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Indigestion
Dyspepsia; Uncomfortable fullness after meals
Indigestion (dyspepsia) is a mild discomfort in the upper belly or abdomen. It 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 comes on soon after a meal begins or when the meal is over
Bloating and nausea are less common symptoms.
Bloating
Abdominal bloating is a condition in which the belly (abdomen) feels full and tight. Your belly may look swollen (distended).
Nausea
Nausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up is forcing the contents of the stomach ...
Indigestion is NOT the same as heartburn .
Heartburn
Heartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in y...
Causes
Most of the time indigestion is not a sign of a serious health problem unless it occurs with other symptoms. These may include:
- Bleeding
- Weight loss
- Trouble swallowing.
Rarely, the discomfort of a heart attack is mistaken for indigestion.
Indigestion may be triggered by:
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Eating spicy, fatty, or greasy foods
- Eating too much (overeating)
- Eating too fast
- Stress or being nervous
- Eating high-fiber foods
- Smoking tobacco
- Drinking too much caffeine
Other causes of indigestion are:
- Gallstones
-
Gastritis
(when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen)
Gastritis
Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen. Gastritis can last for only a short time (acute gastritis). It may als...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Swelling of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Ulcers (stomach or intestinal ulcer)
- Use of certain medicines such as antibiotics, aspirin, and over-the-counter pain medicines (NSAIDs)
Home Care
Changing the way you eat may help your symptoms. Steps you can take include:
- Allow enough time for meals.
- Chew food carefully and completely.
- Avoid arguments during meals.
- Avoid excitement or exercise right after a meal.
- 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.
Antacids may relieve indigestion.
Medicines you can buy without a prescription, such as ranitidine (Zantac) and omeprazole (Prilosec OTC) can relieve symptoms. Your health care provider may also prescribe these medicines in higher doses or for longer periods of time.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
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.
Chest pain
Chest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.
Heavy sweating
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which a person sweats excessively and unpredictably. People with hyperhidrosis may sweat even when the tempe...
Call your health care provider if:
- Your indigestion symptoms change noticeably.
- Your symptoms last longer than a few days.
-
You have
unexplained weight loss
.
Unexplained weight loss
Unexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight, when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Many people gain and lose weight. Uninten...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article -
You have sudden, severe
abdominal pain
.
Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - You have trouble swallowing.
- You have yellow coloring of the skin and eyes (jaundice).
- You vomit blood or pass blood in the stool.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Your provider will do a physical exam on the stomach area and digestive tract. You will be asked questions about your symptoms.
You may have some tests, including:
-
Ultrasound
test of the abdomen
Ultrasound
Abdominal ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It is used to look at organs in the abdomen, including the liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood tests
- Upper endoscopy
References
Mayer EA. Functional gastrointestinal disorders: irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, and functional chest pain of presumed esophageal origin. In: Goldman L, Schafer Al, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 139.
-
Digestive system - illustration
The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.
Digestive system
illustration
Review Date: 1/11/2015
Reviewed By: Todd Eisner, MD, private practice specializing in gastroenterology, and Affiliate Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University School of Medicine, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
