Indigestion 

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen (tummy). It may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• feeling full or bloated
• heartburn, a burning sensation that is caused by acid passing from the stomach into the oesophagus (gullet)
• nausea (feeling sick)
• belching (burping)

Indigestion is caused by stomach acid coming into contact with the sensitive, protective lining (mucosa) of the digestive system. The stomach acid breaks down the mucosa, leading to irritation and inflammation (redness and swelling). This causes the symptoms of indigestion.

In most cases, indigestion is related to eating, although it can be caused by other factors, such as an infection or taking certain medications.

How common is indigestion?

Indigestion is a common problem and many people have it from time to time. It is estimated that up to 41% of the population have experienced indigestion at some time.

Most people will not need to seek medical advice for their indigestion. However, it can be a sign of an underlying health condition that affects the digestive system, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

It is important to seek medical advice if you experience:

• regular indigestion
• particularly painful indigestion
• sudden indigestion that you have not experienced before

See the Health A-Z topic about GORD for more information about this condition.

Outlook

Depending on what is causing the indigestion, it can be treated with changes to your diet and lifestyle or with a number of different medications, such as antacids. 

If an underlying health condition is the cause of indigestion, further investigation, such as an endoscopy, may be required. An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined using an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube that has a light and camera on one end).

See the Health A-Z topic about Diagnostic endoscopy for more information about this procedure.