Overview
Symptoms
Most people have indigestion at some point and usually it’s not a sign of anything more serious.
The following symptoms can occur after eating or drinking:
- Heartburn – a painful burning feeling in the chest, often after eating
- Feeling full and bloated
- Feeling sick
- Belching and passing wind
- Bringing up food or bitter-tasting fluids into your mouth
Causes
The acid in your stomach can irritate the stomach lining or your throat. This causes indigestion and gives you a burning feeling and pain.
Other things that can cause indigestion include:
- Medicines
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- A type of bacterial infection called helicobacter pylori
- Illnesses such as hiatus hernia, stomach ulcer, stomach cancer and gastro-oesophageal disease (GORD)
Stress can make indigestion worse.
Treatments
Making lifestyle changes can ease the symptoms of indigestion, for example:
- Cutting down on tea, coffee and alcohol
- Not eating anything 3 to 4 hours before going to bed
- Avoiding rich, spicy or fatty foods
- Avoiding taking ibuprofen or aspirin
- Stopping smoking
- Stomach ache and abdominal pain
- Losing weight if you are overweight
If these measures don’t work there are indigestion treatments available from the pharmacy such as antacids (Gaviscon) and proton pump inhibitors (Nexium) that can help reduce acid in the stomach.