Overview
Digestive system
Digestive system
The major organs in your digestive system are the liver, stomach, gallbladder, colon and small intestine.
Indigestion — also called dyspepsia or an upset stomach — is discomfort in your upper abdomen. Indigestion describes certain symptoms, such as belly pain and a feeling of fullness soon after you start eating, rather than a specific disease. Indigestion can also be a symptom of other digestive disorders.
Although indigestion is common, each person may experience indigestion in a slightly different way. Symptoms of indigestion may be felt occasionally or as often as daily.
Indigestion may often be relieved with lifestyle changes and medicines.
Symptoms
If you have indigestion, you may have:
- Early fullness during a meal. You haven't eaten much of your meal, but you already feel full and may not be able to finish eating.
- Uncomfortable fullness after a meal. The feeling of fullness lasts longer than it should.
- Discomfort in the upper abdomen. You feel a mild to severe pain in the area between the bottom of your breastbone and your bellybutton.
- Burning in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable heat or burning sensation between the bottom of your breastbone and your bellybutton.
- Bloating in the upper abdomen. You feel an uncomfortable sensation of tightness in your upper abdomen.
- Nausea. You feel as if you want to vomit.
Less frequent symptoms include vomiting and belching.
Sometimes people with indigestion also experience heartburn. Heartburn is a pain or burning feeling in the center of your chest that may radiate into your neck or back during or after eating.
When to see a doctor
Mild indigestion is usually nothing to worry about. Consult your health care provider if discomfort lasts for more than two weeks.
Contact your provider right away if pain is severe or accompanied by:
- Unintentional weight loss or loss of appetite.
- Repeated vomiting or vomiting with blood.
- Black, tarry stools.
- Trouble swallowing that gets worse.
- Fatigue or weakness, which may be signs of anemia.
Seek immediate medical attention if you have:
- Shortness of breath, sweating or chest pain radiating to the jaw, neck or arm.
- Chest pain when you're active or stressed.
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
Causes
Indigestion has many possible causes. Often, indigestion is related to lifestyle and may be triggered by food, drink or medicine. Common causes of indigestion include:
- Overeating or eating too quickly.
- Fatty, greasy or spicy foods.
- Too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate or carbonated beverages.
- Smoking.
- Anxiety.
- Certain antibiotics, pain relievers and iron supplements.
A condition known as functional or nonulcer dyspepsia, which is related to irritable bowel syndrome, is a very common cause of indigestion.
Sometimes indigestion is caused by other conditions, including:
- Inflammation of the stomach, called gastritis.
- Peptic ulcers.
- Celiac disease.
- Gallstones.
- Constipation.
- Pancreas inflammation, called pancreatitis.
- Stomach cancer.
- Intestinal blockage.
- Reduced blood flow in the intestine, called intestinal ischemia.
- Diabetes.
- Thyroid disease.
- Pregnancy.
Complications
Although indigestion doesn't usually have serious complications, it can affect your quality of life by making you feel uncomfortable and causing you to eat less. You might miss work or school because of your symptoms.
Feb. 01, 2024
FAQs
In most cases indigestion is related to eating, although it can be triggered by other factors such as smoking, drinking, alcohol, pregnancy, stress or taking certain medications.
Why am I suddenly getting indigestion all the time? ›
In most cases indigestion is related to eating, although it can be triggered by other factors such as smoking, drinking, alcohol, pregnancy, stress or taking certain medications.
How do I know if my indigestion is serious? ›
If you have indigestion and any of the following symptoms, you may have a more serious condition and should see a doctor right away: black, tarlike stools. bloody vomit. difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing.
How do I get rid of indigestion asap? ›
HOME REMEDIES FOR INDIGESTION
- WATER. Water: nature's best medicine. ...
- LEMON JUICE. Whilst there is still some debate over whether or not lemon can help with digestion, plenty of people swear by its use. ...
