“My stomach feels swollen after eating, why am I like this?” If you say… “Functional Dyspepsia” may lie behind the bloating felt after a meal.
Complaints such as abdominal pain, indigestion, bloating, heartburn or belching after meals can be signs of “dyspepsia”, a digestive system disorder. This disease, which negatively affects the quality of life, can be caused by many reasons.
What are the causes of dyspepsia?
Pointing out that, according to research, the prevalence of dyspepsia in society is 20%, scientists say the following about the disease:
“Dyspepsia is defined as the presence of at least one of the symptoms of abdominal pain, discomfort, fullness after meals, early satiety, burning sensation. If there is no underlying cause, we call dyspepsia functional dyspepsia and approximately 80% of the cases fall into this class. On the other hand, approximately In 20 cases, there is an underlying organic cause.[1]
Organic causes of dyspepsia include; Systemic diseases such as peptic ulcer disease, helicobacter pylori gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, biliary pain, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, carbohydrate malabsorption, some medications, ischemic bowel disease, diabetes, thyroid and parathyroid disorders, connective tissue diseases, intestinal parasites, intra-abdominal cancer of organs (especially pancreas and liver cancers, stomach and colon cancer).[2, 3]
Beware of Additional Symptoms!
Considering that such a common symptom in society can also be caused by cancer, we need to pay attention to additional symptoms that will alarm us.
Unintended weight loss, difficulty swallowing, pain while swallowing, unexplained iron deficiency anemia, persistent vomiting, palpable mass or lymph node swelling, family history of cancer of the abdominal organs and esophagus, bloody diarrhea or bloody vomit, coffee grounds-like If vomiting occurs, it is necessary to see a specialist doctor immediately.[4, 5]
What are the Causes of Functional Dyspepsia?
The underlying cause of functional dyspepsia is still not fully understood by the medical world. This situation causes people’s quality of life to decrease, even though no serious underlying cause can be found. If we talk about some reasons that are thought to be effective at this point, we can say the following:
Gas
Bloating is usually caused by excess gas in the intestines. Gas is formed as a result of the breakdown and fermentation of food during the digestive process, and these gases are excreted from the intestines. To reduce gas, you can basically do the following: Eat slowly and do not talk during meals to reduce air swallowing, limit foods that can cause a lot of gas (e.g. legumes, cabbage), gradually add fibrous foods to your diet, eat rich in probiotic and prebiotic foods, drink liquids with meals. If you are lactose, fructose and gluten intolerant, avoid these foods.
Salt
The body needs salt, but most of us get more than we need. This causes water retention, which can lead to bloating and more serious health problems such as high blood pressure. The salt you add is not the only responsible for increased bloating; pickled foods, processed meats, packaged and fast food foods, bouillons, instant soups, packaged breads are just a few of the hidden sources of sodium.
Too Many Carbs
Carbohydrates provide your body with fuel it can use quickly. However, taking too many simple carbohydrates can cause water retention. Simple carbohydrates—such as white bread, rice, pasta, candies, pastries, and non-alcoholic sugary drinks—enter your blood almost immediately. Complex carbohydrates – whole grains, fruits and vegetables – do not enter the blood immediately because they take longer to digest.
Consuming Acidic Drinks
Beverages like soda, cola, and sparkling water can fill your digestive system with gas. Burping helps you relax, but once gas reaches your intestines, it stays in your intestines until you expel it. However, most sodas are full of sugar, which can cause water retention and make you feel bloated.
Eating Too Fast
The faster you eat, the more air you swallow. As with fizzy drinks, when this air passes into your intestines it causes you to feel bloated. It can take up to 20 minutes for the fullness signal to get to your brain, so you may be eating enough to make you feel bloated and uncomfortable before your brain gets the message.