Indigestion, or dyspepsia as it is known in medical circles, is an all too common problem. Millions of people, including myself, occassionally or often experience the upper abdominal pain, feelings of stomach discomfort and fullness, bloating, nausea and belching that accompany indigestion. Indigestion can be a sign of a more serious underlying medical condition such as an ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) so seek a consultation with your doctor if you frequently suffer from indigestion. Heartburn often accompanies indigestion as well. Understanding the causes of indigestion, which differ from individual to individual, can go a long way toward preventing it.

While indigestion sometimes passes or goes away within a few hours without treatment or medical attention, its symptoms can be quite uncomfortable. Indigestion is typically characterized by a burning sensation in the upper abdomen, stomach pain or discomfort, feeling full or bloated, gas and belching, nausea or vomiting and an acidic taste in your mouth.

Indigestion has many causes, some of which are a result of other, more serious medical problems. Indigestion can be associated with any of the following conditions: GERD, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, diseases of the gall bladder or pancreas, thyroid problems and even stomach cancer. Symptoms of indigestion are typically difficult to ignore so when you describe them to your doctor, make sure you are as specific and as clear as possible to aid in diagnosing any underlying problem.

Certain medications and over the counter remedies can upset the stomach and cause indigestion as well. Taking aspirin, birth control pills, some antibiotics, steriod medications and others can result in indigestion. If you are taking medication, talk to your doctor about side effects and alternative treatments or medications.

Aside from underlying medical conditions and reactions to certain medications, elements of one's lifestyle can also contribute to indigestion. You are largely in control of most of these factors so making a concentrated effort to make some life changes can often cut down on the frequency of or eliminate indigestion.

Changes to your dietary habits can make a significant and almost immediate impact on indigestion. Overeating, eating too fast and swallowing a lot air while eating are frequent causes of indigestion and should be avoided. Cutting back eating slower are two relatively simple changes you can make. Certain foods may trigger your indigestion as well, so if you are not aware of any specific food or type of food that upsets your stomach keeping a log or journal of everything you eat for a few weeks may help shed some light on which foods you should take care to avoid.

Drinking too much alcohol and smoking cigarettes, in addition to being generally awful for your overall health, can cause indigestion, heartburn and upset your stomach. If you need yet another reason to quit drinking excessively or stop smoking, frequent indigestion is as good as any.

Stress can lead to indigestion and many other health problems, but often stress is a result of external factors over which you might have little or no control. The manner in which you choose to deal with stress, however, is something you can control. Learning constructive, healthy ways to deal with your stress as opposed to getting drunk or stress eating is better for your general well being and can also lessen the frequency of indigestion.

If you are suffering from indigestion frequently or if the pain is severe you should get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will be able to fully discuss the causes of indigestion with you and determine if your indegestion is a sign of a more serious problem.