"Gastrik" is the everyday Malaysian word for upper stomach discomfort, which doctors may call indigestion (dyspepsia), gastritis, acid reflux or, in some cases, a stomach ulcer. Typical symptoms are a burning pain in the upper tummy, heartburn, bloating, burping and feeling sick, often after eating. Common causes include Helicobacter pylori infection, anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen, alcohol, smoking, stress and trigger foods. Most mild gastrik can be eased with smaller meals, avoiding triggers and pharmacy medicines such as antacids, alginates or proton pump inhibitors. Symptoms that keep coming back should be checked, because H. pylori can be tested for and treated. This guide explains the symptoms, causes, the difference between gastrik and GERD, which ubat gastrik to try, what to eat, and the warning signs that need urgent care.
What is gastrik?
In Malaysia, people use "gastrik" (sometimes "sakit gastrik") for a range of upper stomach problems. In medical terms, these usually fall into a few overlapping conditions:
- Indigestion (dyspepsia): discomfort or burning in the upper tummy, often after eating. The NHS says most people have it at some point and it is usually not serious.
- Gastritis: when the lining of the stomach becomes irritated or inflamed.
- Acid reflux and GERD: when stomach acid comes up into the food pipe, causing heartburn.
- Stomach ulcer: an open sore in the stomach lining or the first part of the small intestine.
Because these share similar symptoms, it is worth seeing a doctor if gastrik keeps coming back, so the cause can be found and treated. Pain that starts around the belly button and moves to the lower right side of the tummy is not typical of gastrik and may be appendicitis; see our guide to apendiks.
Tanda gastrik: what are the symptoms?
According to the NHS, symptoms of indigestion and gastritis include:
- pain or a burning feeling in the upper tummy;
- heartburn, a painful burning feeling in the chest, often after eating;
- feeling full and bloated;
- feeling sick or being sick (if you also have diarrhoea, it may be a stomach bug or food poisoning; see our guide to cirit birit);
- burping and farting;
- bringing up food or bitter-tasting fluid into your mouth;
- not feeling as hungry as usual.
Stomach ulcer pain is usually in the upper tummy, may feel like burning, and is often worse at night. Severe, constant pain under the right ribs lasting more than 30 minutes may be gallstones. Pain lower down, or back pain, is usually not indigestion; it may be constipation instead (see our guide to sembelit).
Gastrik, GERD or ulcer: what is the difference?
These conditions often overlap, and untreated gastritis can lead to a stomach ulcer, according to the NHS. For ulcer symptoms, danger signs and treatment, see our guide to ulser perut.
Pedih ulu hati: is it heartburn?
Pedih ulu hati is the Malay term many people use for heartburn: a burning feeling in the middle of the chest or upper tummy. According to the NHS, heartburn is caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat (acid reflux), and it may come with a sour taste in the mouth. Symptoms are often worse after eating, when lying down and when bending over.
Common triggers, according to the NHS, include coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate, fatty or spicy foods, being overweight, smoking, pregnancy, stress and anxiety, and some medicines such as ibuprofen. Often there is no obvious reason.
Cara hilangkan pedih ulu hati (NHS self-help):
- eat smaller, more frequent meals, and avoid foods or drinks that trigger your symptoms;
- do not eat within 3 or 4 hours before bed;
- do not wear clothes that are tight around your waist;
- raise the head of your bed by about 10 to 20 cm (not with extra pillows);
- stop smoking, limit alcohol and try to lose weight if you are overweight.
A pharmacist can suggest antacids or alginates (ubat pedih ulu hati), best taken with or soon after food. They ease symptoms in the short term but will not cure the problem and should not be taken regularly for long periods; see the medicines section below. See a doctor if you have heartburn most days, if pharmacy medicines do not help, or if you also have food getting stuck, frequent vomiting or weight loss without trying.
Important: a heart attack can feel like indigestion or a burning feeling in the chest. Call 999 if chest pain feels tight or squeezing, spreads to your arms, neck or jaw, or comes with breathlessness or sweating; see our guide to serangan jantung. For other causes of chest pain, see our guide to sakit dada.
Punca gastrik: what causes it?
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. A very common stomach bacterium and a main cause of gastritis and ulcers. A 2017 global meta-analysis estimated that more than half of the world's population, about 4.4 billion people, carry it.
- Anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) and aspirin, such as ibuprofen, especially if taken regularly. These are a common cause of ulcers, and are also often used for period pain, so speak to a pharmacist if you get gastrik when taking them.
- Alcohol and smoking.
- Being overweight, which increases pressure on the stomach.
- Stress and anxiety, which can make symptoms worse.
- Trigger foods and drinks, such as coffee, tomatoes, chocolate, and fatty or spicy food.
- Pregnancy, especially from about 27 weeks, as hormones change and the baby presses on the stomach.
- Hiatus hernia, when part of the stomach moves up into the chest.
Less often, indigestion can be a sign of something more serious, such as stomach cancer (see our guide to kanser perut), which is why the warning signs below matter.
Gastrik angin: bloating and wind
"Gastrik angin" usually describes gastrik with a lot of bloating, burping and wind (for other causes of bloating, see our guide to perut kembung). The NHS lists feeling full and bloated, burping and farting among the symptoms of indigestion. Things that may help:
- eat smaller meals;
- cut down on fizzy drinks, tea, coffee and cola;
- avoid foods that clearly make you bloated;
- ask a pharmacist about antacids that contain simeticone, which the NHS notes reduces wind.
