Question: What is indigestion?
Answer: Indigestion, also called dyspepsia or upset stomach, is a general term that describes a group of gastrointestinal symptoms that occur together. These symptoms most often include

pain, a burning feeling, or discomfort in your upperabdomen
feeling full too soon while eating a meal
feeling uncomfortably full after eating a small amount of food
bloating,nausea, orbelching

Indigestion may happen from time to time or be chronic, happening regularly for a few weeks or months. Indigestion is not always related to eating.

Indigestion is not a disease. However, indigestion may be a sign of certain digestive tract diseases or conditions.

Sometimes digestive tract diseases such as peptic ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer  cause chronic indigestion. However, most often doctors do not know what causes chronic indigestion.  Chronic indigestion without a health problem or digestive tract disease that could explain symptoms is called functional dyspepsia.

Indigestion may be confused with other conditions, such as acid reflux, also called heartburn, or gastroparesis.
Question: How common is indigestion?
Answer: Indigestion is a common condition, affecting up to 20% of people in the United States each year.1

Among people in the United States who see a doctor about indigestion, about 7 in 10 are diagnosed with functional dyspepsia.2
Question: Who is more likely to have indigestion?
Answer: You are more likely to have indigestion if you

are female
feel stressed
have certain health problems or digestive tract diseases
smoke
take certain medicines, such asnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

In most cases, indigestion does not lead to health problems. However, having indigestion may affect your quality of life.