Indigestion for a weeks

Symptoms & Causes of Indigestion

What are the symptoms of indigestion?

When you have indigestion, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:

• pain, a burning feeling, or discomfort in your upper abdomen
• feeling full too soon while eating a meal
• feeling uncomfortably full after eating a meal
• bloating
• burping

Other symptoms may include

• burping up food or liquid
• loud growling or gurgling in your stomach
• nausea
• gas

Sometimes when you have indigestion, you may also have heartburn. However, heartburn and indigestion are two separate conditions.

Seek care right away

If you have indigestion and any of the following symptoms, you may have a more serious condition and should see a doctor right away:

• black, tarlike stools
• bloody vomit
• difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing
• frequent vomiting
• losing weight without trying
• pain in your chest, jaw, neck, or arm
• severe and constant pain in your abdomen
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• yellowing of your eyes or skin

You should also see a doctor if your indigestion lasts longer than 2 weeks.

What causes indigestion?

Some of the causes of indigestion include

• drinking
  • too many alcoholic beverages
  • too much coffee or too many drinks containing caffeine
  • too many carbonated, or fizzy, drinks
• eating
  • too fast or too much during a meal
  • spicy, fatty, or greasy foods
  • foods that contain a lot of acid, such as tomatoes, tomato products, and oranges
• feeling stressed
• smoking

Some medicines can cause indigestion, such as

• certain antibiotics—medicines that kill bacteria
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Health problems and digestive tract diseases and conditions can cause indigestion, including

• acid reflux (GER and GERD)
• anxiety or depression
• gallbladder inflammation
• gastritis
• gastroparesis
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
• irritable bowel syndrome
• lactose intolerance
• peptic ulcer disease
• stomach cancer

Researchers do not know what causes functional dyspepsia. Some research³ suggests that the following factors may play a role in functional dyspepsia:

• eating
• gastroparesis
• problems in the first part of your small intestine, including inflammation and being overly sensitive to stomach acids
• infection by microorganisms such as H. pylori, Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Campylobacter, giardia, or norovirus
• psychological problems, especially anxiety
• genes—a trait passed from parent to child

References

Last Reviewed November 2016

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This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

Symptoms, Causes, Diet, and Treatments

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

In this Article

• What Are the Symptoms of Indigestion?
• Who Is at Risk for Indigestion?
• What Causes Indigestion?
• How Is Indigestion Diagnosed?
• What Is the Treatment for Indigestion?
• How Can I Prevent Indigestion?
• When Should I Call the Doctor About Indigestion?

Indigestion is often a sign of an underlying problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, or gallbladder disease, rather than a condition of its own.

Also called dyspepsia, it is defined as a persistent or recurrent pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen.

What Are the Symptoms of Indigestion?

The symptoms of indigestion can include:

• Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating (full feeling)
• Belching and gas
• Nausea and vomiting
• Acidic taste
• Growling stomach

These symptoms may increase in times of stress.

People often have heartburn (a burning sensation deep in the chest) along with indigestion. But heartburn itself is a different symptom that may indicate another problem.

Who Is at Risk for Indigestion?

People of all ages and of both sexes are affected by indigestion. It's extremely common. An individual's risk increases with:

• Excess alcohol consumption
• Use of drugs that may irritate the stomach, such as aspirin and other pain relievers
• Conditions where there is an abnormality in the digestive tract, such as an ulcer
• Emotional problems, such as anxiety or depression
• Obesity
• Smoking

What Causes Indigestion?

Indigestion has many causes, including:

Diseases:

• Ulcers
• GERD
• Stomach cancer (rare)
• Gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach doesn't empty properly; this often occurs in people with diabetes)
• Stomach infections
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Thyroid disease
• Pregnancy

Medications:

• Aspirin and other painkillers, such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and naproxen (Naprosyn)
• Estrogen and oral contraceptives
• Steroid medications
• Certain antibiotics
• Thyroid medicines

Lifestyle:

• Eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Cigarette smoking
• Stress and fatigue

Indigestion is not caused by excess stomach acid.

Swallowing excessive air when eating may increase the symptoms of belching and bloating, which are often associated with indigestion.

Sometimes people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of these factors. This type of indigestion is called functional, or non-ulcer dyspepsia.

How Is Indigestion Diagnosed?

If you are experiencing symptoms of indigestion, make an appointment to see your doctor. Because indigestion is such a broad term, it is helpful to provide your doctor with a precise description of the discomfort you are experiencing. In describing the symptoms, try to define where in the abdomen the discomfort usually occurs.

Your doctor will rule out any underlying conditions that may be causing your symptoms. Your doctor may perform several blood tests and you may have X-rays of the stomach or small intestine. Your doctor may also suggest you have an upper endoscopy to look closely at the inside of the stomach. During the procedure, an endoscope -- a flexible tube that contains a light and a camera to produce images from inside the body -- is used to look inside your stomach.

What Is the Treatment for Indigestion?

Because indigestion is a symptom rather than a disease, treatment usually depends upon the underlying condition causing the indigestion.

How Can I Prevent Indigestion?

