Q. What is dyspepsia? If someone feels pain in the epigastrium, will it be called dyspepsia or is it called dyspepsia only if it is related to eating?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Seconmedic Expert

Dyspepsia is a term which refers to any type of digestive disorder or discomfort associated with the upper gastrointestinal tract. It is often described as feeling bloated, having an uncomfortable sensation in the stomach area, and an uneasiness or difficulty in digesting food. Symptoms may include nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, burping, and an acid taste in your mouth.

The medical definition for dyspepsia states that it is “pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen” and it can be caused by various issues such as acid reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), pancreatitis, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), Gallstones/Gallbladder disease etc. Dyspepsia can also be induced by poor eating habits such as eating too quickly without chewing properly or consuming too much fatty foods & alcohol which overloads our system leading to indigestion & general gastric distress. So if someone feels pain in the epigastrium after consuming meal then it could indeed be dyspepsia related to eating habits of person though this needs further investigation using gastroenterological tests like endoscopy/Upper GI series etc before confirming diagnosis of any underlying condition causing dyspepsia symptoms because sometimes they might present without having history of recent eating activity prior to their symptom onset.