Dear Readers,

K.G. is a 52-year-old gentleman who lives in Papine, St. Andrew. He is a salesman and often travels outside of Kingston to do his work. Because of this, his eating habits are poor. In the days, he will have a sandwich, or eat at a fast food restaurant or skip his meals completely. He believes that this is the cause of his recurring 'gassiness', mild nausea, stomach burn and abdominal puffiness. He has seen a doctor and his Barium Meal X-ray tests were normal. He has taken a range of prescription medications for acid stomach including Zantac and Lanzap which help but do not solve the problem, which tends to recur very soon after the medication is completed. K.G. asks Lifeline to suggest the best course of action for him to take to settle his very upset stomach.

Dyspepsia is a very common condition of the stomach and affects the distension, causing bloating, nausea, vomiting and pain. Dyspepsia can be due to many causes. Causes can be structural, which are due to a defect in the organ itself, such as abnormal gastric motility or excessive acid secretion. Sometimes, an individual will need to take a look at their lifestyle to find the cause. Abdominal discomfort (Dyspepsia) is often reported in individuals who smoke, drink alcohol excessively and live stressful lives or are depressed.

It is also found in some people who use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) often used to treat Arthritis, menstrual pain and sports injuries, or persons who take certain antibiotics. NSAIDS, antibodies and even alcohol consumption involve one's source of income and there might be more difficult bowel infection with Helicobacter Pylori bacteria which are also thought to be a possible cause of functional dyspepsia.

Dietary changes

This germ is also an important cause of antibiotics. Abnormalities of the nerves and muscles in the bowel walls can lead to slow emptying of the stomach and slow movement of the bowel contents towards the rectum. This is another functional problem which can be helped with medication (e.g. Motilium) and dietary changes e.g. increasing the fibre content of the diet and drinking significantly more water.

Dyspepsia is really a diagnosis of exclusion. When the person is investigated for other causes of bowel discomfort e.g. peptic ulcer disease and no single root cause is found, then the symptoms are labelled dyspeptic. If abdominal gastro intestinal symptoms persist, it is always best to seek specialist assistance. See a gastroenterologist.

There are several uncommon but alarming conditions which can be present with symptoms of dyspepsia. These include:

- Malabsorption syndrome including lactose intolerance.

- Metabolic disorders including Thyroid disease

- Cancer of the pancreas

Treatment for dyspepsia is symptomatic as no single cause is identified. It is therefore important to make appropriate adjustments to diet, drinking and smoking habits, exercise schedules, and to attempt to alleviate daily stress. Antacids, Histamine 2, receptor blockers (e.g. Zantac), Protan pump inhibitors (e.g. Lanzap, Losec, Pantecta), bowel motility drugs (e.g. Motilium) and several other drugs can improve the symptoms. Helicobacter pylori bowel infection can be treated with antibiotics. Depression and stress can be aided with medication (e.g. antidepressants), counselling and lifestyle changes.

No one therapy works for everyone but treatment must be tailored to the individual who will often also have help themselves by adopting and maintaining new lifestyle changes.

Write Lifeline

P.O. Box 1731

Kingston 8