Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a term used to describe one or more symptoms including a feeling of fullness during a meal, uncomfortable fullness after a meal, and burning or pain in the upper abdomen. It can be caused by a condition in the digestive tract such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, cancer or an abnormality of the pancreas or bile ducts.
Sometimes a person has indigestion for which a cause can’t be found. This type of indigestion is called functional dyspepsia. Indigestion and heartburn are different conditions, but a person can have symptoms of both.
To help diagnose indigestion, doctors may order:
■ X-rays
■ Blood, breath and stool tests
■ An upper endoscopy with biopsies
Some people may experience relief from indigestion by making lifestyle changes and by decreasing stress. In addition, doctors may prescribe various medications to treat the symptoms of indigestion.
— Sources: National Institutes of Health; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases