What is Indigestion?
Indigestion is the common and temporary discomfort in your upper abdomen that most of us get every so often after eating.
It is a symptom rather than a disease. Indigestion can be a sign of stomach ulcers, but often is just due to eating spicy or fatty foods, eating too much, or eating or drinking too quickly.
Signs & Symptoms of Indigestion
‘Indigestion’ is a group of symptoms of stomach discomfort after eating. Common symptoms include:
Feeling Uncomfortably Full
Indigestion can strike mid-meal or after you’ve finished eating. You might feel unable to finish your food, or uncomfortable and heavy when you’re done.
Abdominal Discomfort
Your upper abdomen – the area between your bellybutton and breastbone – may feel painful after or during eating.
Bloating
Indigestion can cause bloating, which is when your stomach is distended and feels almost hard to the touch.
Feeling Sick
You might feel nauseated or like you want to vomit after eating a large meal. People don’t usually vomit due to indigestion, but it can happen sometimes.
Belching
Excess gas created in the digestion process may cause burping.
Heartburn
Heartburn can accompany indigestion. This happens when the full stomach pushes gastric acid up the esophagus (acid reflux), causing a burning sensation in the gullet.
What Does Indigestion Feel Like?
Indigestion is categorized by feeling over-full and uncomfortable after eating – you might feel lethargic and like you can’t get up from your seat due to feeling heavy and bloated. You may also feel a bit sick.
What Causes Indigestion?
Most often, there is no serious cause for indigestion – it’s just your body trying to process food that it perhaps doesn’t like very much.
However, there can be other causes, such as:
- Drinking too much alcohol, caffeinated beverages, or fizzy pop
- Eating acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and tomato-based sauces
- Stress, and anxiety
- Smoking
- Certain antibiotics
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Heartburn vs Indigestion: What’s the Difference?
Heartburn is the painful burning feeling in your chest that arises from acid reflux. Meanwhile, indigestion is an umbrella term used to describe symptoms of an uncomfortable stomach after eating, like bloating and nausea. Heartburn can be included as an indigestion symptom.
How Long Does Indigestion Last?
Indigestion can affect people for a matter of minutes or up to a few hours after eating. However, the length of time and frequency you have indigestion depends on its cause. If you’re suffering from it regularly, and lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medicines aren’t helping, talk to a doctor.
How to Get Rid of Indigestion
In the majority of cases, indigestion can be treated at home. Many people simply wait for it to pass. If it’s really uncomfortable, try some of these methods to ease the discomfort.
Antacids
Antacids like TUMS help neutralize stomach acid that has made its way into the esophagus, soothing the heartburn that can come with indigestion.
Other Medications
In cases where indigestion is causing bigger issues, doctors might recommend stronger medications like H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Nexium 24HR, which restrict the amount of acid produced in the stomach, or prokinetics which help the stomach empty quicker.
Stress Reduction
If your doctor thinks your indigestion could be linked to stress or anxiety, they might recommend meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation exercises to help you reduce your stress levels.
How to Prevent Indigestion
Save yourself pain and stress by actively tweaking your diet and lifestyle to avoid indigestion. Sometimes it will still occur through no fault of your own. If you’re getting indigestion regularly, making day-to-day changes should help you enjoy meals again without fear of stomach aches. Here are some things to try:
Dietary Changes
Avoiding fatty, spicy, and rich foods is recommended, as is restricting fizzy pop, caffeine, and alcohol. Acidic foods are known for causing heartburn and are best to limit where possible.
Watch Your Weight
Losing any excess weight will relieve pressure on your stomach, helping to reduce indigestion and make you feel healthier all-round.
Plan Mealtimes
Plan your meals so that they’re healthy, not too large, and not too close to bedtime. Don’t be tempted by late night snacks and ensure you leave a 3-hour gap between your last meal and going to bed.
Talk to a healthcare professional if:
- You have difficulty swallowing
- Have shortness of breath
- A tightness in your chest
- Have bloody stool
- Are experiencing nausea and vomiting
- Have unexplained weight loss
