Indigestion

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Digestive system

Overview

Treatment

Indigestion

Definition:

Indigestion is a vague feeling of abdominal discomfort -- possibly including a feeling of fullness, belching, bloating, and nausea.

Alternative Names:

Dyspepsia; Uncomfortable fullness after meals

Considerations:

Indigestion is rarely a serious health problem, unless it is accompanied by other symptoms.

Indigestion is a common problem. It may be triggered by eating particular foods or drinking wine or carbonated drinks. It may also be caused by eating too fast or overeating. Some people may find that spicy foods, high-fiber foods, fatty foods, or too much caffeine can all aggravate this problem. Symptoms may be worsened by anxiety and depression.

Rarely, the discomfort of a heart attack is mistaken for indigestion.

Indigestion can be a chronic symptom of a bowel disease like nonulcer dyspepsia.

Common Causes:

Overeating
Eating too fast
Significant caffeine intake
Eating fatty or greasy foods
Overindulgence in alcohol
Tobacco smoking
Eating spicy foods
Emotional trauma or nervousness
Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
Acute or chronic gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
Acute or chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Duodenal ulcer
Gastric ulcer
Drugs such as antibiotics, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Review Date: 11/10/2004
Reviewed By: Christian Stone, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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