the only type of pathology. There is still an organic variety of it. Let us dwell in more detail on the distinguishing features of each of them.
- Organic This violation occurs as a result of ulcers, various diseases of the pancreas, gall bladder, as well as other organic pathologies.
- Functional . Appears when there is a malfunction in the muscle layer of the stomach and duodenum (not caused by diseases), which lasts for 3 months throughout the year. In this case, the connection of emerging pain with gastrointestinal dysfunctions should not be diagnosed.
Classification of non-biological pathology
According to the clinical picture of the course of the violation, functional dyspepsia of the stomach can be divided into three subspecies:
- Ulcer-like - characterized by pain in the epigastric region.
- Dyskinetic - the patient feels discomfort in the abdomen, which is not accompanied by acute pain.
- Nonspecific - the clinical picture of this disorder has many symptoms (there is nausea, heartburn, belching).
Provocative factors
Unlike the biological form, the consideration of which is not the purpose of this material, functional dyspepsia in children and adults is caused by the following reasons.
- Problems with peristaltic function of the muscle fibers of the stomach and duodenum. These include:
- the lack of relaxation of some parts of the stomach after ingestion of food (the so-called accommodation);
- violation of the cycle of muscle contractions of this organ;
- problems with the motor function of the anal part of the colon;
- Failures of antroduodenal coordination.
- Increased tendency of the walls of the stomach to stretch with food.
- Unhealthy diet, drinking large amounts of tea, coffee, alcohol.
- Smoking.
- Treatment with various medications (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
- Psychological stress.
Some medical professionals claim that functional dyspepsia syndrome is associated with the release of a large amount of hydrochloric acid in the gastrointestinal tract, but there is currently no reliable evidence for this theory.
Forms of the pathology
Consider the external signs and internal sensations in the patient, characteristic of the described violation.
Ulcerative functional dyspepsia is primarily characterized by acute and prolonged pains that appear in the epigastric region. They take on a pronounced character at night or when a person experiences a feeling of hunger. You can eliminate discomfort with the help of appropriate medications - antacids. Pain sensations become more intense, if the patient experiences psycho-emotional stress, he may have concerns about the presence of some terrible pathology.
The dyskinetic form of the disorder (non-ulcer functional dyspepsia) is accompanied by symptoms such as early satiety, a feeling of fullness of the gastrointestinal tract, bloating of the abdominal cavity and nausea.
As for nonspecific dyspepsia, here the complaints of a person are difficult to classify according to one or another of the signs. This kind of pathology may be accompanied by signs specific to some other diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract. A similar picture makes it difficult to diagnose a condition such as functional dyspepsia of the stomach. Her treatment is prescribed symptomatically.
Diagnostics
The first task that a medical specialist faces is to distinguish between biological dyspepsia and functional dyspepsia. As a rule, the latter occurs when its symptoms appear in the patient without any external apparent reasons.
In order to speak with confidence about the course of a patient’s functional disorder, it is necessary to establish the presence of three main criteria:
- There is a constant (recurring) dyspepsia - this is evidenced by pain in the epigastric region, which lasts for a total of 3 months throughout the year.
- No traces of organic disturbance were found - ultrasonography, endoscopy or other clinical and biochemical procedures help to establish this.
- The observed symptoms do not disappear after visiting the toilet, the frequency of bowel movements and the consistency of feces do not change - this allows us to distinguish between dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome.
Research methods
Among other things, it is important to rule out other diseases with symptoms similar to those associated with functional dyspepsia of the stomach. The treatment of such pathologies can radically differ.
To this end, the following events are held.
- History taking. At the initial interview, the medical specialist should determine if the patient is suffering from disorders accompanied by signs of dyspepsia. It is necessary to establish the nature of the course and find out the sensations of the person (whether there is a bursting of the abdomen, belching, heartburn or pain). It is important to find out what a person has eaten over the past few days, and whether he has undergone any treatment.
- Inspection During it, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of occurrence of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, as well as pathologies of the respiratory tract.
- Testing. Usually required:
- general analysis of feces;
- the study of feces for signs of blood in them;
- blood tests;
- establishing the presence of certain types of infections.
4. Research using various medical instruments:
- esophagogastroduodenoscopy (the more common name is gastroscopy);
- study of the stomach using an x-ray apparatus;
- ultrasound examination of organs located in the abdominal cavity ;
- other necessary procedures.
Survey plan
In order for functional dyspepsia in children and adults to be diagnosed with maximum accuracy, the doctor must adhere to a certain sequence of actions.
You need to start the examination with a normal blood test, as well as establishing its traces in the feces. This will reveal hidden bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
If there are deviations in a particular laboratory test, a possible diagnosis should be confirmed or refuted with the help of tools (for example, endoscopy). If in patients whose age exceeds 50 years old, dangerous signs have been established (vomiting with blood, scarlet stool, fever, anemia, severe weight loss), an urgent gastroscopy is necessary.
Otherwise (when dangerous symptoms are not observed), it is recommended to prescribe the so-called empirical therapy using antisecretory and prokinetic drugs. Only after the absence of positive dynamics should instrumental research methods be used.
However, there is a hidden danger in this approach. The fact is that many pharmacological agents give a positive effect and reduce the symptoms of many other serious pathologies (for example, cancerous tumors). This greatly complicates timely diagnosis.
Treatment
During diagnosis, organic or functional dyspepsia can be established. The first treatment is aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease. In the case of the latter, treatment methods are developed individually, taking into account the features of the clinical picture.
The main goals of treatment:
- discomfort reduction;
- elimination of symptoms;
- relapse prevention.
Non-drug exposure
The following methods are used to get rid of the symptoms of dyspepsia.
- Diet. At the same time, one should not adhere to any strict recommendations; it is enough to simply normalize nutrition. It is better to completely abandon foods that are hardly processed by the intestines, as well as rough foods. It is advisable to eat more often, but eat less. It is not recommended to smoke, drink alcohol, drink coffee.
- Refusal to take certain medications. We are talking mainly about non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that have a strong effect on the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Psychotherapeutic effect. Oddly enough, more than half of patients get rid of the symptoms that accompany functional dyspepsia if a placebo is used in the treatment. Thus, such methods of combating violation are not only possible, but have repeatedly proved their effectiveness.
Medicines
The specific types of pharmacological agents used for a patient who has functional dyspepsia are determined individually, taking into account the established symptoms.
Empirical therapy is usually applied, calculated for one to two months of admission.
There are currently no specialized methods of controlling the disease and its prevention. The following types of medicines are popular:
- antisecretory drugs;
- antacids;
- adsorbing agents;
- prokinetic tablets;
- antibiotics.
In some cases, antidepressants are indicated, which are also able to relieve symptoms of non-biological dyspepsia.
If functional dyspepsia in children is diagnosed, treatment should be carried out taking into account the characteristics of a growing organism.
Fight tactics
Long-term methods of working with an ailment by modern medical science have not been developed.
With a relapse of the disorder, it is advisable to use drugs that have previously proven to be effective in relieving the symptoms of dyspepsia.
When prolonged use of any tablets does not alleviate the patient’s discomfort, it is recommended that alternative pharmacological agents treat them.
Conclusion
Functional (as well as biological) dyspepsia is one of the most common diseases. Despite the apparent frivolity, in the presence of its symptoms, the quality of human life is significantly reduced. Therefore, it is important to take measures aimed at prevention. To do this, you only need to observe the correct diet, exclude stressful effects on the body and fully relax.
Be healthy!