How common is indigestion in gastritis?

Gastritis means irritation or inflammation of the stomach lining. This can produce burning or aching discomfort in the upper abdomen, early fullness, nausea, belching or a feeling that food is sitting heavily. The intensity may vary from day to day, and some people have few symptoms despite stomach irritation.

Indigestion by itself cannot identify gastritis. Medicines, alcohol, infection and other digestive problems may cause similar feelings. A clinician will consider the history, medicine use and warning symptoms when deciding whether testing is useful.

Note when discomfort occurs, whether meals change it, and whether you use anti-inflammatory pain medicines or other stomach-irritating products. Book an appointment if symptoms continue, return often or affect sleep and eating. Your clinician may review medicines, test for an underlying cause or recommend treatment to reduce irritation. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without checking first.

Seek urgent care if you vomit blood, pass black stools, develop severe worsening pain, feel faint, cannot keep fluids down, or lose weight without trying. These signs can indicate bleeding, significant illness or dehydration and should not be managed solely with antacids.

What might be irritating my stomach? Should any of my medicines be reviewed? Would testing for an infection or another cause help? Which symptoms should prompt an urgent call?