Indigestion

(Dyspepsia)
By:

Karen Kate Ables

BSN III-A
 Indigestion
Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia is a common condition. It can happen when your body has trouble digesting food.

It occurs in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is a sequence of organs that play a part in digestion. Anyone can

get indigestion. You can get it on occasion, or it can be an ongoing problem. The symptoms and causes vary by case. If

there is no known cause for indigestion, it is referred to as functional dyspepsia.

Causes of Indigestion:

● Eating certain foods that are hard to process

● Eating too late in the day.

● Drinking alcohol.

● Getting too much caffeine.

● Taking certain medicines.

● A lack of sleep.
 Problems in your GI tract or other health issues also can cause indigestion. These include :

● Acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

● Irritable bowel syndrome

● Infection

● Gastroparesis

● Ulcer

● Gastritis

● Stomach cancer
 Signs and Symptoms of indigestion
Indigestion can feel like a stomachache. You can have a range of symptoms including:

● pain, discomfort, or a burning feeling in your chest or stomach

● burping

● bloating

● gurgling stomach and/or gas

● acid reflux

● heartburn

● nausea and/or vomiting
Seek medical care right away if your symptoms are severe, such as:

● shortness of breath

● trouble swallowing

● ongoing vomiting

● throwing up blood

● sudden pain in chest, arm, neck, or jaw

● cold sweats

● thick, black, or bloody stool

Nursing Management

● Assess the level of pain (scale 0-10)

● Give a break with the position semifowler

● Encourage clients to avoid foods that can increase stomach acid work

● Encourage clients to remain set eating time

● Observation of vital signs every 24 hours

● Discuss and teach relaxation techniques

● Collaboration with an analgesic drug delivery

Madical Treatment
Lifestyle changes may help ease indigestion. This include:
● Avoiding foods that trigger indigestion
● Eating five or six small meals a day instead of three large meals
● Reducing or eliminating the use of alcohol and caffeine
● Avoiding certain pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve)
● Controlling stress and anxiety
● If your indigestion persists, medications may help. Over-the-counter antacids are generally the first choice. Other options
include:
● Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

● H-2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs)

● Prokinetics

● Antibiotics

● Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications

Diagnostic Procedure

Your Physician is likely to start with a health history and a thorough physical exam. Those evaluations may be sufficient if

indigestion is mild and not experiencing certain symptoms, such as weight loss and repeated vomiting.

But if indigestion began suddenly, and you are experiencing severe symptoms or are older than age 55, Physician may

recommend:

● Laboratory tests, to check for anemia or metabolic disorders.

● Breath and stool tests, to check for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the bacterium associated with peptic ulcers, which can

cause indigestion. H. pylori testing is controversial because studies suggest limited benefit from treating the bacterium

unless it is associated with a peptic ulcer.

● Endoscopy, to check for abnormalities in your upper digestive tract. A tissue sample (biopsy) may be taken for analysis.

● Imaging tests (X-ray or CT scan), to check for intestinal obstruction or another issue.
Thankyou 