The best way to prevent indigestion is to avoid the foods and situations that seem to cause it. Keeping a food diary is helpful in identifying foods that cause indigestion. Here are some other suggestions:

• Eat small meals so the stomach does not have to work as hard or as long.
• Eat slowly.
• Avoid foods that contain high amounts of acids, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes.
• Reduce or avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.
• If stress is a trigger for your indigestion, learn new methods for managing stress, such as relaxation and biofeedback techniques.
• If you smoke, quit. Smoking can irritate the lining of the stomach.
• Cut back on alcohol consumption, because alcohol can also irritate the stomach lining.
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting garments, because they tend to compress the stomach, which can cause its contents to enter the esophagus.
• Don't exercise with a full stomach. Rather, exercise before a meal or at least one hour after eating a meal.
• Don't lie down right after eating.
• Wait at least three hours after your last meal of the day before going to bed.
• Sleep with your head elevated (at least 6 inches) above your feet and use pillows to prop yourself up. This will help allow digestive juices to flow into the intestines rather than to the esophagus.

When Should I Call the Doctor About Indigestion?

Because indigestion can be a sign of a more serious health problem, call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Vomiting or blood in vomit (the vomit may look like coffee grounds)
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Black, tarry stools or visible blood in stools
• Severe pain in the abdomen
• Discomfort unrelated to eating

Symptoms similar to indigestion may be caused by heart attacks. If indigestion is unusual, accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, chest pain, or pain radiating to the jaw, neck, or arm, seek medical attention immediately.

What is diarrhea and when to run to the doctor?

We all have diarrhea from time to time, which can last for a couple of days. Sometimes it lasts for several weeks, which may indicate an infection or inflammatory bowel disease. In this article, we will look at where this violation comes from and for what symptoms you need to urgently see a doctor.

This disorder is characterized by frequent trips to the toilet (3 or more times a day) with loose stools. Doctors distinguish 3 types of diarrhea:

1. Acute - the most common variety, which usually bothers you for 1-2 days and goes away on its own.
2. Continuous - lasts from 2 weeks, but less than a month.
3. Chronic diarrhea - lasts at least 4 weeks, while its symptoms may either persist throughout the entire time, or go away and then come back.

People suffering from this disorder, in addition to the main symptom, may have the following:

• Emergence of an urgent need to visit the toilet,
• Abdominal cramps or pain,
• Inability to stop defecation,
• Nausea.

If the causes of diarrhea are hidden in an infection, the patient has one or more additional symptoms:

• Diarrhea with blood,
• Fever and chills,
• Dizziness,
• Vomiting.

What are the causes of diarrhea?

The acute or continuous form of the disorder may have causes that are different from chronic diarrhea.

Acute and continuous

The most common causes of acute or continuous diarrhea are infections and drug side effects.

Infections

There are 3 types of infections that cause acute or continuous diarrhea:

• Viral infections, including norovirus and rotavirus. A common cause of acute diarrhea is viral gastroenteritis.
• Bacterial infections. Several types of bacteria are able to enter our body along with contaminated food or water. The most common ones that can cause diarrhea are Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella.
• Parasitic infections. Parasites enter the body with food or water, after which they settle in the digestive tract. Parasites that can cause diarrhea include cryptosporidium, dysenteric amoeba, and intestinal giardia.

Medication side effects

Many drugs can cause the disorder, including antibiotics, magnesium-containing antacids, and drugs given to cancer patients.

Chronic diarrhea

This form of disorder can be caused by:

• Certain infections,
• Food allergy or intolerance,
Long-term medication.

Infections

Some bacterial or parasitic infections that cause diarrhea do not go away without treatment. Also, after an infection, a person can get problems with the digestion of carbohydrates (lactose - milk sugar) or protein (dairy or soy products). Because of these problems, diarrhea can bother a person longer than usual.

Food allergy or food intolerance

• Allergies to foods such as cow's milk, soy, grains, eggs and seafood can cause chronic diarrhea.
• Lactose intolerance (milk sugar) is another common disorder. It can cause diarrhea after eating a meal that contains milk or dairy products.
• Fructose intolerance, which is found in honey, juices, fruits or soft drinks, can also cause chronic diarrhoea. Fructose is one of the simple sugars, or monosaccharides.
• Sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol can cause distress in some people. These substances are often added to chewing gums and sugar-free hard candies. Read more about sugar alcohols in the article on the FODMAP diet.

Gastrointestinal disease or disorder

Gastrointestinal problems that can cause chronic diarrhea include:

• Celiac disease (gluten intolerance),
• Crohn's disease,
• Irritable bowel syndrome and other functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract,
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome,
• Ulcerative colitis.

Surgery on organs that are located in the abdomen

Some people develop chronic diarrhea after surgery on the gallbladder, colon, liver, pancreas, small intestine, stomach, spleen, or appendicitis.

Long term medication

Medicines taken for a long time can also cause chronic diarrhoea. Some of these medications, such as antibiotics, can change the intestinal flora and increase the chances of encountering the bacterium Clostridium difficile. This bacterium is capable of causing a chronic disorder.

How do doctors find the cause of diarrhea?

In addition to a physical examination and review of the patient's medical history, the gastroenterologist will order one or more of the following tests to find the exact cause of diarrhea:

• Complete blood count,
• Fecal test - this test helps to determine if , if diarrhea is due to a bacterial or parasitic infection,
• Endoscopy of the upper or lower department of the gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopic procedures may include gastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, or rectosigmoidoscopy.