General Information

• There are multiple causes of upper abdominal pain.
• Gastritis and peptic ulcer disease are common and typically cause pain in the upper abdomen (epigastrium), sometimes accompanied by vomiting.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes a burning pain that radiates into chest. Lying down aggravates symptoms. May get a sour or bitter taste in mouth.
• Abdominal pain in the elderly carries with it a higher risk of serious illness.

A Warning about "Indigestion": Some individuals can have a heart attack and just think that it is "indigestion". You should especially consider the possibility of a heart attack if you are over 40 years old or if you have any cardiac risk factors. Cardiac risk factors include: diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, and a family history of heart attack at an age of less than 60.