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Recognizing indigestion

Q: How can I tell if my abdominal pain is appendicitis or indigestion? A: For some, a pain in the abdomen is often indigestion. For others, it might mean a trip to the ER. There are several organs in the abdomen. Irritation, inflammation, or infection of any of them can irritate the surrounding nerves. Telling the difference between indigestion and a more serious problem is not always easy.

Q: How can I tell if my abdominal pain is appendicitis or indigestion?

A: For some, a pain in the abdomen is often indigestion. For others, it might mean a trip to the ER. There are several organs in the abdomen. Irritation, inflammation, or infection of any of them can irritate the surrounding nerves. Telling the difference between indigestion and a more serious problem is not always easy.

The symptoms of indigestion include:

- Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen

- Abdominal pain

- Bloating

- Belching and gas

- Nausea and vomiting

- Acidic taste

Indigestion generally passes with time and rest. In appendicitis, a bacterial infection causes your appendix to become inflamed, swollen, and filled with pus. It causes pain in the right side or right lower abdomen, but sometimes elsewhere in the abdomen. You stand about a 1 in 14 chance of getting appendicitis in your lifetime.

Warning signs can be vague, often beginning as a slight discomfort around the belly button, but progressing to a severe, sharp pain in the lower right abdomen. Other symptoms include a loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, constipation, and a low-grade fever. If not treated promptly, the appendix can rupture. If you have these symptoms, get to an ER immediately. To help diagnose appendicitis, your doctor will likely take a history of your symptoms and perform a thorough physical examination of your abdomen. Blood work and advanced imaging may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

The most important rule of thumb is that if you think it's an emergency, it is. When in doubt, call your health care provider or 911 immediately. Too often, warning signs are missed because people don't take their symptoms seriously or act too late.