Here Are Some Of The Causes Of This Unexplained Stomach Ache After Eating:
1. Gallstones
The gallbladder is a tiny, sack-like organ present close to your liver. It releases the bile pigment in the body which is required for the digestion of fats. Gallstones are small stones which form in the gallbladder. In some cases, they are not fatal and does not cause much trouble. But sometimes, these stones cause swelling and block the duct in the intestine which results in pain. This pain usually begins after a fatty meal.
2. Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is a condition characterized by inflammation in the pancreas. This inflammation can cause a burning sensation in the mid and upper abdomen. Lying down on your stomach can make things worse for you. It may result in nausea, vomiting and dull aches. Drinking too much alcohol can be responsible for it.
3. Food intolerance
4. Food allergy
5. IBS
6. Peptic ulcers
Peptic ulcers develop on the inner lining of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. These are likely to cause a burning sensation in your stomach. The symptoms can be worse if you eat spicy foods.
Vague Upper Abdominal Pain Associated With Nausea And Belching
Sometimes stomach pain is hard to identify or comes with multiple symptoms. Vague pain in the upper and mid-abdominal area that is linked to nausea, burping, or belching could be signs of a heart attack, particularly in older patients. Physicians say tests like an ECG or cardiac markers can be lifesaving. They also warn that vomiting with back or jaw pain and shortness of breath can also be a sign of a life-threatening emergency.
If You Have Chronic Or Frequent Stomach Pain
Chronic indigestion, constipation or gas — that happens on a regular, ongoing basis — can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying condition. A few of the most common digestive conditions are listed below — but remember that only a health care professional can diagnose you, so make sure to consult with your provider if you’re concerned.
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Stress Anxiety And Depression
Having stress, anxiety, or depression can cause abdominal complications. How? Your brain interacts with the rest of your body through the nervous system and can regulate digestion. In an issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter, an article delved into the fact that in stressful situations, the brain triggers a “fight or flight” response that involves slowing down or stopping your digestionall to focus attention on the “threat.” Constant, even less severe stressors can negatively impact the digestive process, causing stomach pain and discomfort.
Unfortunately, this can lead to more stress, anxiety, and depression, thereby perpetuating an unhealthy cycle.
- One leads to the other: When your body is stressed, it releases the “stress hormone” cortisol, which can cause fat gain. This is your body’s way of protecting itself. Conversely, anxiety and depression can shut down your appetite, causing rapid weight loss.
- However, one of the symptoms of both stress and anxiety is reduced blood supply to the stomach. Less blood to the stomach means poor digestion, which results in cramping and bloating.
The immediate cure for these stomach troubles is to eat smaller meals, consume them more slowly, and do your best to relax during meal times.
Stress & Tired Adrenals Impact Digestive Health
Chronic stress raises the adrenal hormone, cortisol, which degrades the gut lining and contributes to leaky gut.
The stress response, also known as fight or flight, is meant to be short-lived. However, people in modern-day society do not get a chance to recover from stress or rebuild their tired adrenals. Yes, it has happened to me too! I shared all about how my body was slowing down while life kept moving. Excess stimulation of the adrenal glands from stress causes blood flow to the digestive tract to decrease. Which means your body cant properly digest food.
Stress causes one to be in sympathetic mode vs. parasympathetic mode the state the body needs to be in to actually digest food. When was the last time you ate in a relaxed state? When was the last time you did not have stress, anxiety, or worries in your life? The majority of us are suffering from poor digestive health ailments due to this one issue alone.
Even drinking too much water can impact your metabolism and adrenal health. Taking steps to improve your metabolic health will improve your digestive health. Also, getting adequate sleep will improve your adrenal health.
For females, imbalanced reproductive hormones, as well as cortisol, can impact digestion. It is all related via the HPA Axis.
Want to learn more?;We have an interview about adrenal health with Lydia Shatney NTP, our former contributing writer Bethany, and myself . Dont miss it!!
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Do You Feel Pain When You Have An Eating Disorder
The past two years have been a period of incredible hardship for me as I stumbled through this eating disorder recovery journey. While I would never wish pain on anyone, it is, unfortunately, universal. Every single one of us will experience pain at some point in our lives. Im still learning to manage the hurt.
Belly Pain In The Lower Left Side That’s Worse When You Move
Abdominal pain in the left lower area of the abdomen may signify diverticulitis, small pockets in the colon that can become obstructed and tear. Traditional treatment includes antibiotics and stool softeners to reduce the risk of abscess formation. Physicians say according to recent research, antibiotics may no longer be needed in this scenario, recommending acetaminophen instead.
