Indigestion is the general term for an upset stomach that stems from no identifiable cause or physical abnormality. Symptoms typically develop during or soon after eating or drinking, with the most common complaints being stomach pain, a sensation of fullness or bloating in the upper abdomen, gas, and possibly belching. Some people also experience mild nausea and heart burn, a burning sensation accompanied by an acid taste in the mouth. Indigestion can be triggered by foods, especially high fat or gas producing types, such as beans. It may also be due to a food allergy or overindulging in alcohol or caffeine. Sometimes it’s related to smoking, constipation, or “wallowing air while eating. Stress can also bring on or worsen the condition.

Normally, indigestion is no cause for alarm, simple measures can alleviate it . But if it persists for more than a week or two, you should seek a doctor’s care, especially if the pattern of symptoms changes, or you experience vomiting, unexplainable fat loss, appetite loss, fever, vomiting of blood, severe diarrhea, or black, tarry stool-all indications of a potentially serious intestinal disorder.