Indigestion is a discomfort in the abdomen that most commonly follows eating or drinking too much. It can be a dull or severe pain, or a feeling of fullness that may be relieved by belching or by expelling gas from the anus. Sometimes a painful, burning sensation, called heartburn, rises from the stomach toward the neck and mouth after eating (see Heartburn ). Difficult or impaired digestion is called dyspepsia.
Indigestion also may accompany certain disorders of the digestive system, including peptic ulcer and liver or gallbladder disease. But indigestion is not always related to the digestive organs. For example, it may accompany heart or kidney disease. Indigestion can sometimes be prevented by avoiding rich, highly seasoned foods. Persistent or recurrent indigestion should be treated by a physician.
