Which foods can cause indigestion?

Eating too much food at once or having hot and spicy food, stale food, or contaminated food can lead to a stomach upset and indigestion.

What is the difference between indigestion and acidity?

Acidity is often used to refer to the condition of acid reflux, in which case the acid from the stomach moves up into the oesophagus. Symptoms include heartburn in the chest area, a burning sensation in the throat and in some cases, nausea and vomiting. Indigestion refers to the condition where your stomach is not able to properly digest the food that you eat and leads to heaviness, bloating, burping and flatulence.

Is indigestion a serious illness?

An occasional episode of indigestion is no cause for worry. However, if bouts of indigestion are frequently occurring, it may point to an underlying gastrointestinal illness. It is advisable to seek advice from a gastroenterologist in case of frequent episodes of indigestion.

What should I do if I have indigestion?

If you experience symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, etc., you may try out home remedies such as gentle abdominal massage, yoga asanas.You can also take herbs or spices (such as asafoetida, cumin seeds or carom seeds) to improve overall digestive health. OTC preparations like ENO may help with bloating and acidity. If your symptoms do not improve within a day, please seek medical advice as your symptoms may be due to other illnesses.

Can food allergies lead to indigestion?

Yes, food allergies can cause indigestion. They are considered as one of the most common causes of indigestion. If you consume foods that you are allergic to, you may develop symptoms of indigestion such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, etc. In addition to that, you may experience other allergy manifestations such as skin rash, sneezing or wheezing, puffing up of the face, tongue, etc. The most common food allergies are observed in response to milk and milk products; seafoods like shellfish, crabs, lobster; nuts such as peanuts, tree nuts, almonds, etc; grains like wheat or soy; etc.

Indigestion

Written By Dr. Swati MishraBDS

Reviewed By Dr. Sachin Gupta

MD Pharmacology, MBBS

Last updated on: 24 Feb 2026 | 01:04 PM (IST)

Overview

A sensation of pain or discomfort in the upper abdominal region accompanied by a feeling of fullness, bloating, and flatulence is known as indigestion or dyspepsia. Some of the common causes of indigestion include sedentary lifestyle, eating habits, certain medications, and some gastrointestinal illnesses like GERD.

In most cases, indigestion can be controlled by making simple lifestyle changes such as taking a physical activity, balanced healthy diet and consuming alcohol and carbonated beverages in moderation. If lifestyle measures fail to improve the condition, then the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications like antacids are suggested to improve indigestion. Prescription drugs like prokinetics and antibiotics may also be advised to treat the underlying cause of indigestion.

If indigestion becomes a chronic problem and/or is accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the stools, severe abdominal pain, or chest pain, it is essential to seek prompt medical care.

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