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Upper Abdominal Pain Between The Ribcage
If you develop an aching or stabbing pain or pressure in the upper abdominal area just under the ribs, this may indicate a heart-related problem. Physicians say this pain is often accompanied by shortness of breath and is concerning if the pain persists. People often assume this type of pain is indigestion, and while that may be the case, anyone with risk factors such as diabetes or hypertension should see a doctor as soon as possible.
/ Delayed Emptying Of The Stomach
Gastroparesis, or delayed emptying of the stomach, is a chronic condition in which your stomach doesn’t empty in the standard way it’s thought to be a result of nerve damage in the area impacting the way that your stomach muscles work.
It can cause bloating of the stomach, as well as discomfort, nausea and pain. To get diagnosed, you need to head to your GP and potentially have blood tests.
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Is It Stomach Pain Or Abdominal Pain
Some people refer to all abdominal pain as stomach ache or tummy ache. Abdominal pain is any pain that occurs in the area between your chest and your groin.
Your liver, appendix, pancreas and intestines as well as other organs sit in this part of your body. So, conditions affecting any of these organs can cause abdominal pain.
The different conditions that can cause abdominal pain tend to affect specific areas. The 4 locations to consider are:
- upper abdomen
- right side of the abdomen
- left side of the abdomen
Read more about these 4 types of abdominal pain and what you can do about them here.
Parasites Can Bug Your Gut And They Like Eating Too
Parasites are very persistent and can linger for a long time, they can also hide quite well and learn to become resistant to antibiotic treatment. Their presence can further contribute to ill health.
The symptoms of parasites can present like any other digestive problem, such as chronic diarrhea, pain, constipation, bloating, gas, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, abdominal cramping, bloody stools, irritable bowel syndrome and more. They may play a role in some cases of inflammatory bowel disease .
If you have a child that seems to eat non-stop and never get full, parasites could be the culprit. They like to eat whatever youre eating, which is why kicking off a parasite cleanse with a fast is a great idea, but also why your stomach might hurt after you eat. You just fed the little buggers!
The symptoms tend to come and go cyclically due to the life cycle of whatever parasite may be involved. If you see a cyclical pattern of digestive complaints you can suspect parasites. Take heart, a parasite cleanse can rid you of these pesky buggers if you are persistent enough. Note from Katie: Weve got info here on parasites, too.
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Systemic Candida Can Cause Abdominal Pain Too
Did you know that 1/3 of the worlds population is affected by candidiasis?
Candida is a fungal infection and is a type of fungi in the yeast family which is why it is commonly called a yeast infection. Candida is found in most everyone and in small amounts should still allow a person to be in good health. It is a yeast found in our guts and in the vagina as well. Normally, it is controlled by good microbes and causes no complications.
However, candida can grow and get out of hand if one creates the right environment, like after a round of antibiotics or while on the birth control pill. Yeast and fungus slow down a persons oxidation rate or metabolic rate. Candida thrives in an alkaline medium. Slow oxidizers run alkaline and are more susceptible to candida. In order to resolve candida, you must correct the biochemistry.
A key underlying cause of candida is a copper imbalance. Copper is one of the bodys main ways to kill yeast. When copper is unavailable to the body for use, the body cant get rid of the yeasts properly.
If someone has low zinc or a copper imbalance they can;do all the candida diets or cleanses under the sun, but never truly correct the core underlying imbalance with candida in their body. Balancing the bodys biochemistry can correct chronic issues with candida without the need for a specific anti-candida remedy or cleanse. This is a much gentler approach and a better long-term solution.
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Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten that can impact sufferers in different ways. One is stomach pain after you eat gluten, Bedford says. BTW: Your stomach can also hurt if you have a mild gluten intolerance , but this is different from Celiac disease. With Celiac, a person’s small intestine becomes damaged when they eat gluten; with a gluten intolerance, someone may simply have a physical reaction like diarrhea or gas after eating gluten. Your doctor can help you determine what might be at the root of the problem.
If youre struggling with chronic pain after you eat and are also dealing with weight loss, anemia, vomiting, trouble swallowing, or blood in your poop, it could be a sign of an ulcer, Gabbard says. Ulcers, which are sores that develop in the lining of your esophagus, stomach, or small intestine, are usually treated with acid-reducing medication and antibiotics in some cases, so you really need to see a doctor about this.
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How Do Doctors Find The Cause Of A Bellyache
Your doctor will first ask you some questions, examine you, and maybe do some tests. Your doctor may suggest you take some medicine or might give you special instructions for eating to help your body heal the bellyache.
If it turns out that you have appendicitis, you will need an operation called an appendectomy .
