Indigestion Symptoms and Signs

Indigestion is a common condition in the modern world, largely owing to increased stress, exposure to toxins, and poor diet. It may be referred to dyspepsia, though the common term is upset stomach. The symptoms of indigestion are easily recognized, though they may come and go in relation to the causal factors. This makes treating indigestion simple in most cases, because a particular trigger can be isolated, such as eating too quickly or smoking after the meal, through the elimination method.

What are the Symptoms of Indigestion?

The symptoms of this disorder revolve around eating, and some are more common than others. Irregularity in the digestive process can be painful, and it may lead to a number of other complications or be caused by some serious diseases, so it is important to pay attention at the first signs of the following:

Food is not moving from the stomach to the small intestine. If the stomach feels overly full more quickly than usual, indigestion is indicated.
Indigestion may feel like a lead ball in the stomach for a significant period of time after a meal. Sluggishness and discomfort after eating is a good sign of indigestion.
Pain in the upper abdomen accompanies the act of eating. In severe cases, this pain may persist even when the stomach is empty. The pain will be collected in the area just below the sternum, where the esophagus empties into the stomach. Pain may extend along the stomach, which stretches along the bottom of the left side of the ribcage.
A burning sensation in the upper abdomen is another sign. This pain will extend down to the navel. This is different from heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux, which extends up the esophagus.

Less common symptoms to watch for are nausea, excessive belching and bloating. If these symptoms are experienced without co-occurring conditions listed above, it may be a sign of other conditions besides indigestion.

When Should a Doctor be Consulted?

It is important to correct indigestion immediately, if this is possible. The causes are often a particular kind of food the body has trouble digesting. If symptoms continue to appear after eliminating spicy foods, greasy foods, carbonated beverages and alcohol from meal time, then the culprit may be smoking around meals or even eating while stressed.

In addition, some medications will disrupt healthy bacterial populations in the gut, which will lead to indigestion. A solution could be as simple as drinking a warm peppermint tea and having some yogurt, or other pro-biotic, half an hour before meal time. There are also a number of over-the-counter remedies that may help.

There are signs that a doctor should be consulted, however, because indigestion can be caused by serious problems requiring medical attention. These signs include: