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Indigestion or Acidity: How to Tell the Difference

Team Niroza3 Nov 20264 min read

In India, we often call it all "acidity". That heavy feeling after a big meal, the burning in your chest, the sour burps. But doctors use a few different words, and knowing them can help you explain things better at your next check-up.

Indigestion is the big umbrella

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) uses "indigestion" for a group of symptoms that often show up after eating:

heartburn, a burning pain in the chest
feeling full or bloated
feeling sick
burping or wind
bringing up food or bitter-tasting fluid

Acid reflux is one common cause

Acid reflux is when stomach acid comes back up towards your throat. It's what most of us mean by "acidity", and its classic symptom is heartburn. So heartburn and reflux sit under the indigestion umbrella.

Interestingly, the NHS says stomach ache or back pain usually isn't indigestion. Pain lower down in your tummy could be something else, like constipation.

Common triggers

coffee, tomatoes, alcohol and chocolate
fatty or spicy food
being overweight
smoking
pregnancy
stress and anxiety
some medicines, like ibuprofen

Easy things that help

Cut down on tea, coffee, cola and alcohol.
Don't eat in the 3 to 4 hours before bed.
Raise your head and shoulders a little when you sleep.
Go easy on rich, spicy or fatty meals.
Don't take ibuprofen or aspirin unless a doctor prescribed it.
Lose some weight if you're overweight.

A pharmacist can suggest antacids or alginates for short-term relief. For more everyday tips, see Acidity After Meals: 8 Everyday Habits.

When to see a doctor

The NHS says to see a doctor if you:

keep getting indigestion
have severe pain
are losing weight without trying
have trouble swallowing
keep being sick
feel a lump in your tummy
see blood in your vomit or poo

Acidity or your heart? Don't guess

Here's one reason not to brush off every chest burn as "gas". The NHS says a heart attack can feel like indigestion, with a burning feeling in the chest and feeling full or bloated.

Get emergency help straight away if chest pain:

feels crushing, squeezing or tight
spreads to your arm, neck or jaw
comes with breathlessness, sweating or feeling sick

Call an ambulance rather than driving yourself to hospital. It's always better to get checked and find out it was only acidity.

How to describe your symptoms to a doctor

A few simple notes can help your doctor work out what's going on. Before your visit, jot down:

What it feels like: burning, fullness, sour burps, nausea or pain.
Where you feel it: chest, upper tummy or lower tummy.
When it happens: after meals, when you lie down, or at night.
What seems to set it off: for example, chai on an empty stomach, fried snacks or a late dinner.
How often: once in a while, or most days.
What eases it: sitting up, an antacid, or nothing at all.
What you take: all your medicines, including painkillers bought from a chemist, and any antacids you've tried.

Take the list with you. It's easy to forget details once you're in the doctor's room.

The short version

Indigestion is a group of symptoms; acid reflux is a common cause.
Big, late, spicy or fatty meals, and coffee, alcohol and smoking are common triggers.
Ongoing symptoms, trouble swallowing or weight loss need a doctor.

What to look for in an Ayurvedic wellness brand in India

Churans and herbal powders have been part of Indian homes for generations. Today you can buy them from many brands, so it pays to read the pack. A good Ayurvedic wellness brand in India should tell you:

Every herb in the mix, ideally with amounts, not just a few names on the front.
How much to take and how often, plus a warning not to take more.
Who should be careful, such as people who are pregnant or on medicines.
Whether it has a laxative herb like senna, so you can use it sensibly.

Be wary of any product that promises to "cure" a gut problem. Under FSSAI rules, health supplement and nutraceutical labels can't make disease claims.

This post is for general information, not medical advice.