Chronic Indigestion? Why Your Stomach Is Burning — And What to Do Next

If you're dealing with chronic indigestion and a burning feeling in your stomach, you're not alone. Millions of people experience persistent upper abdominal discomfort, bloating, nausea, or a fiery sensation that just won't go away. While occasional indigestion after a heavy meal is common, symptoms that linger or keep coming back deserve attention.

Here's what may be happening inside your body — and the smart, medical next steps to take.

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What Is Indigestion?

Indigestion (also called dyspepsia) isn't a disease itself. It's a group of symptoms that include:

• Burning or pain in the upper abdomen
• Feeling overly full during or after eating
• Bloating
• Excess gas
• Nausea
• Burping
• Mild heartburn

Occasional indigestion is usually triggered by:

• Large or fatty meals
• Spicy foods
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Eating too quickly
• Stress

But chronic indigestion — symptoms lasting weeks or months — may signal an underlying medical issue.

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Why Is Your Stomach Burning?

A burning stomach sensation typically means the lining of your stomach or upper digestive tract is irritated. Several conditions can cause this.

1. Gastritis (Stomach Lining Inflammation)

Gastritis occurs when the protective lining of the stomach becomes inflamed. Common causes include:

• Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria
• Frequent use of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
• Heavy alcohol use
• Severe stress or illness
• Autoimmune conditions

Symptoms may include:

• Burning or gnawing stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling full quickly

If your indigestion feels like persistent burning in the upper middle abdomen, Gastritis is a possibility worth exploring through a quick, free symptom assessment.

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2. Acid Reflux or GERD

If stomach acid flows back into your esophagus, it can cause:

• Burning in the chest (heartburn)
• Sour taste in the mouth
• Chronic cough
• Hoarseness

Sometimes reflux feels like upper stomach burning rather than chest discomfort.

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3. Peptic Ulcers

Ulcers are open sores in the stomach or upper small intestine. They are often caused by:

• H. pylori infection
• Long-term NSAID use

Ulcer pain is often described as:

• Burning or gnawing pain
• Pain that improves or worsens with food
• Nighttime discomfort

Untreated ulcers can lead to bleeding, so persistent symptoms should not be ignored.

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4. Functional Dyspepsia

In many cases, testing shows no visible damage — yet symptoms continue. This is called functional dyspepsia.

It may be related to:

• Increased stomach sensitivity
• Delayed stomach emptying
• Stress or anxiety

While not dangerous, it can significantly affect quality of life.

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When Is Chronic Indigestion Serious?

Most indigestion is not life-threatening. However, you should speak to a doctor promptly if you have:

• Unintentional weight loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Vomiting blood
• Black or tarry stools
• Persistent vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain
• Anemia
• Symptoms beginning after age 55–60

These can signal bleeding, ulcers, or in rare cases, cancer.

Do not ignore these warning signs.

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Medical Next Steps: What Doctors Usually Do

If indigestion lasts more than a few weeks or keeps returning, a medical evaluation is appropriate.

1. Review of Medications

Your doctor may ask about:

• NSAIDs
• Aspirin
• Steroids
• Supplements

Some medications irritate the stomach lining.

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2. Testing for H. pylori

A simple breath, blood, or stool test can check for H. pylori infection. If positive, antibiotics are prescribed.

Treating this infection often resolves chronic indigestion.

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3. Acid Suppression Therapy

Doctors may recommend a trial of acid-reducing medications such as:

• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
• H2 blockers

These reduce stomach acid and allow healing.

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4. Endoscopy (If Needed)

If symptoms are severe, persistent, or accompanied by warning signs, an upper endoscopy may be performed.

This test allows doctors to:

• Look for gastritis
• Identify ulcers
• Check for bleeding
• Rule out serious disease

Most people do not need this test unless symptoms are concerning.

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Practical Steps You Can Take Now

While waiting to speak to a healthcare professional, these evidence-based strategies may help reduce indigestion and stomach burning:

Eat Smarter

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals
• Avoid lying down within 2–3 hours after eating
• Reduce fatty, fried, and spicy foods
• Limit caffeine and alcohol
• Chew slowly

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Protect Your Stomach

• Avoid unnecessary NSAIDs
• Take medications with food (if advised)
• Stop smoking

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Reduce Stress

Stress doesn't cause ulcers directly in most cases, but it can worsen indigestion symptoms.

Helpful strategies:

• Regular exercise
• Breathing exercises
• Adequate sleep
• Mindfulness or relaxation techniques

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Maintain a Healthy Weight

Excess abdominal weight increases pressure on the stomach, worsening reflux and indigestion.

Even modest weight loss can reduce symptoms.

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How Long Should You Wait?

If your indigestion:

• Happens occasionally and improves with lifestyle changes — monitor it.
• Persists for more than 2–4 weeks — schedule a medical appointment.
• Comes with red-flag symptoms — seek care immediately.

Chronic symptoms should never simply be tolerated.

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The Role of Gastritis in Chronic Indigestion

Gastritis is one of the most common causes of long-term stomach burning. Left untreated, chronic inflammation may lead to:

• Ulcers
• Bleeding
• Anemia
• Increased risk of stomach cancer (in certain long-standing cases, especially with untreated H. pylori)

This is not meant to alarm you — but it highlights why persistent indigestion deserves evaluation rather than guesswork.

If your symptoms include burning pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, or feeling full quickly, you can use a free AI-powered Gastritis symptom checker to help identify whether your symptoms align with this condition and learn what steps to take next.

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Bottom Line: Don't Ignore Ongoing Indigestion

Chronic indigestion and stomach burning are common, but they are not something you should simply live with.

Most causes are treatable. Many improve quickly once the underlying issue — such as H. pylori infection, acid overproduction, medication irritation, or gastritis — is addressed.

At the same time, persistent digestive symptoms can occasionally signal something more serious. That's why it's important to:

• Monitor your symptoms
• Avoid self-diagnosing long term
• Speak to a doctor if symptoms persist, worsen, or include warning signs

If you experience severe pain, vomiting blood, black stools, chest pain, or sudden weakness, seek urgent medical care.

Your digestive system is resilient — but it does need attention when symptoms linger. The good news is that with proper evaluation and treatment, most people find real relief from chronic indigestion and that burning stomach sensation.