Gas and indigestion pain: what to know

Indigestion may feel like burning, discomfort or pressure in the upper abdomen, with belching, bloating or early fullness. Eating quickly, chewing gum, fizzy drinks and certain foods can increase swallowed air. Acid reflux can add a burning sensation, while gastritis or a peptic ulcer may irritate the stomach lining.

Gallstones can cause upper abdominal pain, often after meals, and a hiatus hernia can contribute to reflux symptoms. Helicobacter pylori infection is another possible cause of recurring upper digestive symptoms. Gas and indigestion do not identify one condition by themselves.

Eat slowly, choose smaller portions, and keep a brief record of foods and drinks linked with symptoms. Limit fizzy drinks and avoid lying down soon after eating. A gentle walk may help gas move through the bowel. Avoid frequent self-treatment with pain relievers that can irritate the stomach unless a clinician has advised them.

A pharmacist can discuss suitable options for indigestion or reflux, including acid reflux medication, after checking your symptoms, medicines and health conditions. Follow the label and seek advice if you need treatment repeatedly.

Book an appointment when pain keeps returning, lasts beyond a short episode, or comes with unexplained weight loss, persistent vomiting, difficulty swallowing or reduced appetite. Seek urgent help for severe or sudden pain, a rigid abdomen, chest pressure, breathing difficulty, vomiting blood, or black stools.

Tell the clinician where the pain is, when it starts in relation to meals, and whether bowel changes, vomiting or fever occur. Ask whether testing for reflux, stomach irritation or Helicobacter pylori is appropriate and which medicines are safe with your existing treatment.