Common causes of dyspepsia cont
- Hiatus hernia. This is where the top part of the stomach pushes up into the lower chest through a defect in the diaphragm. It commonly (but not always) causes GORD.
- Medication. Some medicines may cause dyspepsia as a side-effect.
- Anti-inflammatory medicines are the most common culprits. These are medicines which many people take for arthritis, muscular pains, sprains, period pains, etc. For example: aspirin, ibuprofen, and diclofenac - but there are others. Anti-inflammatory medicines sometimes affect the lining of the stomach and allow acid to cause inflammation and ulcers.
- Various other medicines which sometimes cause dyspepsia, or make dyspepsia worse, include: digoxin, some antibiotics, steroids, iron, calcium antagonists, nitrates, theophyllines, bisphosphonates. (Note: this is not a full list. Check with the leaflet that comes with your medication for a list of possible side-effects.)
- Infection with H. pylori - see below.
Most people with H. pylori have no symptoms and do not know that they are infected. However, H. pylori is the usual cause of duodenal ulcers, and a common cause of stomach ulcers. It is also thought to cause some cases of functional dyspepsia, duodenitis and gastritis. The exact way H. pylori causes ulcers and inflammation is not clear. In some way it seems to alter the protective layer of mucus that lines the stomach and duodenum which protects the underlying cells. This may allow acid to 'burn' the cells to cause inflammation and ulcers.
Other less common causes of dyspepsia
Other problems of the upper gut such as stomach cancer and oesophageal cancer can cause dyspepsia when they first develop.
The rest of this leaflet gives an overview of what might happen if you see your doctor about dyspepsia.
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