If stress is behind your stomach problems, your doctor may recommend a specialist, such as a psychologist. These experts can help kids figure out the source of the stress and help them come up with some ideas for how to fix the problems or handle them better.
How To Treat Stomach Pain From Allergies Or Intolerances
If you have food allergies or intolerances and want to resolve stomach cramps, you’ll need to address the source of the issue: your diet. Schedule an appointment with an allergist to get an accurate diagnosis of your allergy causes.
Once you’ve established your food intolerances, try to avoid that food as much as possible to prevent having stomach cramps and irritating your digestive system.
If you’re not sure whether you have allergies or not to certain foods, keep a food diary to help you get closer to figuring it out.
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You Might Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome
On top of abdominal pains , symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can include excess gas, bloating, diarrhea or constipation , and seeing mucus in your stool, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Its not clear exactly what causes IBS, but there are a few theories. People with IBS may have abnormalities in how their brains and guts interact that lead to digestive problems and pain, the NIDDK explains.
This can manifest in a few different ways. Dr. Chey says that people with IBS may have large intestines that contract more strongly and more frequently when they eat a meal than other peoples, which can then cause abdominal pain and other issues. Another theory is that people with IBS are extra sensitive to the stretch that is normal in the intestines from the breakdown of food products, Dr. Krishnareddy says.
/ Support Your Stomach Bacteria
Certain Lactobacillus species can survive within the stomach and inhibit H.pylori by reducing their ability to bind to the stomach lining, says Barnes. Increasing evidence also strongly indicates that the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gastro-intestinal pain.
Increasing fermented foods, including sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and kombucha, or taking a live bacteria supplement such as Bio-Kult Advanced, which contains 14 different strains, including seven Lactobacillus species, could help to increase the beneficial strains in the stomach, whilst inhibiting the harmful ones.
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How To Have A Balanced Digestive System
The secret to a balanced digestive system with no stomach discomfort, pains, or cramping is simple: Drink a lot of water and eat a nutritious diet high in fiber and good fats but low in saturated fats. If you don’t eat enough fiber or drink enough water, your digestive system cannot function normally.
To avoid discomfort, make sure you eat your daily requirement of fruits and vegetablesat least five a day.
- Drink lots of water.
- Avoid eating large meals. When you are hungry, start with bland, smaller mealstry not to start with spicy dishes.
- Try taking an over-the-counter antacid.
- Place a hot compress over the stomach area.
- Massage your stomach with gentle pressure.
- Avoid greasy, fatty, processed foods.
- Drink herbal tea.
What Causes Stomach Pain After Eating
Last reviewed:;Medically reviewed
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If your tummy hurts after eating, a simple bout of indigestion might be to blame. But there are also times when pain after eating can be a sign of something more serious.
Read on to learn about some of the common causes of stomach ache, abdominal pain or stomach cramps after eating, how to treat and manage the discomfort, and when to see a doctor.
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Stomach Pain After Eating: 21 Causes To Be Clued Up About
Plus, how to nix it
If you regularly grab a bento box on the run, devour a falafel wrap at your desk and munch through your soba noodles at home to the tune of Succession, then you may well be familiar with stomach pain after eating.
But that ‘someone is twisting my intestines’ vibe is not always purely thanks to inhaling your meals. According to nutritional therapist Claire Barnes of Bio-Kult, nasty sensations in your tummy can occur in a number of different scenarios ranging from the simple eaten too much to the serious stomach cancer end of the spectrum.
A Gastroenterologist In North Texas Can Help If You Have Symptoms Of Gastritis
If you are experiencing symptoms of gastritis, it is important to follow up with a specialist right way who can conduct an endoscopy to confirm your diagnosis. Digestive Health Centers can help, and were ready to have a conversation with you about gastritis or any other digestive issues you have. Contact us today for more information.
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Can Broccoli Cause Stomach Pain
The very same fiber that’s so beneficial for your digestive system can also be the cause of a broccoli-induced stomachache think bloating, gas and cramps, Dr. Houghton says. “The fiber can reach the colon and be acted upon by the bacteria in our intestines, giving off gas in the form of methane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide,” he says. If your stomach experiences these unpleasant side effects after eating the green veggie, it could be a broccoli intolerance.
Broccoli also can be the culprit behind a slew of stomach-related symptoms. Not only does the veggie or more specifically, the intestinal bacteria that breaks the fibrous content down cause gas, but that gas can actually be painful, too. Because the gas expands the intestines, its lining and walls become stretched.
“This then activates stretch receptor nerves, which then send a signal to our brains telling us that our intestines are being stretched,” Dr. Houghton says. “We sense this as painful stimuli in our abdomen.”