Saturday, April 20, 2024

Why Does Your Stomach Hurt After You Eat

Drink Plenty Of Fluids And Rest

Why Do You Have Stomach Pain After Eating ?

With stomach pains after eating resulting from food poisoning, rest and drinking plenty of fluids are key treatments. This allows the body to flush out the toxins that have gathered in the gut.

Maintaining hydration with water is important at any time, but it is recommended to wait at least an hour before drinking water after meals if too much food has been consumed in one sitting.

Avoiding Fructose In Fruits

If you have hereditary fructose intolerance, you’re likely already aware of it. In addition, you probably avoid fruits anyway, as people with the condition typically develop a distaste for fruits, fruit juices and other fructose-containing foods, according to Genetics Home Reference.

If you have the milder, non-hereditary fructose intolerance, your ability to include fruit in your diet will depend on a few factors:

  • Your individual level of sensitivity
  • The types of fruits you eat
  • The other foods or lack of consumed with fruit

Not all people will react to fructose in the same way. You may be able to tolerate only a small amount, while another individual with the condition might tolerate a larger dose. It takes some experimentation to determine how much fruit, if any, can be a part of your diet.

Some fruits contain more fructose than others. According to the University of Virginia Health System , fruits that are particularly high in fructose include:

  • Apples
  • Rhubarb
  • Strawberries

These fruits contain more glucose, another sugar found in fruit that helps provide energy. For example, a mango and a banana have the same amount of fructose, but the banana contains more glucose, therefore it causes fewer digestive problems.

UVA recommends avoiding any fruits that are not listed above. In addition, you will also likely need to avoid dried fruits, fruit juices, juice concentrates, syrups made from fruits, fruit juices, jams and jellies and canned fruit in heavy syrup.

How Do Doctors Find The Cause Of A Stomachache

To find the cause of a stomachache, doctors ask about:

  • your symptoms
  • illnesses you’ve had in the past
  • health conditions that other family members have

Be honest with your doctor, even if a symptom seems embarrassing.

The doctor will do an exam and sometimes might order tests, such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or blood test. It all depends on what the doctor thinks is causing the problem.

Don’t Miss: What Causes Hernia In Stomach

How To Get Rid Of A Stomach Ache After Eating

Have you ever eaten so much that your stomach aches? Or, maybe youâve eaten something specific that causes tummy troubles. Weâve all been there. For the most part, your stomach hurting after overeating is pretty normal and will pass with time. But, if you need to get rid of an upset stomach that just wonât be calmed, weâve got you covered.

/6reasons Your Stomach May Hurt After Eating

Why do you have stomach pain after eating?

In most cases, the stomach growls and hurts when a person is ravenously hungry. This ache in the belly is normal and disappears after eating the meal. But for some, it is just the opposite. Their stomach starts to hurt after eating. Occasional stomach ache after having a plate full of the meal is normal. It becomes a matter of concern only if it turns out to be a daily thing. Severe and frequent stomach pain can be an indication of an underlying health concern and may require immediate medical attention. Here are five reasons your stomach may hurt after eating.

You May Like: How To Debloat Your Stomach

Which Foods Cause Stomach Bloating After Eating

All types of foods can be triggers for bloating, including carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. For some people, having a food intolerance can also increase the risk of bloating. The most common triggers include apples, dairy products, beans, cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage, lettuce, onion, peaches, and pears. Artificial sweeteners, like those found in diet sodas, can also be a cause of bloating. Many people cannot digest these sweeteners, resulting in an unusual amount of gas.

Switching to a whole grain diet has been known to cause bloating, as the amount of fiber intake is significantly increased after switching to whole grains and fiber is an indigestible carbohydrate. If you plan to switch to a whole grain diet, make sure to do so slowly and drink plenty of water.

Salt is another well-known culprit of bloating. When people talk about losing water weight, what they are referring to is the bodys natural tendency to decrease water retention when salt intake is reduced. Avoiding foods with high salt content can prevent water retention and the bloated feeling associated with it.

Dairy intolerance is the most common cause of bloating. Nearly 10 percent of adults suffer from some form of dairy intolerance. While calcium is a required nutrient for the bodys health and well-being, it can be sourced from other foods besides those containing lactose. There are also many lactose-free alternative dairy options.

Why Does My Stomach Hurt Common Causes And When To See A Doctor

Stomach pain has a number of potential causes, and it can also be a symptom of certain conditions.

Stomach pain is no fun. There’s never a convenient time to be bowled over with cramps, and some symptoms — like gas or noisy rumblings — can make you want to run and hide immediately.

The only thing worse than an upset stomach is not knowing exactly what caused it. Were those leftovers expired after all? Or do you perhaps have a food sensitivity or a GI condition?

Based on your symptoms and how frequently you experience them, you can nail down the most likely culprit behind your stomach pain — which means you can treat and manage it more wisely. Below, we go over the most common reasons that your stomach hurts and what to do, including when it’s time to call the doctor.