- BAKING SODA. Still feeling the effects of indigestion? ...
- GINGER. ...
- APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. ...
- PEPPERMINT. ...
- CHAMOMILE TEA. ...
- CINNAMON.
How you can treat indigestion yourself
- cut down on tea, coffee, cola or alcohol.
- raise your head and shoulders up when in bed – this can stop stomach acid coming up while you sleep.
- lose weight if you're overweight.
Some lifestyle factors that may cause indigestion that comes and goes include regularly: Eating too much, eating too fast, or eating during stressful situations. Eating foods that your body has a hard time digesting (food intolerance) Smoking or using other tobacco products.
Is it bad to have indigestion everyday? ›
Indigestion is common, and it's usually not serious. But if you have it often, it can become a real problem. It can interfere with your eating, sleeping and quality of life. It might be a symptom of a medical condition, and rarely, it might be a serious one.
What serious condition might indigestion be mistaken for? ›
Indigestion can cause acid reflux, which can cause pain in the esophagus just behind the breastbone. Due to the location of the pain, it is often mistaken for a heart attack. With acid reflux, symptoms may include pain that spreads up to the throat but not to the extremities.
Does drinking water help indigestion? ›
Since drinking water and staying hydrated are key to stimulating digestion, it can help kickstart the digestive process and make you feel less full, eliminating indigestion and its concurrent heartburn.
When should I go to ER for indigestion? ›
Shock-like symptoms, including sudden weakness, dizziness, fainting or confusion demand that you go to the emergency room immediately. Barring other causes, your symptoms may stem from severe acid reflux.
Incorporating heartburn-preventing foods into your diet can help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
- Gum. Chewing gum in moderation can ease symptoms of heartburn. ...
- Healthy Fats. ...
- Honey. ...
- Low-Fat and Nonfat Dairy Products. ...
- Non-Citrus Fruits. ...
- Poultry and Seafood. ...
- Vegetables. ...
- Whole Grains.
Herbal teas (chamomile, licorice, and ginger), low fat milk, plant-based milk (oat, flax, or almond milk), smoothies, coconut water, and nonacidic juices (cucumber, carrot, and aloe vera) may help you manage acid reflux symptoms. Remember to opt for unsweetened and noncarbonated drinks.
What is the best instant indigestion relief? ›
Antacids include Tums (calcium carbonate), Maalox and Milk of Magnesia. These relieve indigestion and heartburn by neutralising the acid in your stomach. They work quickly and make you feel better for a few hours. They're ideal if you occasionally get stomach acid problems.
What is the best medicine for indigestion? ›
Antacids. The oldest and best-known medicines for treating heartburn, they have remained popular because they're fast-acting, inexpensive, available without a prescription, and are safe for most people when used as directed. Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Tums are examples.
How long can indigestion last? ›
Symptoms of mild indigestion usually only last only a few hours. Most cases of mild indigestion will go away on their own or after making dietary or lifestyle changes. However, indigestion can recur and become chronic in some people.
What is the main cause of indigestion? ›
Common causes of indigestion include: Overeating or eating too quickly. Fatty, greasy or spicy foods. Too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate or carbonated beverages.
Why do I all of a sudden have heartburn every day? ›
Heartburn may indicate health conditions like a hiatal hernia, GERD, or stomach ulcers. Sometimes pain that is perceived as heartburn is from more serious conditions such as gallstones or coronary artery disease. Lifestyle changes, medicines, and surgeries are among the treatment options for those cases.
What are the four stages of GERD? ›
GERD is broken down into different stages based on how serious your symptoms are and how often they occur:
- Stage 1: Mild GERD. Minimal acid reflux occurs once or twice a month. ...
- Stage 2: Moderate GERD. ...
- Stage 3: Severe GERD. ...
- Stage 4: Precancer or cancer.
There is no one clear age where heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) see a specific spike, but it's a fact of life that heartburn does worsen as we get older.
