What Is Indigestion (Dyspepsia)?
Indigestion (known medically as dyspepsia) describes pain or discomfort you may feel in the chest or tummy after eating or drinking. Indigestion is very common, as most of us will have had it at some point in our lives.
In indigestion, feeling bloated, sick, or burping a lot are also common symptoms.
However, indigestion feels differently to different people; individuals may have their own pattern of symptoms, caused by different mechanisms.
Many things can cause indigestion, including:
- the use of certain medicines, like ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- stress and anxiety
- eating certain trigger foods
- another underlying health problem that requires treatment, for example a bacterial infection with pylori or peptic ulcers.
What Is Functional Dyspepsia?
The exact cause of each individual case of dyspepsia can be established with a diagnostic test called an endoscopy. However, in the majority of the cases, endoscopy results are normal, and no obvious cause can be identified.
These situations are usually described with the term ‘functional dyspepsia’ — a phrase that suggests the problem lies in the functioning of the stomach and small intestine, rather than a cause that can be easily seen and diagnosed.
In functional dyspepsia, the communication between the gut and the brain (known as the gut-brain axis) plays an important role, as symptoms are often triggered or worsened by stressful situations. See your doctor if you keep getting indigestion.
Symptoms of Indigestion
Medical experts divide symptoms of indigestion into two main groups:
- Symptoms that occur after a meal; typically, these consist of a sensation of feeling full early on or as soon as you start eating, so much so that it may prevent you from finishing your meal.
- Symptoms that are not related to meals; typically, this is a burning sensation or pain in your upper tummy that comes and goes.
Many people find that stress, anxiety, or adverse life events worsen their symptoms. The gut-brain interaction means that stress can affect your digestive system in very real ways, including by affecting the health of your intestinal lining.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Usually, indigestion is nothing to worry about, and it goes away with simple diet or lifestyle changes or over-the-counter medication. In most cases, there’s no need to see a doctor. But, if your symptoms won’t go away or they keep coming back, see a healthcare professional.
You should also seek prompt medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms, as these may indicate a more serious condition:
- Difficulty or pain swallowing
- Severe tummy pain
- Unintentional weight loss
- Bloody vomit
- A palpable lump in your tummy
- Vomiting that won’t stop
What Does Indigestion Feel Like?
Different people may experience indigestion in different ways.
Some people feel a burning sensation that radiates up, while others may experience more of a feeling of heaviness after a meal.
Some describe this indigestion feeling as ‘excessive heaviness in the stomach, as if being filled with bricks.’ This can be accompanied by bloating, discomfort, and a sensation that food lingers in your stomach for hours.
Some people feel the burning sensation all the way into the chest, a feeling known as heartburn.
Indigestion is different from heartburn, but there may be some overlap between the two. Heartburn is a common symptom of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). To learn more, read our articles, The differences between heartburn and indigestion, and How GERD causes physical symptoms.
Managing Indigestion
You can usually prevent indigestion or manage it with diet and lifestyle changes. Here is some helpful dietary and lifestyle advice that may help improve your symptoms:
- Find ways to reduce your stress and anxiety levels
- Eat small, regular meals instead of large, infrequent ones
- Find out what your trigger foods are, for example, by keeping a food diary, and avoid or reduce them
- Avoid fatty foods, spicy foods, and rich or heavy meals
- Avoid eating too close to bedtime (3–4 hours)
- Sleep with the head of your bed elevated
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Do not smoke or quit smoking
- Reduce your alcohol intake
- Engage in moderate but regular physical activity
There are also over-the-counter medicines that may help manage symptoms of indigestion, depending on what’s causing them. Medications like antacids or alginates (such as Gaviscon) may help alleviate your symptoms in the short-term, but you shouldn't use them in the long-term.
To learn more about antacids, read our dedicated article. Also, find out more about over-the-counter treatment options and other remedies in our article, 8 Remedies for Indigestion.
If your symptoms persist, see your doctor. They may prescribe you other helpful medication, like proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs).
Your doctor may also review the medication you’re taking, if any, as some drugs may cause dyspepsia. These include aspirin, NSAIDs, some sedatives, or some antidepressants.
Indigestion (dyspepsia) is pain or discomfort you may feel in your chest or tummy after eating or drinking. A feeling of fullness, heaviness, or a burning sensation in your tummy are also common. Bloating, burping, and feeling sick may also occur.
Symptoms of indigestion are often linked to mental well-being, particularly in the case of recurring or functional dyspepsia. So, to alleviate your symptoms, a holistic approach that cares not just for your physical health but also for your mental health is important.
Over-the-counter medication or prescribed medicine can help alleviate symptoms as and when they happen, but diet and lifestyle changes are key for improving symptoms. Managing your stress levels, maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular moderate physical activity, eating a well-balanced diet, and avoiding your trigger foods are some of the best things you can do to manage or prevent indigestion. See your doctor if you keep getting indigestion or your symptoms persist.
To learn more about what triggers to avoid, read our article on foods that may cause indigestion.
You may also find helpful information and advice in these further resources:
- Guts UK offers helpful info on what may cause your indigestion and what you can do about it.
- If you choose to see a healthcare professional about your indigestion, this pdf from NICE shares helpful questions to ask your doctor and tips for your visit.
- The NHS has some very helpful information on how to manage your stress, including 10 stress-busting tips.
