Overview

Indigestion, medically known as dyspepsia, refers to a group of symptoms arising from the upper digestive tract. People with indigestion typically report discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen, a sense of fullness after eating, or early satiety. For general background information see indigestion overview.

Common symptoms

Symptoms can vary in intensity and may come and go. Typical complaints include:

  • Upper abdominal pain or burning
  • Feeling uncomfortably full during or after a meal
  • Nausea and belching
  • Heartburn or acid sensation

Individual accounts and patient resources are available at patient information and symptom guides at symptom details.

Causes and risk factors

Indigestion may result from an identifiable disorder—such as peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, infection with Helicobacter pylori, or side effects of medications like NSAIDs—or it can be functional, where symptoms occur without a clear structural cause. Lifestyle contributors include overeating, fatty or spicy foods, alcohol, smoking, and stress. For causes and risk factors consult cause guides.

Diagnosis

Evaluation begins with a medical history and physical exam. Tests that may be used include noninvasive H. pylori testing, blood tests, and, when alarm signs are present (unintended weight loss, persistent vomiting, bleeding, or difficulty swallowing), upper endoscopy. Primary care clinicians decide on testing based on age, symptom pattern, and risk factors.

Treatment and prevention

Management combines lifestyle changes, symptom relief, and targeted therapy. Simple measures—smaller meals, reducing alcohol and caffeine, quitting smoking, and avoiding trigger foods—help many people. Over-the-counter antacids, H2-receptor blockers, or proton pump inhibitors may relieve symptoms; if H. pylori infection is found, eradication therapy is recommended. Persistent or severe cases should be reviewed by a clinician; further information is at treatment options.

Distinctions and notable facts

Clinicians distinguish functional dyspepsia (no structural cause found) from organic dyspepsia (caused by a detectable condition). Heartburn is more characteristic of acid reflux while upper abdominal pain and early fullness are often prominent in dyspepsia. The term dyspepsia comes from Greek roots meaning "bad digestion," and it has been recognized in medical texts for centuries.