Our Health & Wellness newsletter puts the best products, updates and advice in your inbox.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Stomach Fat Quick

Fiber And Acid Reflux

Stomach pain after eating fruit is most commonly related to fructose malabsorption however, there are other possible explanations. Fruits are rich sources of dietary fiber, which comes from the cell walls of plant foods. Your body can’t digest dietary fiber, so it moves through the digestive system mainly intact.

Read more: Signs and Symptoms of Too Much Fiber in the Diet

This provides many benefits for your health, including improved bowel function and lower cholesterol. However, for some people, eating too much fiber at once can cause digestive problems, potentially including stomach cramps after eating fruit. Fruits that are particularly high in fiber include raspberries, pears, apples and bananas.

How much fruit do you typically eat in one sitting? Eating a lot of fruit at one time especially high-fiber fruits can cause you to get too much fiber which, according to Duke University Student Health, can cause bloating, constipation, gas, abdominal cramping and diarrhea.

Read more:The 10 Worst Foods for Acid Reflux

Some fruits may also contribute to acid reflux or gastrointestinal reflux disease . In both cases, the stomach’s contents back up into the esophagus and cause the characteristic burning sensation known as heartburn. It can also cause pain in the upper abdomen. Tomatoes and citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit are common triggers due to their high acidity but other fruits could worsen acid reflux on an individual basis.

Food Allergy Or Intolerance

Why Stomach Pain After Eat Your Meal ( Reasons Your Stomach Hurts & How To Solve It)

Some people may be allergic to certain foods. These can irritate the stomach and may cause pain after eating.

An intolerance is a milder form of an allergy. Both allergies and intolerances can be caused by many different foods.

Common intolerances include gluten, wheat, and lactose.

People can keep a food diary if they think they might have an allergy.

A food diary is a written record of what they have consumed at each meal, including drinks and snacks. They should also include a note of when their stomach hurts.

Keeping a diary can help determine the foods causing an issue. People can then cut this food out of their diet.

You May Like: What Can Calm Stomach Acid

When Should I See My Doctor

In some cases, you should seek urgent medical attention or consult a doctor if you have abdominal pain.

If you have a sudden, severe, incapacitating pain in your abdomen, go immediately to your nearest emergency department or call triple zero and ask for an ambulance.

You should also seek urgent medical attention if you have pain that:

  • is severe and/or getting worse
  • has lasted for several hours or more
  • wakes you from sleep
  • is spreading to your neck, chest or shoulders
  • makes it difficult to swallow

Urgent medical attention is also required if you have abdominal pain accompanied by

  • unexplained weight loss
  • skin that appears yellow

If you are experiencing pain high up in your abdomen that is made worse by exercise it could be angina or a heart attack. If you, or someone near you is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, call triple zero immediately and ask for an ambulance.

If you are pregnant and experiencing abdominal pain, check with your doctor or midwife. Abdominal pains are common in pregnancy, but should always be checked out.

If your abdominal pain does not match the situations above, but it is recurrent or persistent , or it started mild but is worsening, you should still consult a doctor.

Ate Too Much Halloween Candy Upset Stomach 16 Home Remedies To Set You Right

Make sure you have these ingredients on hand before this Halloween. Also, if your children have any food allergies, be sure to check the ingredients of the candy they eat!

If you didnt follow the 12 TIPS TO PREVENT YOUR KIDS FROM EATING TOO MUCH HALLOWEEN CANDY, you may be dealing with Halloween hangover at your house.

Eating too much candy can wreak havoc on your kids digestion, causing nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.

Having some home remedies for an upset stomach can save the day . Many of the ingredients can be found in your kitchen, and if one doesnt work for you, theres a whole list of remedies to try.

Don’t Miss: What Helps Ulcers In Your Stomach

What Is The First Aid For Stomach Pain

2.Treat Symptoms

Provide clear fluids to sip, such as water, broth, or fruit juice diluted with water. Serve bland foods, such as saltine crackers, plain bread, dry toast, rice, gelatin, or applesauce. Avoid spicy or greasy foods and caffeinated or carbonated drinks until 48 hours after all symptoms have gone away.

What Other Symptoms Relate To Abdominal Pain

Stomach Hurt: Why Does My Stomach Hurt?

Pain in the abdomen may be experienced as aching, stabbing, burning, twisting, cramping, dull, or a gnawing pain.

The pain may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, constipation, wind , belching , fever, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, fever, dehydration or loss of appetite

The pain might be steady or it might get stronger. It can be made worse or it can be improved by changes in posture or by coughing.

Describing the pattern and location of your symptoms to a doctor may help them in identifying the cause of your abdominal pain. These causes include:

  • Peptic ulcer The pain is often felt in the upper abdomen, as a knife-like pain which goes through to the back.
  • Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease The pain usually causes a central burning pain that develops just under the breastbone, and may rise upwards. It may be accompanied by belching.
  • Appendicitis The pain usually starts near the navel before moving down to the lower right abdomen when it becomes more constant.
  • Gallstones or gallbladder irritation The pain is felt in the upper right abdomen, back or right shoulder.
  • Lower abdominal pain: Also referred to as lower stomach pain, it is probably coming from your bowel.
  • Period pain This is usually a dull, cramping pain, felt low down, which may radiate through to the back.

