Sour stomach, which is also known as acid stomach, acid indigestion, or dyspepsia (the terms will be used interchangeably in this article) occurs more often than any other variety of stomach trouble.

The Johns Hopkins University reports that approximately one American in every four suffer some type of stomach acid problem at any given moment. One person in 20 who visited their primary care practitioner in a recent year did so because of sour stomach symptoms.

Symptoms of acid stomach make you feel uncomfortable because your gastrointestinal tract are unable to process the food you've eaten. In fact, the most common causes of symptoms of sour stomach and indigestion are eating too much, eating too fast or eating eating something that's hard to digest. There are a variety of medications can cause stomach acid problem too: aspirin and other NSAIDs, digitalis, corticosteroids, iron, certain antibiotics, theophylline and niacin, among others. Some drugs used for cancer patients can also result in acid stomach or acid indigestion.

Someone with acid stomach or acid indigestion is also likely to experience stomach bloating, burping, belching, gas and pain above the abdomen. Symptoms can be inconvenient and annoying but are typically harmless and temporary.

Sour stomach symptoms could, however, also be an indication of a digestive disorder that requires a consultation with your doctor.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a cause of symptoms of acid stomach that is characterized by upper stomach pain. Peptic ulcer disease, which is the cause of pain in the upper abdomen, is another of the causes of sour stomach problem. Pain from a stomach ulcer can be so extreme that it keeps you from getting sleep at night.

Stomach cancer is another of the causes of symptoms of sour stomach, but it is not typical.

What are the remedies for symptoms of acid indigestion? Well, if you have episodes of stomach acid problems, you can generally get relief by taking antacids and histamine (H2)-blockers. These remedies for acidic stomach can be obtained over-the-counter. Antacids neutralize stomach acid, which in turn reduces inflammation (also known as gastritis). Antacids can provide quick relief of acid stomach and indigestion symptoms. Examples include calcium carbonate (which is found in Tums and several other medications) and magnesium salts (found in Mylanta, among other things).

H2 blockers work by suppressing the secretion of stomach acid, allowing inflamed or irritated tissues an opportunity to get better. H2 blockers include cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid entirely) and ranitidine (Zantac).

When such medications work, there will be no need to visit your doctor. But if sour stomach or acid indigestion are persistent and return repeatedly, it's time to talk with a medical professional.