If you experience indigestion when you drink coffee, you may be drinking too much of it or you may have an underlying medical condition. Coffee is an acidic beverage that could lead to indigestion as a normal side effect or as a result of gastroesophageal reflux disease, also called GERD. Your symptoms shouldn't last more than a few hours. If your symptoms continue for more than a day or they continue to get worse, call your doctor. Coffee contains caffeine, a naturally occurring stimulant drug that could cause negative side effects when consumed in excess or ingested with certain medications.
Indigestion Definition
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, indigestion is common among adults and may occur on a daily basis. Most healthy adults experience indigestion on occasion, especially after overeating, eating spicy foods or foods that are highly acidic. Indigestion is the feeling of fullness as you eat a meal, burning or pain that occurs in the upper portion of your abdomen. In some cases indigestion may cause bloating, gas and stomach pain. If you develop indigestion every time you drink coffee, you most likely have another medical condition causing the symptom.
Normal Side Effects
Because coffee contains a lot of caffeine, you may develop indigestion as a normal side effect. Caffeine is a drug that affects your central nervous system and cofee contains acid. If you drink too much caffeine you can develop heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhea, belching, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, irritability and sleeplessness, according to MayoClinic.com. Cut your daily coffee consumption in half to see if that helps reduce your symptoms. Some people are more sensitive than others to the acid and caffeine content of coffee and may need to avoid the beverage.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a digestive condition that causes certain stomach fluids to backwash into your esophagus. The main symptoms of GERD include burning in your throat, heartburn and nausea, according to PubMed Health. Certain foods can trigger GERD symptoms, such as drinking coffee or fruit juices and eating chocolate. GERD may be treated with over-the-counter antacids and other medications. Talk with your doctor before using any medication to treat a medical condition.
Warning
If you develop other symptoms, such as a headache, severe stomach pain and chest tightness, call your doctor. It's possible that you are intolerant or allergic to one or more of the ingredients in your coffee, such as dairy, nut oils or gluten, which are commonly found in flavored coffees.
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