From the Guidelines
The medical term for feeling unwell after eating is postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), which is a type of functional dyspepsia, as defined by the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines 1 and further clarified by the Rome Foundation's diagnostic criteria 1. This condition causes uncomfortable fullness, nausea, bloating, or pain shortly after consuming food. Other related terms include indigestion, dyspepsia, or gastric distress.
Key Characteristics of Functional Dyspepsia
- Symptoms such as pain or burning in the upper part of the abdomen, feeling abnormally full-up early on in a meal, or experiencing a heaviness in the abdomen that may be worse after eating 1
- Caused by issues with the two-way communication between the upper gut and the brain, problems with the nerves supplying the stomach and duodenum, or psychological factors such as stress 1
- Diagnosed in the absence of a structural abnormality to explain the symptoms, with 80% of people with dyspepsia being diagnosed with FD following endoscopy 1
Treatment and Management
- Lifestyle modifications such as eating smaller, more frequent meals, avoiding trigger foods, and reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption may help alleviate symptoms 1
- Over-the-counter medications like antacids, H2 blockers, or proton pump inhibitors may provide relief for occasional symptoms 1
- Prescription medications such as prokinetics or low-dose antidepressants might be prescribed by a doctor for persistent symptoms 1
- Psychological or behavioural therapies may also be beneficial for treating symptoms in FD, as they use the fact that the brain and upper gut nerves are connected and can influence each other 1
Importance of Medical Evaluation
- If symptoms persist beyond two weeks, are severe, or are accompanied by weight loss, difficulty swallowing, or vomiting, medical evaluation is necessary to rule out more serious conditions 1
From the Research
Medical Term for Feeling Unwell after Eating
The medical term for feeling unwell after eating is referred to as postprandial symptoms. These symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Early satiation
- Fullness or bloating
- Nausea
- Abdominal burning
- Abdominal pain
Postprandial Symptoms in Various Conditions
Postprandial symptoms are often reported by patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction, including:
- Functional dyspepsia (FD) 2
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 2, 3, 4, 5
- Gastroparesis 6
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 4, 5
Pathophysiological Process
The pathophysiological process of postprandial symptoms is thought to involve a distinct process, including:
- Loss of tolerance to a previously tolerated oral food antigen
- Interaction of the microbiota and the food antigen with the immune system
- Localised immunological response, with activation of eosinophils and mast cells
- Release of inflammatory mediators, including histamine and cytokines 2
Treatment Options
Treatment options for postprandial symptoms may include: