Warning signs include loss of weight, nighttime awakening, blood in the stool or the material that is vomited (vomitus), and signs of inflammation, such as fever or abdominal tenderness. Testing also is appropriate if, in addition to symptoms of dyspepsia, other prominent symptoms are not commonly associated with dyspepsia.

Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. Swallowing difficulties fall into two general categories: oropharyngeal and esophageal. In oropharyngeal dysphagia, it’s challenging to move chewed food toward the back of your throat so you can swallow it. In esophageal dysphagia, it feels like something is stuck in your throat when you swallow. You also may feel like food gets stuck in your chest on its way down.

Symptoms of functional dyspepsia include postprandial fullness, early satiety, and epigastric pain or burning. Functional dyspepsia is a diagnosis of exclusion; therefore, evaluation for a more serious disease such as an upper gastrointestinal malignancy is warranted.

Indigestion — also called dyspepsia or an upset stomach — is discomfort in your upper abdomen. Indigestion describes certain symptoms, such as belly pain and a feeling of fullness soon after you start eating, rather than a specific disease. Indigestion can also be a symptom of other digestive disorders.