Indigestion

What is indigestion?

Indigestion, also called upset stomach or dyspepsia, is a discomfort or burning feeling in the upper part of your belly. Besides pain you may have nausea, bloating, belching, and sometimes vomiting. Indigestion is common in adults, but it is rarely a serious health problem.

What causes indigestion?

Usually indigestion happens because you ate too much or too fast, or you ate when you were feeling stressed or very tired. It can also happen if you eat too late in the day, or if you eat and then lie down. Some medicines, foods, or alcohol may cause indigestion or make it worse. And sometimes indigestion is caused by an infection or other disease.

How is it treated?

Here are ways that might help you have indigestion less often:

Avoid the foods and drinks that seem to bother your stomach. Foods and drinks that are more likely to cause indigestion are high-fat or spicy foods, wine, carbonated drinks, or drinks with caffeine.
Avoid aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, because they can upset your stomach. If you need to take these pain-relief medicines, taking them with food may help. The pain reliever acetaminophen (Tylenol) is usually easier on the stomach.
Do not smoke, especially before eating.
Do not exercise or bend over on a full stomach.
Avoid tight clothes.
Try to avoid stressful situations before or during meals.
Allow enough time for eating so you can chew your food carefully and not feel rushed.

Medical tests may be necessary to see if there is another cause for the indigestion. If no cause can be found, your health care provider may recommend medicines that might help.

When should I call my health care provider?

Call your provider if:

The pattern of indigestion changes.
You have a stomachache that is constant or keeps coming back.
You have an unexpected loss of weight.
You are vomiting blood or there is blood in your bowel movements.
Your skin or eyes look yellow.
You have indigestion that is unrelated to eating.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File DIG4029F.HTM Release 9.0/2006