The condition is loosely defined, and it can vary according to situation and person. Acute indigestion is unpleasant, and the chronic form is debilitating. Chronic indigestion is sometimes a symptom of a more serious disorder, such as chronic pancreatitis, cardiac pain, or a peptic ulcer.
Indigestion is also common during the later stages of pregnancy.
Burping may bring temporary relief. The symptoms may be severe enough to produce ill-defined pain that may or may not vary in intensity. The symptoms usually last for only about two hours, although a bout of indigestion can last many weeks. In addition to these symptoms, there may be heartburn. This produces a burning sensation beneath the breastbone that is sometimes accompanied by a bitter taste of fluid rising up into the mouth.