The main symptom of indigestion (dyspepsia) is pain or a feeling of discomfort in your chest or stomach. This usually comes on soon after eating or drinking, although there can sometimes be a delay between eating a meal and experiencing indigestion.
The symptoms of indigestion are often described as ‘heartburn’, which you may experience as a burning pain behind your breastbone (sternum). Heartburn is caused by acid that passes from your stomach into your oesophagus (gullet).
If you have indigestion, you may also have symptoms such as:
- feeling uncomfortably full or heavy
- belching (burping)
- regurgitation (where food comes back up from your stomach)
- bloating
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting (being sick)
Serious symptoms
In some cases, indigestion can be a sign of a more serious underlying health problem, such as stomach cancer. Seek immediate medical attention if you have recurring indigestion and you:
- are 55 years old or over
- have lost a lot of weight without meaning to
- have increasing difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- have persistent vomiting
- have iron deficiency anaemia, a reduction in the number of red blood cells because the body does not contain enough iron to produce them (which causes tiredness, breathlessness and an irregular heartbeat)
- have a lump in your stomach
- have gastrointestinal bleeding, which is bleeding in your stomach and intestines (you may have blood in your vomit or stools and you may feel tired, breathless and dizzy)
See the Health A-Z topic about Stomach cancer for more information about this condition.
Intestines
The intestines are the part of the digestive system between the stomach and the anus that digests and absorbs food and liquid.
Red blood cells
Red blood cells are cells in the blood that transport oxygen around the body.
Stomach
The sac-like organ of the digestive system that helps digest food by churning it and mixing it with acids to break it down into smaller pieces.
