Learn About Indigestion
Indigestion (dyspepsia) is a mild discomfort in the upper belly or abdomen. It often occurs during or right after eating. It may feel like:
- Heat, burning, or pain in the area between the navel and the lower part of the breastbone
- Unpleasant fullness that starts soon after a meal begins or when the meal is over
Bloating and nausea are less common symptoms.
Indigestion is NOT the same as heartburn.
Dyspepsia; Uncomfortable fullness after meals
Most of the time, indigestion is not a sign of a serious health problem unless it occurs with other symptoms. These may include:
- Bleeding
- Trouble swallowing
- Weight loss
- Recurrent nausea and vomiting
Rarely, the discomfort of a heart attack is mistaken for indigestion.
Indigestion may be triggered by:
- Drinking too many caffeinated beverages
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Eating spicy, fatty, or greasy foods
- Eating too much (overeating)
- Eating too fast
- Eating high-fiber foods
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Stress or being nervous
Other causes of indigestion are:
- Gallstones
- Gastritis (when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen)
- Esophagitis (inflamed esophagus)
- Swelling of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Ulcers (stomach or intestinal ulcer)
- Use of certain medicines such as antibiotics, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen)
Changing the way you eat may help your symptoms. Steps you can take include:
- Allow enough time for meals.
- Avoid arguments during meals.
- Avoid excitement or exercise right after a meal.
- Chew food carefully and completely.
- Relax and get rest if indigestion is caused by stress.
Avoid aspirin and other NSAIDs. If you must take them, do so on a full stomach.
Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Antacids may relieve indigestion.
Medicines you can buy without a prescription, such as famotidine (Zantac 360 or Pepcid AC) and omeprazole (Prilosec OTC) can relieve symptoms. There are other choices as well. In addition, your health care provider may also prescribe these or similar medicines in higher doses or for longer periods of time.
Get medical help right away if your symptoms include jaw pain, chest pain, back pain, heavy sweating, anxiety, or a feeling of impending doom. These are possible heart attack symptoms.
Contact your provider if:
- Your indigestion symptoms change noticeably.
- Your symptoms last longer than a few days.
- You have unexplained weight loss.
- You have sudden, severe abdominal pain.
- You have trouble swallowing.
- You have yellow coloring of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
- You vomit blood or pass blood in the stool (which may appear black).
Your provider will do a physical exam of the stomach area and digestive tract. You will be asked questions about your symptoms.
You may have some tests, including:
- Blood tests
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD or upper endoscopy)
- Ultrasound test of the abdomen
ETSU Physicians & Associates- Gastroenterology
. Dr. Young is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Indigestion. His top areas of expertise are Jaundice, Acute Pancreatitis, Choledocholithiasis, Endoscopy, and Gastrectomy.
Texas Health Digestive Specialists
Dr. Adnan Nadir has been a board-certified gastroenterologist and internist in North Texas since 2000. He is also fellowship-trained in gastroenterology. Dr. Nadir places a priority on providing quality comprehensive care for common and complex digestive, esophageal and urologic disorders, including pancreatic disease and colon/rectal disorders.Dr. Nadir earned his medical degree from Dow Medical College in Pakistan. He completed his internal medicine residency at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., becoming chief resident during his final year of residency. He then decided to pursue a fellowship in gastroenterology at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. More recently, Dr. Nadir completed the Physician Leadership Development Program through the Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business in Dallas, Texas. He has been a member of, and has served in leadership roles for, multiple organizations and committees over the years, including the American College of Gastroenterology and American Gastroenterological Association.Outside of work, Dr. Nadir enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. He is fluent in the Hindi and Urdu languages. Dr. Nadir is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Indigestion. His top areas of expertise are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Childhood Volvulus, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).
Gastrointestinal Associates Of NE Tennessee, P.C.
. Dr. Mckinney is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Indigestion. His top areas of expertise are Swallowing Difficulty, Portal Hypertension, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Gastrectomy, and Endoscopy.
Summary: The goal of this observational study is to learn about gastric myoelectric activity in children with GI symptoms. The main question it aims to answer is which patterns or signals are associated with GI symptoms as measured by a body surface gastric mapping (BSGM) device. Participants will have their stomach activity recorded for up to 4 hours using the BSGM device and log real-time symptoms. Resea...
Summary: The purpose of this research study is to assess whether using a yoga-based intervention in practice is feasible (possible) and acceptable to patients with Functional Dyspepsia and/or Gastroparesis (FD-GP).
Published Date: January 30, 2025
Published By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Gastroenterologist, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Chang L. Irritable bowel and functional upper gastrointestinal syndromes. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 123.
Falk GW, Katzka DA. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 124.
Tack J. Dyspepsia. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 14.