Complications of Indigestion

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The treatment options described are usually sufficient to sort out the problem. In some cases, however, there may be additional symptoms that suggest indigestion could be caused by a more serious condition. You may need further tests if you:

have blood in your faeces (blood can turn your faeces black),
vomit blood,
lose weight very quickly without trying to,
feel generally unwell,
have difficulty swallowing,
vomit persistently,
develop anaemia (not having enough red blood cells), which can cause tiredness, dizziness and shortness of breath,
have an abnormality such as a lump in the abdomen,
have any new or severe symptoms that develop, which and may be linked to another organ,
have symptoms that are severe and donâ€™t respond to treatment,
are at risk of stomach cancer â€“ for example - if youâ€™ve had Barrett's oesophagus, dysplasia, atrophic gastritis, or ulcer surgery over 20 years ago.

Further tests may include:

Endoscopy: This is a test in which a thin, bendy viewing tube is passed down your throat and into the stomach. It allows doctors to look more closely at the inside of the stomach to see whatâ€™s causing the problem.
Blood test: This may be carried out to check whether youâ€™re anaemic, which can sometimes happen if you have a bleeding ulcer.
Tests of the gall bladder, liver, pancreas, etc, if the cause of the symptoms is not clear.

Treatment depends on what is found or ruled out by these tests.