Indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are both conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. While they share a few of the same symptoms, they are different conditions that require different treatments. Indigestion causes temporary upper abdominal symptoms, and it can be triggered by certain foods and a person’s diet. IBS, on the other hand, typically has lower abdominal symptoms and is long lasting as a chronic condition.
Michael Schwartz, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist with the Atlantic Medical Group, explains other specific differences. “Usually IBS has lower GI symptoms more involved with bowel movements and cramping. Indigestion is upper GI more related to reflux, although both might present with similar symptoms, mainly bloating and a sense of fullness,” he says. “Some patients think they just have indigestion, but it turns out to be IBS or something more serious because many people have an overlap of symptoms.”
What is indigestion?
The medical term for indigestion is dyspepsia. It’s discomfort or pain as your stomach digests food after eating. Burning and pain in the upper abdomen after you eat indicates a problem with the digestive process, usually caused by stomach acid. But it doesn’t mean anything serious is wrong — perhaps you just ate too much or too fast.
“Processed foods can trigger symptoms, and people are getting less natural fiber in their diets. People who get frequent indigestion should avoid alcohol, tobacco and eating late at night. Don’t eat within two hours of bedtime,” Dr. Schwartz advises.
Symptoms of indigestion
Symptoms of indigestion include:
- a burning sensation in your chest from heartburn or acid reflux
- burping or passing gas
- fullness or bloating that comes quickly and may last long after you eat
- nausea, perhaps occasionally regurgitating food
- pain in your stomach or abdomen
As long as you’re being monitored by a doctor and getting periodic blood work, he says, it’s fine to take antacids on a regular basis. But the goal should be prevention.
“If you can be smart about what you’re eating, how much you’re eating and how fast you’re eating, you can actually prevent dyspepsia symptoms,” Dr. Schwartz explains.
What is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome causes recurrent and painful GI episodes. How bad and how often symptoms occur varies for each patient. But for all patients, IBS creates mixed signals to the brain after repeated changes in bowel habits.
“IBS is a disorder between the mind and the gut. Even if we can’t discover the true cause for a patient, we know that there is a mismatch between what’s occurring in the bowel and what’s occurring in the mind,” says Dr. Schwartz. “For IBS, it’s all about symptom management. We can’t cure IBS, so care is more about treating symptoms and improving the patient’s quality of life.”
Unfortunately, IBS is a lifelong condition. The good news is that there are treatments for IBS depending on the symptoms. “If you have constipation or diarrhea, it’s treated differently,” he says.
Symptoms of IBS
Symptoms of IBS may include:
- bowel changes such as diarrhea, constipation or both
- changes in the consistency of your stools
- excessive gas
- fatigue and possible back pain
- frequent pain in your abdomen and bowels, usually just before or after a bowel movement
- heartburn and indigestion
- near-constant bloated feeling
When to seek treatment
It’s normal for most people to have indigestion on occasion. But if your stomach aches every day, you should speak with your doctor or schedule an appointment with a gastroenterologist. If your symptoms interfere with your daily activities, you could have a more serious condition such as gastrointestinal disease. In fact, sometimes heart attack symptoms feel a lot like indigestion.
“I recommend patients see a doctor if you have sudden weight loss, a change in bowel habits or worsening of your underlying symptoms,” Dr. Schwartz says.
For indigestion, seek urgent medical care right away if you:
- have trouble swallowing
- are vomiting
Symptoms of IBS that require urgent medical attention include:
- blood in the school
- a change in the shape of your stools
Don’t suffer in silence
“To prevent indigestion, people can make lifestyle modifications by changing their diet,” Dr. Schwartz says. “And for IBS, there are treatments to manage the symptoms. People don’t just have to live with it,” he says.
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