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Indigestion (dyspepsia): the signs, the causes, the tests, and what helps
For anyone with pain, burning or fullness in the upper belly, bloating, nausea or belching that keeps coming back, who wonders whether a medicine, stress or an infection is behind it, or who has been taking something from the drugstore that is not helping; and for the people who love them. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of the NIH) says indigestion is not a disease but a group of symptoms that occur together; that it affects up to 20% of people in the United States each year; and that most chronic indigestion is functional dyspepsia, a disorder of how the gut and brain work together. This page passes on, by name, what NIDDK says: the signs, and when to see a doctor right away; who is more likely, and the medicines and infections that can cause it; the questions, the exam, endoscopy and the tests for H. pylori; the kinds of medicine and mental health therapies; and food. It builds the words to say to a doctor, and prints a card to keep track.
A word with a dotted line under it, like this, opens its official definition, quoted from a U.S. government glossary.
Right now
- Pain in your chest, jaw, neck or arm, or shortness of breath? Call 911 (ours): it can be a heart attack, even when it feels like indigestion. Do not drive yourself.
- Vomiting blood, or black, tarlike stool with dizziness or fainting? Call 911 (ours).
- Trouble or pain swallowing, frequent vomiting, severe and constant belly pain, weight loss without trying, or yellow eyes or skin? NIDDK says see a doctor right away. If you cannot see yours today, go to urgent care or an emergency room (ours).
- It is all too much, or you are thinking of ending your life? Call or text 988, any hour (ours).
More help
- When it is not only indigestion, on this site: When it might be a heart attack · GI bleeding.
- Other stomach pages: Heartburn and acid reflux · Peptic ulcers · Gastroparesis · Irritable bowel syndrome · An upset stomach: find the right page.
- Stress and smoking: When the worry won’t switch off · When you want to quit smoking.
- Day to day: My medicines list · Symptom diary · Get ready for your appointment.
- Care and costs: When you need a doctor and can’t pay · When a medical bill is too much.
- In a crisis: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
An upset stomach, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for throwing up, diarrhea, heartburn and constipation, on one list.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 17, 2026 on NIDDK’s Indigestion (Dyspepsia) pages (NIH): the overview, Definition & Facts, Symptoms & Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Eating, Diet, & Nutrition, all last reviewed in March 2025. NIDDK has no Spanish version of these pages; our Spanish page is our own translation. NIDDK names kinds of medicine and two supplements; we name no single medicine or brand. Ours: 911 for pain in the chest, jaw, neck or arm, shortness of breath, vomiting blood, or black, tarlike stool with dizziness or fainting (NIDDK says to see a doctor right away for each of these); urgent care or an emergency room when your doctor cannot see you the same day; never stopping a prescribed medicine on your own; the quitline numbers (as on our quit-smoking page); the indigestion card; 988 when it is too much; health centers when money is tight; and the order of the steps. What we left out: medicine names, doses, research studies, and clinical pages for providers. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.