Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is classified under functional abdominal pain with a heighten sensation or exaggerated body response to otherwise normal stimuli. As the name implies, the bowel is more "irritable" than one would expect.
Dyspepsia and hyperacidity on the other hand, are symptoms caused by underlying problems such as inflammation, infection or rarely, hormonal imbalance.
Although these conditions may overlap somewhat and may present with similar abdominal pain, their treatment can be quite different. In IBS, the focus is on:
- Understanding the condition
- Avoiding triggers
- Controlling symptoms
- Re-establish normal gut function as much as possible
Treatment for dyspepsia starts from establishing the cause and excluding conditions such as gastric ulcer and cancers, Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and gallbladder problems.
Depending on the underlying pathology and presentations, treatment can range from symptomatic control, acid suppression, Hp eradication to surgery.
May I suggest you discuss with your doctor in greater detail and formulate a plan to establish the diagnosis before embarking on any treatment.
