The Mayo Clinic reports that indigestion is a general term for abdominal discomfort. It typically occurs if you eat too quickly, or consume something that does not agree with your system. Also called dyspepsia, the American Academy of Family Physicians indicates that about one out of four people will experience acid indigestion at some point. Because indigestion is a broad term, and can be a sign of something more serious, it's important to track your symptoms.
Heartburn
Heartburn occurs when acid in the stomach travels up to the neck and throat, according to KidsHealth.org, the publishing arm of the Nemours Foundation. You will typically feel the pain behind the breastbone, and the pain sometimes increases if you're lying down or bent over. Heartburn is a common problem and not usually cause for alarm. Taking an antacid can help neutralize stomach acids. Those who are overweight sometimes have problems with acid indigestion because their abdomen pushes up on the stomach and causes acid to back up into the esophagus. There are also certain foods or beverages that you might notice trigger your heartburn. Eliminating them from your diet may help.
Taste
Acid indigestion may give you the sensation that your food is coming back up, accompanied by an acidic or bitter taste in your mouth, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. Like the other symptoms here, as long as this occurs rarely, or not very frequently, you can try avoiding foods that trigger this effect.
Feeling Full
A sign of indigestion to come could be feeling full before you've finished your meal, or before you've eaten the amount of food you typically eat. If the sensation of feeling full lasts longer than usual and you begin to feel pain, it's likely a sign that you have acid indigestion.
Age
Your age, combined with other factors, can help determine if your abdominal pain is from indigestion or something more serious, such as acid reflux disease or a stomach ulcer. Typical signs of indigestion include feeling full and bloated, or having diarrhea or nausea. But if trouble swallowing, severe vomiting or recent, unplanned weight loss accompanies your symptoms, it could be a sign of something else.
Less Frequent Symptoms
Bloating is the sensation that your stomach is full and nausea is the feeling you have prior to vomiting. If along with these symptoms you notice you're passing black stools, or you have yellowish skin and eyes, the Mayo Clinic suggests calling your doctor.
