Indigestion: Symptoms, causes and how to help get rid of it

If you experience pain or discomfort in your gut after eating, you may have indigestion¹. Most people experience occasional indigestion from time to time, and it’s usually not a sign of anything serious².

In this guide, we’ll explain what indigestion is, what causes it, symptoms to look out for, and how to find relief.

We’ll also explore whether there is a link between indigestion and diarrhoea. Read on to learn more.

What is indigestion?

Indigestion (also known as ‘dyspepsia’) is a term used to describe pain or discomfort after eating¹. Symptoms usually begin while your stomach is digesting food¹.

If you experience stomach pain¹ or discomfort after eating, it could be a sign that your digestive process isn’t working as it should¹. It doesn’t always mean there’s a problem with your body though¹ – sometimes, it could just mean you ate too quickly¹.

Most people will likely experience indigestion at some point², and it can usually be treated without seeing a GP². If it’s happening to you frequently, however, indigestion can affect your quality of life¹ – so it may be important to understand likely causes, and potential remedies.

What can cause indigestion?

When indigestion happens frequently or over a long period without there being an underlying medical cause, this is often diagnosed as ‘functional indigestion³.

In most cases, however, indigestion symptoms will be short-lived rather than chronic3.

Several factors can contribute to indigestion, including³:

• Eating too much, or eating too fast

• Eating fatty or spicy foods

• Consuming excessive caffeine, alcohol, or fizzy drinks

• Smoking

• Mental illness such as anxiety or depression, leading to physical affects

• Side-effects of certain antibiotics and pain killers.

Sometimes, however, certain medical conditions can cause indigestion³. These may include³:

• Digestive system infections

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

• H. pylori infection

• Stomach or small intestine ulcers

• Stomach cancer.

It’s also common for pregnant women to experience indigestion from 27 weeks onwards². This can be caused by hormonal changes, as well as pressure from the baby pushing against the stomach as it grows².

Indigestion symptoms: what does it feel like?

People may experience ingestion in different ways². Examples of common symptoms include³:

• Feeling full when eating - You may feel full even if you haven’t eaten much, and struggle to finish your food.

• An unsettling ‘fullness’after eating - The feeling of being full might last longer than usual – uncomfortably so.

• Discomfort in the upper abdomen – You might feel mild to severe pain in the area between the bottom of your breastbone and your belly button.

• Burning in the upper abdomen – You may feel a burning sensation in the area between the bottom of your breastbone and your belly button.

• Bloating – Indigestion could lead to swelling or tightness in the upper abdomen area.

• Nausea – You might feel the urge to be sick.

• Gassiness – You may find yourself passing gas or burping after eating or drinking².

In some cases, people with indigestion may experience heartburn³.

It’s important to note that stomach-ache or back pain usually aren’t symptoms of indigestion². If you’re experiencing these symptoms after eating or drinking, they could be signs of constipation instead².

How to relieve indigestion

There are various treatment options for indigestion you can try, from simple lifestyle changes to taking certain medication².

Lifestyle changes

If you are often getting symptoms during or after meals, consider:

• Cutting down on the amount of caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks you are consuming

• Cutting down on spicy and fatty foods, which can also lead to bloating

• Eating more slowly – and cutting down on portion sizes too

• Avoiding eating within several hours of going to bed, if possible

• Giving up smoking, which is a good idea for your general health regardless².

Indigestion medication

Your pharmacist or GP can also recommend medicines to take if you experience a burning sensation or pain with indigestion². These may include^2,4:

• Antacids – Reducing the build-up of acid in your stomach to help relieve indigestion and heartburn⁴.

• Alginates – Some antacids often contain other medicines, such as alginates⁵. This helps to relieve indigestion caused by acid reflux⁵.

• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) – Prevent proton pumps from working correctly to reduce the amount of acid produced by your stoamach⁴.

• H2 blockers – Help reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces⁴.

When to see a GP about indigestion

There’s usually no need to see a GP about indigestion², as most of the time it can be treated at home².

However, you should see a GP if²:

• You experience indigestion frequently, and it is affecting your quality of life

• You are in a lot of pain

• You’ve noticed you’ve lost a lot of weight without trying

• You have trouble swallowing when eating or drinking

• You’re persistently vomiting

• You have iron deficiency anaemia

• You can feel a lump in your tummy

• You notice blood in your vomit or stool.

There symptoms could be cause for concern, so it’s important to get them checked out².

Indigestion and diarrhoea

Indigestion can often be associated with abdominal pain and diarrhoea⁶. However, it’s important to remember that abdominal pain and diarrhoea may occur due to other health conditions, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)⁶ .

Improving your eating habits is one way you can try to reduce the chances of experiencing indigestion, bloating and diarrhoea in your day to day life, as well as improving your gut health in general.

If you are experiencing diarrhoea with bloating, IMODIUM® Dual Action tablets can help to relieve these symptoms, as well as wind and painful cramps.
Read more IMODIUM^® guides to find out what diarrhoea is , what can cause it, and how to treat it.

Indigestion FAQs

How long does indigestion last?

Indigestion can typically last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after eating¹. If you keep getting indigestion on a regular basis, are in a lot of pain, or experience other symptoms such as weight loss, bloody stool or vomit, contact your GP². These could be signs of something more serious².

Can indigestion cause chest pain?

People who experience indigestion can sometimes experience heartburn¹, which can be described as a painful burning sensation in the chest². Symptoms typically appear after eating². A pharmacist can recommend medicines to help with the burning sensation or pain that comes with indigestion². However, if you are experiencing a ‘stabbing’ chest pain, or feel it may be due to something more serious, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Does drinking water help indigestion?

Drinking water while eating, or when you experience indigestion, may help to move the digestion process along¹. However, try not to drink so much that it expands your stomach, otherwise it could have the opposite effect¹. Small sips should be enough¹, but if that doesn’t work, taking a suitable medicine may help to provide relief from any uncomfortable symptoms².