Indigestion
Complications of indigestion
In some cases, severe indigestion can cause complications.
Oesophageal stricture
If the lining of the oesophagus is severely irritated over time by acid reflux, the oesophagus may become scarred.
The scarring can eventually lead to your oesophagus becoming narrow and constricted an oesophageal stricture.
If you have oesophageal stricture, you may have symptoms such as:
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- foodbecoming lodged in your throat
- chest pain
Surgeryto widen the oesophagus is often needed to treat oesophageal stricture.
Pyloric stenosis
Like oesophageal stricture, pyloric stenosis is caused by long-term irritation of the lining of your digestive systemby stomach acid.
Pyloric stenosis occurs when the passage between your stomach and your small intestine the pylorus becomes scarred and narrowed. This causes vomiting and prevents any food you eat being properly digested.
In most cases, pyloric stenosis is treated using surgery to return the pylorus to its proper width.
Barrett's oesophagus
Repeated episodes ofgastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) can lead to changes in the cells that line your lower oesophagus. This is a condition known as Barrett's oesophagus.
It's estimated 1 in 10 people with GORD will develop Barrett's oesophagus. Most cases affect people aged 50 to 70the average age at diagnosis is 62.
Barrett's oesophagus doesn't usually cause noticeable symptoms other than those associated with GORD.
However, it is a pre-cancerous condition. This means that while the cell changes aren't cancerous, there's a small risk they could develop into "full blown" cancer in the future, resulting in oesophageal cancer .
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out about indigestion, a common problem that causes pain or discomfort in your upper abdomen (dyspepsia) or behind your breastbone (heartburn).
Symptoms of indigestion
As well as heartburn, other common symptoms of indigestion include: feeling uncomfortably full or bloated feeling sick belching or passing wind (flatulence) bringing up food or fluid from your s
What causes indigestion?
Indigestion is usually related to eating. When you eat, your stomach produces acid. The acid can sometimes irritate your stomach lining, the top part of the bowel, or the oesophagus. This irritation
When to see your GP
There's usually no need to seek medical advice for indigestionas it's often mild and infrequent and specialist treatment isn't required. However, you should see your GP if you have recurring indigest
Further investigations
Depending on your symptoms, your GP may want to investigate further. This is because indigestion can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacte
Treating indigestion
Treatment for indigestion will vary depending on what's causingit and how severe your symptoms are. Most people are able to manage their indigestion by making simple diet and lifestyle changes, or ta
Complications of indigestion
In some cases, severe indigestion can cause complications. Oesophageal stricture If the lining of the oesophagus is severely irritated over time by acid reflux, the oesophagus may become scarred. T
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