What do indigestion pains feel like

If you have indigestion and any of the following symptoms, you may have a more serious condition and should see a doctor right away:. Health problems and digestive tract diseases and conditions can cause indigestion, including. Researchers do not know what causes functional dyspepsia. Anyone can get indigestion. You can get it on occasion, or it can be an ongoing problem. The symptoms and causes vary by case.

If there is no known cause for indigestion, it is referred to as functional dyspepsia. Talk to your doctor if symptoms continue for more than two weeks. Seek medical care right away if your symptoms are severe, such as:. Your doctor will review your symptoms and perform a physical exam. They may order tests to determine the cause of indigestion. Sometimes your doctor may perform an upper endoscopy to see inside your stomach.

Your doctor will insert a thin tube with a camera on the end into your esophagus. There are ways to prevent indigestion. To start, you need to know your body and how it reacts to different food and drinks. Spicy and acidic foods and carbonated drinks can trigger indigestion. Try to avoid those things when possible. Limit the use of alcohol. If you use tobacco, try to quit. Stress and lack of sleep also can worsen symptoms.

Your treatment will depend on what is causing your indigestion. Your doctor can help you decide which treatment is best for you. Some over-the-counter medicines may help your symptoms.

Check with your doctor before starting something new. Do not take pain and anti-inflammatory medicines one brand name: Aleve for your symptoms. They do not help and can worsen your condition, especially if used often. If you have a stomach ulcer, you may need to take an acid-blocking medicine. Treatment for indigestion dyspepsia will vary, depending on what is causing it and how severe your symptoms are.

If you have been diagnosed with an underlying health condition, you may want to read our information on:. If you only have indigestion occasionally, you may not need to see your pharmacist or GP for treatment. It may be possible to ease your symptoms by making a few simple changes to your diet and lifestyle, summarised below.

Being overweight puts more pressure on your stomach, making it easier for stomach acid to be pushed back up into your gullet oesophagus. This is known as acid reflux, and is one of the most common causes of indigestion.

If you are overweight or obese, it is important to lose weight safely and steadily through regular exercise and by eating a healthy, balanced diet. Read advice on losing weight. If you smoke, the chemicals you inhale in cigarette smoke may contribute to your indigestion.

These chemicals can cause the ring of muscle that separates your oesophagus from your stomach to relax, causing acid reflux. Read more about quitting smoking , or speak to your GP or pharmacist. You can also call the Quit Your Way Scotland service on 84 84 84 8. Make a note of any particular food or drink that seems to make your indigestion worse, and avoid these if possible. This may mean:. If you tend to experience indigestion symptoms at night, avoid eating for three to four hours before you go to bed.

Going to bed with a full stomach means there is an increased risk that acid in your stomach will be forced up into your oesophagus while you are lying down. When you go to bed, use a couple of pillows to prop your head and shoulders up or, ideally, raise the head of your bed by a few inches by putting something underneath the mattress.

The slight slope that is created should help to prevent stomach acid moving up into your oesophagus while you are asleep. Read some relaxation tips to relieve stress. Your pharmacist may recommend making changes to your current medication if they think it could be contributing to your indigestion. As long as it is safe to do so, you may need to stop taking certain medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Where required, your pharmacist may advise you see your GP to prescribe an alternative medication that will not cause indigestion. However, never stop taking any medication without consulting your pharmacist or GP first. If you have indigestion that requires immediate relief, your pharmacist can advise you about the best way to treat this. As well as lifestyle changes and reviewing your current medication, your GP may prescribe or recommend:.

Antacids are a type of medicine that can provide immediate relief for mild to moderate symptoms of indigestion. They work by neutralising the acid in your stomach making it less acidic , so that it no longer irritates the lining of your digestive system. Antacids are available in tablet and liquid form. You can buy them over the counter from most pharmacies without a prescription. The effect of an antacid only lasts for a few hours at a time, so you may need to take more than one dose.

Always follow the instructions on the packet to ensure you do not take too much. It is best to take antacids when you are expecting symptoms of indigestion, or when they start to occur, such as:. This is because antacids stay in your stomach for longer at these times and have more time to work. For example, if you take an antacid at the same time as eating a meal, it can work for up to three hours. In comparison, if you take an antacid on an empty stomach, it may only work for 20 to 60 minutes.

Some antacids also contain a medicine called an alginate. This helps relieve indigestion caused by acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid leaks back up into your oesophagus and irritates its lining. Alginates form a foam barrier that floats on the surface of your stomach contents, keeping stomach acid in your stomach and away from your oesophagus. Your pharmacist may suggest that you take an antacid that contains an alginate if you experience symptoms of acid reflux or if you have GORD.

Take antacids containing alginates after eating, because this helps the medicine stay in your stomach for longer. If you take alginates on an empty stomach, they will leave your stomach too quickly to be effective. If you have indigestion that is persistent or recurring, treatment with antacids and alginates may not be effective enough to control your symptoms.

Your pharmacist may recommend a different type of medication, which will be prescribed at the lowest possible dose to control your symptoms. Possible medications include:. These are described in more detail below. Your pharmacist may advise you to see your GP who may also test you for the Helicobacter pylori H pylori bacteria see Indigestion — diagnosis and prescribe treatment for this if necessary.

The medication is taken as tablets and if you are over 18, you can buy some types of PPIs over the counter in pharmacies, but these should only be used for short-term treatment. PPIs may enhance the effect of certain medicines. If you are prescribed a PPI, your progress will be monitored if you are also taking other medicines, such as:. If your GP refers you for an endoscopy a procedure that allows a surgeon to see inside your abdomen , you will need to stop taking a PPI at least 14 days before the procedure.

This is because PPIs can hide some of the problems that would otherwise be spotted during the endoscopy. PPIs can sometimes cause side effects. However, they are usually mild and reversible. These side effects may include:. H2-receptor antagonists are another type of medication that your pharmacist or GP may suggest if antacids, alginates and PPIs have not been effective in controlling your indigestion.

There are four H2-receptor antagonists:. This causes indigestion and gives you a burning feeling and pain. Page last reviewed: 21 May Next review due: 21 May How to tell if you have indigestion dyspepsia You can have the following symptoms after eating or drinking: heartburn — a painful burning feeling in the chest, often after eating feeling full and bloated feeling sick belching and farting bringing up food or bitter-tasting fluids into your mouth When it's not indigestion Stomach ache or back pain are usually not symptoms of indigestion.

Indigestion, heartburn and acid reflux — what's the difference? How you can treat indigestion yourself There's usually no need to see a GP about indigestion. Do cut down on tea, coffee, cola or alcohol prop your head and shoulders up in bed — this can stop stomach acid coming up while you sleep lose weight if you're overweight.