Indigestion is a common problem for lots of people, and in many cases, it can be traced back to the foods we eat or personal habits, like smoking or eating too much. But chronic or recurrent indigestion can have another cause that’s not nearly as well-known: infection from Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria.
Our team at Digestive Disease Specialists in Moline, Illinois, and Bettendorf, Iowa, has extensive experience diagnosing and managing H. pylori infections, helping you find the treatment you need to relieve your symptoms and improve your gastrointestinal health.
In this post, learn more about H. pylori infections, including why they happen, what symptoms they cause, and how we can help you feel better.
Your gut is home to millions of bacteria, and for most people, that includes H. pylori. This tiny, caterpillar-shaped bacteria can live in your gut for years without causing any symptoms.
Over time, though, the bacteria can damage the protective lining of your stomach, causing inflammation that increases your risk of chronic stomach pain, indigestion, ulcers, and even stomach cancer.
Researchers aren’t sure why H. pylori infections happen, but they suspect the bacteria may be passed from one person to another through kissing or sharing eating utensils. It might also be ingested through contaminated food or water. Infections can happen to anyone regardless of lifestyle or living conditions.
While H. pylori symptoms tend to become more common with age, many infections take root in childhood. Cumulative damage to your stomach’s protective lining eventually leads to noticeable pain, burning, and chronic indigestion, along with symptoms like frequent burping, bloating, and even nausea or vomiting.
Testing for an H. pylori infection is surprisingly simple. Our team uses two types of tests: one that relies on a small sample of your stool and another that uses your breath to detect the presence of H. pylori.
If we suspect more serious complications, like a stomach ulcer, we may recommend an outpatient procedure called an upper endoscopy. Performed under sedation, this procedure uses a long, flexible scope to see inside your stomach and the upper part of your small intestine (your duodenum) to evaluate the lining and remove tiny tissue samples, if needed.
Following treatment, our team performs a follow-up test to ensure your infection is completely cleared up. If bacteria are still present, treatment can be repeated.
While occasional heartburn probably isn’t anything to worry about, recurrent or chronic indigestion can be a sign of H. pylori infection, and delaying diagnosis and care could lead to ulcers, stomach bleeding, or stomach cancer.
To find out what’s causing your symptoms and how we can help, book an appointment online or over the phone with Digestive Disease Specialists today.
