Indigestion

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Digestive system

Overview

Treatment

Indigestion

Alternative Names:

Dyspepsia; Uncomfortable fullness after meals

Home Care:

Allow time for leisurely meals. Chew food carefully and thoroughly. Avoid conflicts during meals. Avoid excitement or exercise immediately after a meal. Avoid chewing gum -- it may cause air swallowing. A calm environment and rest may help relieve stress-related dyspepsia.

Avoid aspirin and NSAIDs (use acetaminophen instead). If you must take them, do so on a full stomach. Antacids may relieve indigestion. Stronger medications are available over-the-counter, such as ranitidine (Zantac). Your doctor may prescribe similar medications, or more potent ones such as omeprazole (Prilosec).

Call your health care provider if:

Your symptoms last longer than a few days
The pattern of indigestion symptoms changes noticeably
You have sudden, severe abdominal pain
You have unexplained weight loss
You vomit blood or pass blood in the stool
You have jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes)
Symptoms include jaw pain, chest pain, back pain, profuse sweating, anxiety, or a feeling of impending doom (possible heart attack symptoms)

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your doctor will perform a physical examination, emphasizing the abdominal region and digestive system, and ask questions related to your indigestion like:

Does it begin or get worse after eating particular foods?
Does it begin or get worse after alcoholic or carbonated drinks?
Do you eat fast?
Have you been overeating?
Have you changed your diet? Have you had any spicy foods, high-fiber foods, or fatty foods? Have you had a lot of caffeine?
What medications are you taking?
Have you changed medications recently?
What other symptoms do you have?
Do you have abdominal pain?
Do you have vomiting?

The following tests may be performed:

Blood tests (depending on the suspected cause)
Endoscopy (EGD)
Upper GI and small bowel series (with barium)
Abdominal ultrasound

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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