This information helps you to know what is normal and what you can expect to happen if you suffer from heartburn or indigestion (also called dyspepsia). It also tells you when you should become concerned and when it is best to seek medical advice from a health professional.
Useful facts
Dyspepsia is common it affects an estimated 4 out of 10 people in any one year.
What is heartburn or indigestion? Heartburn or indigestion (also called dyspepsia) is a burning pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen or chest. It can also cause an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth due to stomach acid.
Timing Symptoms typically occur after meals and can be exacerbated by lying down or bending over.
Other problems
Dyspepsia is commonly accompanied by belching, feeling bloated or sick, or experiencing coughs or hiccups that keep coming back.
What causes dyspepsia?
Common causes include acid reflux where stomach acid comes up from your stomach into your oesophagus (food pipe or gullet).
Acid reflux can be triggered by certain foods and drinks, being overweight, smoking, stress, and pregnancy.
It can also be caused by inflammation of the food pipe by certain medicines, such as ibuprofen (check the patient information leaflet). Another cause is when part of the stomach squeezes through the diaphragm muscle into the chest (known as hiatus hernia).
Less commonly, a stomach ulcer or cancer of the stomach or oesophagus may be responsible.
Sometimes, no underlying cause can be found. This is known as ‘functional dyspepsia’.
What can I expect to happen?
Duration Your symptoms will usually improve within 1 or 2 weeks. But if you find that you keep taking indigestion medicines all the time for more than 2-3 weeks or that your symptoms affect your day-to-day life, consult your surgery.
Investigations Most people do not need any tests. But if your symptoms are not controlled, or your GP suspects an underlying cause, you may need further testing. This could include blood tests, a stool (poo) test to check your stomach for the Helicobacter pylori bacteria or referring you for an endoscopy which looks into your oesophagus and stomach with a thin and flexible tube-like camera.
What can I do myself to get better - now and in the future?
Change your diet In 8 out of 10 people, symptoms will improve by making lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier and losing weight. It is also recommended to eat slowly and chew properly.
Avoiding Trigger foods and drinks Coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, fatty or spicy foods can all worsen your symptoms. So too can carbonated soft drinks.
Bedtime Avoid fatty, fried or large meals within 3 to 4 hours before sleeping.
Smoking and Alcohol Reducing or stopping smoking and alcohol intake may help improve your symptoms.
Weight loss Losing weight if you are overweight or obese will likely improve your symptoms.
Medication If lifestyle changes don’t work, symptoms can improve by taking over the counter (OTC) medications such as antacids or alginates, or with prescribed medication. Speak to a member of your pharmacy team in the first instance.
Treatment for heartburn and indigestion
Over the counter (OTC) medicines Various drugs that neutralise the acid in your stomach (antacids) as well as other drugs called H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are available without prescription at pharmacies. It is best not to take these medicines for a long time without consulting a member of your pharmacy team or other health professionals.
Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin-like drugs. If you take OTC anti-inflammatory pain killers, such as ibuprofen or aspirin regularly, consult a health professional in case these could be causing the indigestion.
Speak to a member of your pharmacy team for advice.
When should I seek medical attention?
Rarely, more serious medical problems may cause indigestion. If you are aged 55 or over and have new or worsening symptoms lasting for 3 weeks or you notice any of the following:
Pain and other chest/stomach symptoms You suffer from severe, persistent (longer than 3 weeks), worsening and unexplained pain in your upper abdomen – particularly if occurring together with other symptoms, such as chest pain, breathlessness, sweating, feeling sick or vomiting.
Vomiting blood or persistent vomiting You vomit blood or dark lumps (like ‘coffee grounds’) or you are persistently vomiting.
Dark stools (poo) Your stool colour has become very dark (looking like tar). But remember that if you take iron tablets your stool can also become black – a harmless side effect which will go when you stop taking iron.
Feeling faint You feel faint, or you’ve collapsed.
Swallowing problems You develop difficulties with swallowing.
Other problems You suffer from unexplained fever, night sweats, unintentional weight loss, or you notice a swelling or mass in your upper abdomen.
Where can I find out more?
A member of your pharmacy team can help you with assessing or treating symptoms and with information about stopping smoking or weight management.
Or, visit the NHS website for your country:
We review our health information every two years and this information is due to be updated in October 2028.
