Functional Dyspepsia – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Functional dyspepsia refers to persistent stomach discomfort with no identifiable cause. This condition is sometimes called non-ulcer dyspepsia. Many people experience functional dyspepsia. It tends to be ongoing, but with symptoms that come and go over time.

Common symptoms include:

• Upper abdominal pain or discomfort
• Bloating
• Excessive belching
• Nausea

These symptoms resemble those of stomach ulcers, but with functional dyspepsia, medical tests don’t reveal any structural problems or physical abnormalities that would explain the discomfort.

Signs and Symptoms

Functional dyspepsia may cause several uncomfortable symptoms. You might feel pain or burning in your stomach area. Many people experience bloating, excessive belching, or nausea after eating meals.

Some notice they feel full very quickly when eating, which doctors call early satiety. You might also have stomach pain that occurs without any connection to meals or that strangely improves after you eat.

When You Should Contact a Doctor

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you have ongoing symptoms that concern you.

Seek immediate medical help if you notice:

• Vomit containing blood
• Dark, tarry stool
• Difficulty breathing
• Pain in your jaw, neck, or arm
• Weight loss without trying

These symptoms may indicate a more serious condition that requires prompt medical attention.

Causes

Doctors do not know the exact cause of functional dyspepsia. This condition is classified as a functional disorder, which means it occurs without a clear physical or medical explanation.

Standard medical tests often show normal results when examining patients with these symptoms. Since there are no visible problems in testing, healthcare providers diagnose functional dyspepsia based on the symptoms people report rather than test results.

Risk Factors

Several factors may increase your chance of developing functional dyspepsia:

Personal Characteristics:

• Being female puts you at higher risk
• Having anxiety or depression
• History of childhood physical or sexual abuse

Medication Use:

Pain relievers available without a prescription can irritate the stomach, particularly:

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin IB)

Lifestyle Factors:

• Smoking contributes to digestive problems and may worsen symptoms

Infections:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been linked to functional dyspepsia in some patients

Many people with these risk factors never develop symptoms, while others without any known risk factors might experience digestive problems.

If you have multiple risk factors, talk with your healthcare provider about steps you might take to reduce your risk or manage your symptoms better.