NDDIC News

Indigestion

Indigestion, also known as upset stomach or dyspepsia, is a painful or burning feeling in the upper abdomen, often accompanied by nausea, abdominal bloating, belching, and sometimes vomiting.

Indigestion might be caused by disease or by an ulcer in the digestive tract, but for most people, it results from eating too much or too quickly, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations. Tobacco, too much alcohol, medications that irritate the stomach lining, fatigue, and stress can also cause indigestion or make it worse.

Some people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of these factors. This type of indigestion—called functional or nonulcer indigestion—is caused by a problem in the way food moves through the digestive tract.

To diagnose indigestion, the doctor first rules out other problems, such as ulcers. This process may require that a person have x-rays of the stomach and small intestine or undergo endoscopy, in which the doctor uses an instrument to look closely at the inside of the stomach.

Avoiding foods and situations that seem to cause indigestion is the most successful way to treat it. Excess stomach acid does not cause or result from indigestion, so antacids are not an appropriate treatment, although some people report that they do help. Smokers can help relieve their indigestion by giving up tobacco, or at least not smoking right before eating. Exercising with a full stomach can cause indigestion, so scheduling exercise before a meal or at least an hour afterward might help. To treat indigestion caused by a functional problem in the digestive tract, the doctor may prescribe medicine that affects stomach movement.

Because indigestion can be a sign of or mimic a more serious disease, people should see a doctor if they have

• Vomiting, weight loss, or appetite loss.
  
  
• Black tarry stools or blood in their vomit.
  
  
• Severe pain in the upper-right abdomen.
  
  
• Discomfort unrelated to eating.
  
  
• Indigestion accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, or pain radiating to the jaw, neck, or arm.
  
  

This information is provided by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.

NIH Publication No. 00–4552
February 2000