Indigestion vs. Gastric Ulcer: How to Recognise the Difference

What is Indigestion? (The “Everyday” Problem)

To understand the difference, we first need to clarify the meaning. Medically known as dyspepsia, indigestion is not actually a disease itself. Instead, it is a collection of symptoms that happen when your body struggles to break down food.

It is usually a sign that your stomach acid is irritating the protective lining of your digestive system (the mucosa) or that your stomach is stretching too much after a large meal.

Common Causes of Indigestion:

• Eating too fast: Swallowing air along with your food causes bloating.
• Trigger foods: Spicy curries, fatty foods, chocolate, and caffeine are notorious culprits.
• Lifestyle: Smoking, alcohol, and high stress levels increase acid production.
• Medications: Some painkillers (like ibuprofen) can irritate the stomach lining.
• The Feeling: Indigestion usually feels like an uncomfortable fullness. You might feel “stuffed” even if you haven’t eaten much. There is often a burning sensation in the upper abdomen (heartburn) and occasionally nausea.The key thing to remember is that simple indigestion usually resolves itself within a few hours or after taking an over-the-counter antacid.

What is a Gastric Ulcer? (The “Serious” Condition)

A gastric ulcer (also called a stomach ulcer) is different. It is not just irritation; it is actual damage.

Imagine a small, open sore or a raw patch on the inside of your stomach lining. That is an ulcer. Your stomach contains strong acids to digest food. To protect itself, the stomach is coated with a thick layer of mucus. If that mucus layer breaks down, the acid eats away at the stomach lining, creating a painful sore.

What Causes Ulcers?

Unlike common belief, stress and spicy food do not directly cause ulcers (though they make them worse). The two main causes are:

• H. pylori Bacteria: A common bacterial infection that damages the stomach lining.
• NSAIDs: Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like aspirin or ibuprofen) for pain relief.

Gastric Ulcer Symptoms to Watch For:

• A gnawing or burning pain in the middle of your stomach.
• Pain that may disappear for a few days and then return.
• Anaemia (feeling tired and pale).
• Dark, tarry stools (a sign of internal bleeding).

Ulcer and Indigestion: The Showdown (How to Tell Them Apart)

Since both conditions involve burning stomach pain, how do you know which one you have? While a proper diagnosis requires a doctor, here are a few clues that can help you differentiate between an ulcer and indigestion.

1. The Timing of the Pain

• Indigestion: The pain usually hits during or immediately after a meal. It is a direct reaction to what you just ate.
• Ulcer: The pain pattern is more complex.
• Gastric Ulcers: often hurt shortly after eating because the food stimulates acid production, which hits the sore spot.
• Duodenal Ulcers: (ulcers in the upper intestine) often hurt 2 to 3 hours after eating or in the middle of the night when the stomach is empty. Eating sometimes relieves this pain temporarily.

2. The Type of Pain

• Indigestion: Feels like heat, burning, or an inflated balloon in your upper belly. It often travels up towards the chest (heartburn).
• Ulcer: Often described as a “gnawing,” “dull,” or “aching” pain. It feels like something is eating away at your stomach. The pain is usually localised to a specific spot rather than a general burning sensation.

3. Response to Antacids

• Indigestion: Taking a standard antacid usually brings quick, significant relief.
• Ulcer: Antacids might provide brief relief (by neutralising the acid for a moment), but the pain usually returns quickly because the sore is still there.

4. Other Physical Signs

• Indigestion: lots of burping and gas.
• Ulcer: You might lose your appetite completely. Unexplained weight loss is a classic sign of an ulcer, whereas indigestion rarely affects your weight.

Treating the Problem: What Are Your Options?

The approach to healing depends entirely on the diagnosis.

Indigestion Treatment

If your issue is simple dyspepsia, you can usually manage it at home:

• Eat smaller meals: Do not overload your stomach.
• Slow down: Chew your food thoroughly.
• Don’t lie down after eating: Wait at least 3 hours before going to bed.
• Identify triggers: If spicy food hurts, cut it out for a while.

Ulcer Treatment

You cannot treat an ulcer solely with lifestyle changes. It is a wound that needs medical intervention including:

• Antibiotics: The ulcer can be caused by H. pylori bacteria; your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear the infection.
• Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): These are medicines that reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces, giving the ulcer time to heal naturally.
• Stopping NSAIDs: If painkillers are the cause, your doctor will switch you to a stomach-friendly alternative.

When to Visit a Top Gastroenterologist at Eskag Sanjeevani Hospitals?

Stomach pain should not be a daily part of your life. If you have been popping antacids like sweets for more than two weeks, you need to see a specialist.

Seek immediate help if:

• You are vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
• Your stools are black, sticky, or bloody.
• You have sudden, sharp, severe abdominal pain that doesn’t go away.
• You are losing weight without trying.

Why We Are the Best Gastro Hospital in Kolkata?

At Eskag Sanjeevani Hospitals, we understand that stomach issues can be miserable and embarrassing. We offer a discreet, professional, and high-tech environment to get to the bottom of your pain.

If you are looking for a ‘gastroenterologist near me‘, our team includes some of Kolkata’s most experienced gastroenterologists. They use advanced endoscopy—a quick, minimally invasive procedure. This allows our doctors to see your stomach lining clearly.

• If it is just redness, we diagnose gastritis or indigestion.
• If we see a sore, we diagnose an ulcer.
• We can even take a tiny biopsy during the same procedure to check for bacteria.

With affordable ulcer treatment packages and state-of-the-art diagnostic labs, Eskag Sanjeevani is dedicated to restoring your digestive health so you can enjoy your meals without fear.