Also Check: Does Trintellix Cause Stomach Issues

When To Call A Doctor

Bottom line: If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s time to call a doctor.

  • Bloody diarrhea, stools or vomit
  • Black stools
  • A fever over 102 degrees
  • Signs of severe dehydration, like feeling dizzy or a lack of tears or urine
  • Unintentional weight loss or loss of appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea that lasts for longer than three days

Why Your Stomach Aches After Eating

There are several reasons why your stomach might hurt after eating. If you ate more than usual, it could be hurting because itâs full of too much food. On the other hand, your stomach could feel âoffâ because you ate foods that disagree with it. Spicy, starchy or especially decadent foods can cause stomach discomfort in some people because these foods often lead to bloating or gas to build up inside the stomach.

You May Like: What Causes Too Much Stomach Acid

Stomach Pain After Eating: Causes And Effective Treatments

Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health

Stomach pain after eating can happen for a number of reasons such as indigestion, gas, ulcers, gastritis as well as other conditions. In this article Ill get to the bottom of why many people suffer from stomach ache after eating. Ill also cover natural remedies to help you relieve the post-meal stomach discomfort. However, you should also be aware that in many cases, an abdominal pain should be checked by your doctor, especially stomach ache every time you eat.

What Is Abdominal Pain

Abdominal Pain After Meal | Why does my Stomach Hurt after I eat?

Abdominal pain is discomfort anywhere in your belly from ribs to pelvis. Its often called stomach pain or a stomach ache, although the pain can be coming from any number of internal organs besides your stomach.

A brief episode of pain is called acute, which means ‘of recent onset.’ When you have abdominal pain for three months or longer, its considered a chronic or ongoing problem, although this time period is not exact. For example, acute appendicitis is nearly always an acute condition, in contrast to irritable bowel syndrome, which may result in chronic cramping that can span years or longer.

Abdominal pain comes in many forms, and may range from cramps that come and go to sudden, stabbing pains to constant, dull abdominal aching. Even mild pain can be an early sign of a serious condition, which is why healthcare providers often monitor these patients for changes in their conditions.

Keep in mind that abdominal pain is a subjective symptom that cannot be reliably measured by healthcare professionals. The intensity of the pain is what you say that it is.

You May Like: What To Stop Eating To Lose Stomach Fat

When To Make An Appointment To See Your Doctor

Schedule an appointment to see your doctor if:

  • Your stomach pain doesnt go away within a couple of days.
  • The pain comes back after going away.
  • Symptoms like diarrhea dont go away within a couple of days.
  • Youre urinating more or less often, and/or its painful.
  • You have unintended weight loss.

Know your body, Dr. Kingsley says. If you start having pain that you have not had before and does not go away, you should contact your doctor to be evaluated further.

Bottom line: Trust your gut! Contact your doctor if youre concerned about lingering or unusual stomach pain.

Editor’s Note: This infographic was originally published on June 24, 2014.

Severe Stomach Pain After Eating A Fatty Meal

If you find yourself doubled over after eating a high-fat meal, you may be experiencing a gallbladder attack. “Women are especially prone to gallbladder disease,” says Hardeep Singh, MD, gastroenterologist from St. Joseph Hospital, Orange, CA. “Overweight women in their 40s are at highest risk.” The pain becomes worse after eating, lasts 30 to 60 minutes, and may come and go, becoming more constant and severe over time, says Singh.

Read Also: Why Does My Stomach Hurt When I M On My Period

Is Postprandial Pain Life

Some causes of postprandial pain such as pancreatitis can be very serious and severe. According to a large epidemiologic study from the United States, approximately 15-25% of patients with acute pancreatitis develop severe pancreatitis . Severe pancreatitis can result in fever, hypotension, and organ failure and require monitoring in the intensive care unit. It is important to not ignore symptoms of pain in the upper abdomen and seek medical attention before the condition worsens.

How Is Abdominal Pain Treated

Stomach Hurts After Eating? 10 Possible Causes and Treatments

Treating abdominal pain depends on its cause. Options include:

  • Medications for inflammation, gastroesophageal reflux disease or ulcers.
  • Antibiotics for infection.
  • Changes in personal behavior for abdominal pain caused by certain foods or beverages.
  • Local or spinal injections of numbing agents or corticosteroids by pain management physicians.

In more severe cases like appendicitis and hernia, surgery is necessary.

Also Check: Is Prune Juice Good For Stomach Ulcers

Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth

SIBO happens when theres an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine which causes the stomach to bloat. It can have similar symptoms to food intolerances, candida, or a leaky gut. However, SIBO tends to cause more bloating towards the end of the day. One of the symptoms of SIBO is stomach cramps after eating.

Holistic nutrition consultant, Mary Vance recommends the low FODMAP diet to reduce bloating and relieve the pain that you feel in your stomach. The low FODMAP diet eliminates certain type of foods which break down easily into sugars and continue to feed the bad bacteria in your small intestine. She has more information on the low FODMAP diet here.

Popular Articles
Related news