IBS and indigestion: what should you know?

IBS commonly involves abdominal pain linked with bowel movements, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation or changes between them. Indigestion, also called dyspepsia, is more often felt in the upper abdomen as burning, discomfort, early fullness, belching or nausea. Symptoms can overlap, but indigestion may also be associated with [Acid Reflux](/conditions/acid-reflux/), [Gastritis](/conditions/gastritis/), [Peptic Ulcer](/conditions/peptic-ulcer/), [Gallstones](/conditions/gallstones/) or [Helicobacter Pylori Infection](/conditions/helicobacter-pylori-infection/). These symptoms do not identify one cause by themselves.

Track meal timing, portion size, pain location, bowel changes, reflux, nausea and medicines. Eating slowly, choosing smaller meals and avoiding a personal trigger may reduce discomfort; do not remove many foods without nutrition advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using remedies, especially if symptoms keep returning. Treatment depends on the cause, and [Acid Reflux Medication](/treatments/medical-management/acid-reflux-medication/) may not be appropriate for every pattern. Bring your symptom record to an assessment.

Book a medical review if symptoms persist, recur often, interfere with eating, or are changing. Seek urgent help for severe or persistent pain, vomiting blood, black stools, difficulty swallowing, fainting, jaundice, chest pressure or breathlessness. Unexplained weight loss or repeated vomiting also warrants prompt assessment. IBS should not be used to explain away new warning signs.

Do my symptoms fit IBS, indigestion, or both? Does the location of pain change the assessment? Should I be checked for reflux, ulcer disease, gallstones or Helicobacter pylori? Which treatment is suitable, and when should I return?