Are you experiencing frequent stomach pains that make you feel like your stomach is on fire? That burning sensation you feel may just be dyspepsia, which people also call “hyperacidity.” Among other things you may notice are a feeling of fullness, bloating, or nausea; all these, if frequent enough, can affect your daily life and may need to be checked.

Many things can be behind these, from a benign gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to a serious peptic ulcer disease or malignancy. Your physician will be able to make sense of your symptoms with thorough medical evaluation. Symptoms must be checked as soon as possible. Early evaluation and treatment can save money in the long run. Recognizing benign conditions and preventing the cause is far better than popping a pill to get temporary relief.

Browse through the gallery for things to know about dyspepsia.


(First published as “Bearing the Burn” in the Good Health section of Good Housekeeping Philippines’ December 2011 issue. Adapted for use in Female Network. Photo by Mike Dee.)