Indigestion/Dyspepsia
Indigestion (also called dyspepsia) describes a number of symptoms that can occur after eating or drinking certain types of food, eating too quickly or simply eating too much.
- Indigestion is usually not serious but it can be uncomfortable or painful enough to affect your quality of life
- It affects almost everyone at some point in their lives
- Symptoms occur rarely for some people and daily for others
- Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to indigestion
Symptoms of indigestion
Signs of indigestion include feeling full and bloated, even after a small amount of food, or feeling full for much longer than usual after a meal. Other symptoms can include feeling sick, burping, wind and, more rarely, vomiting.
You might experience heartburn, a painful burning feeling in the upper abdomen caused by acid reflux. Acidic stomach fluid can reach the back of the throat to produce a bitter or sour taste. Sometimes, you can feel localised pain just below the breastbone – or a combination of all three.
If you experience stomach ache or back pain, be aware that this isn’t usually a sign of indigestion and may instead be caused by constipation.
Causes of indigestion
Indigestion describes symptoms rather than any specific disease and can have many causes. It’s often related to lifestyle and is most commonly triggered by eating. Other common causes include smoking, anxiety, pregnancy and taking certain medicines such as some antibiotics, painkillers and iron supplements.
For some people, nerves in the stomach can become overly sensitive. In a small number of cases, stomach bacteria can trigger symptoms. Indigestion can also be a result of a stomach ulcer, which is an open sore in the lining of your stomach.
Indigestion treatments
During your appointment, the highly trained, fully qualified healthcare professionals at your local Pharmacy+Health will discuss your possible indigestion triggers and the treatment options available to suit you.
Self-care techniques
As well as targeted dyspepsia treatments, there are a number of self-care techniques you can try. For example, you may benefit from reducing your intake of drinks such as coffee, tea, alcohol and cola. It might also help to raise your head and shoulders slightly using an extra pillow while you are in bed. This can prevent stomach acid from travelling up your oesophagus (the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach) during the night.
It is also recommended to avoid eating within three to four hours of going to bed, and try to avoid foods that are very rich, fatty or spicy. If you smoke, stopping may ease your symptoms too. You may also be advised to lose weight.
Book an appointment today
The experts at Pharmacy+Health are here to help you if you suffer from indigestion. We offer consultation appointments and treatments for dyspepsia, as well as many other common health conditions. Our pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can provide clinical advice and recommend the most suitable treatment for you – quickly and conveniently.
You can be sure you will have a great patient experience when you come to us, and booking an appointment couldn’t be easier.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Following the self-care techniques mentioned above can help to lower your risk of suffering indigestion. Many patients with indigestion find that their symptoms improve with self-help and advice from health professionals.
Talk to our experienced pharmacists who can help you find the best indigestion treatment. For example, they may recommend treatments to ease the burning feeling or pain that comes with indigestion.
You should seek treatment for indigestion, especially if you have heartburn and repeated pain. Recurring, severe indigestion can result in long-term problems with parts of your digestive tract. For instance, it can lead to scarring of your oesophagus. Rarely, a serious underlying health condition can cause indigestion.
Our highly trained clinicians will be able to advise you on simple changes to your diet and lifestyle, and recommend medications such as antacids which will help improve your symptoms.
You should make sure you see a doctor if you experience repeated indigestion, are in serious pain, have difficulty swallowing, have lost weight without intending to or find you keep vomiting. You should also seek medical advice if you feel like you have a lump in your stomach, have iron deficiency anemia or have blood in your stools or vomit.
Pharmacy+Health makes it simpler and more convenient to get the treatment you need. Find out more about the cost of a consultation here.
When you come to us for help with dyspepsia, you’ll get the very best advice and service.