Everyone experiences indigestion from time to time, but when it becomes a regular guest at the table, it’s a sign worth listening to.

The tightness in your chest after a meal, the uncomfortable bloating, or the sensation of fullness that arrives too soon may be signals from your gut, telling you something deeper may be going on.

Indigestion, or dyspepsia, is more than one thing. It’s a constellation of symptoms including upper abdominal discomfort, bloating, early satiety, and sometimes nausea or a burning sensation.

These symptoms can have many causes, from simple overeating to more complex gastrointestinal imbalances. The key is knowing when to pay closer attention.

What Triggers Indigestion?

For many people, indigestion is tied to food choices or eating habits. Fatty meals, coffee, alcohol, and eating too quickly can all strain digestion. But there’s often more at play than a single food trigger. Stress, hormonal shifts, and microbial imbalances in the gut can also disrupt the digestive process.

One commonly overlooked cause is low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria). While it may seem counterintuitive, too little acid can actually mimic the symptoms of reflux and indigestion. Without adequate stomach acid, the stomach struggles to break down food, leading to fermentation, gas, and pressure.

Certain medications, especially NSAIDs and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), can also impair digestion or irritate the stomach lining over time. It’s important to review your medications with a healthcare provider if indigestion persists. Harvard Health offers a clear breakdown of common culprits.

The Gut Connection

Your gut is a complex, dynamic environment that impacts mood, immunity, and hormonal balance. When the microbiome is out of balance, the digestive process can suffer.

Overgrowth of certain bacteria, sluggish motility, and inflammation in the gut lining can all contribute to chronic indigestion.

One condition often associated with persistent symptoms is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO can lead to bloating, gas, and discomfort shortly after meals. While not always the root cause, it’s a growing area of investigation in gut health. Cleveland Clinic explains SIBO in detail on their website.

Another potential factor is functional dyspepsia, a diagnosis given when no structural issue can be found, but the symptoms are real and often life-disrupting. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, managing this condition requires a multifaceted approach, including stress support, dietary adjustments, and sometimes targeted therapies.

Supporting Digestive Wellness

Restoring balance to the digestive system isn’t about following a strict set of rules. It begins with understanding your body’s unique rhythm. For some, that means adjusting meal size and timing. For others, it may involve testing for microbial imbalances, evaluating stomach acid levels, or identifying hidden food sensitivities.

Gentle support like digestive bitters, herbal teas, and mindful eating can go a long way in reducing symptoms. So can carving out time to eat without distraction, something many of us overlook in the rush of daily life. 

But when symptoms linger, or worsen, it’s time to work with someone who can help uncover the root cause and guide a plan tailored to your needs.

If indigestion is interfering with your daily life, it’s not something you have to just live with. Leaving it untreated will cause serious issues over a period of time.

That does not have to be the case, because at the Gut Health Specialists, we always take a deeper look at what your symptoms are really telling you. 

Book a consultation today and begin a path to true digestive wellness.