Bloating can also come from constipation, which our sembelit guide covers in more detail. If you are considering probiotics for gut health, our probiotik guide explains what the evidence does and does not support.
Ubat gastrik: pharmacy and doctor treatments
From the pharmacy, the NHS lists these medicines for indigestion and heartburn:
- Antacids, which neutralise stomach acid. Many come as liquids ("ubat gastrik cecair") or chewable tablets, and often contain magnesium or aluminium; magnesium trisilicate is a common example (see our magnesium guide for how magnesium medicines can interact with other drugs).
- Alginates, which form a protective layer on top of the stomach contents to stop acid rising.
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole, which reduce how much acid your stomach makes.
Antacids and alginates are best taken with or soon after food. The NHS notes that they ease symptoms in the short term but do not cure the problem and should not be taken regularly for long periods. Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant or take other medicines.
From a doctor:
- A doctor may test for H. pylori with a breath, stool or blood test. The American and Canadian gastroenterology guideline recommends that people under 60 with ongoing dyspepsia have a non-invasive H. pylori test and are treated with antibiotics if positive, followed by a trial of a PPI if symptoms continue.
- For acid reflux, a PPI is usually prescribed for 4 or 8 weeks, according to the NHS.
- The same guideline suggests a camera test (gastroscopy) for people aged 60 and over with dyspepsia, and earlier for those at higher risk, such as people with a family history of stomach cancer.
Makanan untuk gastrik: what to eat and avoid
There is no single "gastrik diet", but the NHS recommends these habits for indigestion, gastritis and reflux:
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of large heavy ones.
- Do not eat within 3 to 4 hours of bedtime.
- Cut down on caffeine such as tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks. Our guide to Malaysian drinks compares common options.
- Avoid foods that trigger your symptoms. Common triggers include coffee, alcohol, chocolate, tomatoes, and fatty, spicy, acidic (such as orange juice) or fizzy food and drinks. In Malaysian meals, that may mean going easy on sambal, deep-fried dishes and rich santan curries if they set you off.
- Do not wear clothes that are tight around your waist.
- Raise the head of your bed by about 10 to 20 cm if you get reflux at night. The NHS advises against using extra pillows, which can increase pressure on your stomach.
- Stop smoking, limit alcohol and lose weight if you are overweight.
Triggers vary from person to person, so a simple food diary can help you spot your own.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you keep getting gastrik, have tummy pain or indigestion for longer than a week, pain keeps coming back, or pharmacy medicines are not helping.
Get an urgent appointment if you have gastrik and:
- you have lost weight without trying, or lost your appetite;
- you feel full after a very small amount of food;
- it is painful or difficult to swallow;
- you keep being sick;
- it feels like there is a lump in your tummy;
- you feel tired all the time or have iron deficiency anaemia (see our guide to kurang darah).
Call 999 or go to the emergency department if you vomit bright red blood or vomit that looks like ground coffee, your poo is black, sticky and very smelly, or you have sudden severe tummy or chest pain. Chest pain can also be a sign of a heart problem, so do not assume it is gastrik.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is gastrik in English?
In Malaysia, 'gastrik' is used for upper stomach discomfort such as indigestion (dyspepsia), gastritis (an inflamed stomach lining), acid reflux and sometimes stomach ulcers. Common symptoms are a burning pain or discomfort in the upper tummy, bloating, feeling sick, burping and heartburn.
What are the signs of gastrik (tanda gastrik)?
Common signs include pain or burning in the upper tummy, heartburn, feeling full and bloated, feeling or being sick, burping and wind, bringing up food or bitter fluid, and a reduced appetite. Symptoms are often worse after eating or when lying down.
What causes gastrik?
Common causes include infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria, regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin, alcohol, smoking, being overweight, stress and anxiety, and trigger foods such as coffee, chocolate, tomatoes and fatty or spicy food.
What is the best ubat gastrik?
For occasional symptoms, a pharmacist may suggest antacids (often liquid), alginates or proton pump inhibitors. Antacids and alginates ease symptoms but do not cure the cause and should not be taken regularly for long periods. If symptoms keep coming back, a doctor may test for H. pylori and prescribe treatment.
What is the difference between gastrik and GERD?
GERD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) is when stomach acid keeps coming up into the food pipe, causing heartburn and a sour taste. Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining itself, which causes upper tummy pain, nausea and bloating. In Malaysia, both are often called 'gastrik', and they can occur together.
What should I eat when I have gastrik?
Eat smaller, more frequent meals, avoid foods that trigger your symptoms (commonly coffee, alcohol, chocolate, tomatoes, and fatty, spicy, acidic or fizzy food and drinks), and do not eat within 3 to 4 hours of bedtime.
When is gastrik an emergency?
Call 999 or go to the emergency department if you vomit bright red blood or vomit that looks like ground coffee, pass black, sticky, very smelly poo, or have sudden severe tummy or chest pain. See a doctor urgently if you lose weight without trying, have difficulty swallowing, keep vomiting or feel full after very little food.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
- Indigestion — NHS
- Gastritis — NHS
- Heartburn and acid reflux — NHS
- Stomach ulcer — NHS
- Antacids — NHS
- Moayyedi P, et al. ACG and CAG clinical guideline: management of dyspepsia. Am J Gastroenterol. 2017;112(7):988-1013.
- Hooi JKY, et al. Global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection: systematic review and meta-analysis. Gastroenterology. 2017;153(2):420-429.
