Indigestion is not a disease. However, indigestion may be a sign of certain digestive tract diseases or conditions. Indigestion is not always related to eating.
Indigestion may be:
- occasional—happening once in a while
- chronic—happening regularly for a few weeks or months
- functional—having chronic symptoms without a specific cause
Prevention
You can help prevent indigestion by changing what you eat and drink. You may need to avoid foods and drinks that cause indigestion.
If you have indigestion, avoid foods and drinks that may make your symptoms worse, such as:
- alcoholic beverages
- carbonated, or fizzy, drinks
- foods and drinks that contain caffeine
- foods that contain a lot of acid, such as tomatoes, tomato products, and oranges
- spicy, fatty, or greasy foods
Causes
If you have indigestion, avoid foods and drinks that may make your symptoms worse, such as:
- alcoholic beverages
- carbonated, or fizzy, drinks
- foods and drinks that contain caffeine
- foods that contain a lot of acid, such as tomatoes, tomato products, and oranges
- spicy, fatty, or greasy foods
Symptoms
When you have indigestion, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:
- pain, a burning feeling, or discomfort in your upper abdomen
- feeling full too soon while eating a meal
- feeling uncomfortably full after eating a meal
- bloating
- burping
Other symptoms may include:
- burping up food or liquid
- loud growling or gurgling in your stomach
- nausea
- gas
Sometimes when you have indigestion, you may also have heartburn. However, heartburn and indigestion are two separate conditions.
Diagnosis
Your doctor diagnoses indigestion based on your medical history, a physical exam, upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, and other tests.
Treatment
Treatment for indigestion depends on the cause and may include:
- over-the-counter and prescription medicines
- changing what you eat and drink
- psychological therapies
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