5 Min
MANAGING INDIGESTION ON THE GO
Providing your customers with fast-acting symptom relief
Indigestion (dyspepsia) describes unpleasant, and sometimes painful, symptoms that present in the upper gastrointestinal tract and stomach.1,2 It is likely to affect almost everyone at some point in their lives and can cause symptoms such as acid reflux and heartburn.2 Indigestion is estimated to occur in about 40% of the population each year.1
Many adult customers will visit the pharmacy seeking advice and treatment for these symptoms. Therefore, it is important to help them choose an appropriate treatment option, particularly when they are actively suffering and need fast-acting, effective relief.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this module, you should be able to:
Understand the difference between indigestion, acid reflux and heartburn
Recognise the signs, symptoms and causes of indigestion
Understand the different ways to treat indigestion and help prevent symptom recurrence
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Terms such as heartburn, indigestion and acid-reflux are often used interchangeably, and customers may not be able to describe their symptoms or use the terms in the correct context. Using the customer scenario below, test your own knowledge on this terminology.
To test your understanding of the different terms used to describe dyspepsia and its common symptoms, fill in the blanks choosing the most appropriate word from those listed below. Each word can only be used ONCE.
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Sophia is pregnant and has just rushed a heavy meal to make her appointment on time. She is now suffering from symptoms of , which has made her feel very full, bloated and nauseous
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In addition, she is starting to feel a burning sensation in her chest, which is commonly known as
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Her pharmacist tells her that this happens when acid travels up the oesophagus, which is also known as and is a common symptom of dyspepsia.
IS IT INDIGESTION?
It is important to recognise the signs and symptoms of indigestion and be able to identify red flags that would require further investigation or escalation.
Click on the tabs below to find out more.
A burning sensation in the middle of the chest (heartburn)
An unpleasant, bitter taste in the mouth caused by stomach acid
Feeling full and bloated
Nausea
Bad breath
Flatulence (passing wind)
Some symptoms can be a sign of something more serious, so it is important to refer customers who:
Keep getting indigestion
Are in severe pain
Have lost a lot of weight unintentionally
Have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Feel like they have a lump in their stomach
Have iron deficiency anaemia
Have persistent or bloody vomit
Are passing black, tarry or bloody stools
Content developed by Bayer working together with CIG Healthcare Partnership.
© 2025 CIG Healthcare Partnership
July 2025