Stomach Pain After Eating: Identifying Causes & Solutions

Postprandial ache—aka, a stomachache after you eat—can have a fairly big selection of attainable causes, says Hector Gonzalez, MD, a gastroenterologist with Gastro Health in Plantation, Florida. However you may study quite a bit about what is likely to be happening by taking note of your signs.

To resolve your stomachache (and hopefully, maintain it from coming again), let’s check out among the almost certainly causes. Plus, what you are able to do to appease a bitter abdomen ASAP.

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1. Overeating

It might appear apparent, however generally, the issue is so simple as simply consuming an excessive amount of, Dr. Gonzalez says. Fortunately, it is normally pretty simple to differentiate overeating ache from “there’s-a-problem-with-my-stomach” ache.

“Usually, a stomachache from overeating looks like a basic discomfort or ache in your abdomen as a result of it is overly full,” he explains. Usually, the results of overeating put on off as your physique digests what you ate.

2. Indigestion

Indigestion is abdomen ache attributable to bother breaking down meals, slightly than simply consuming an excessive amount of of it. And it feels just a little completely different, too. “It would embody signs like heartburn, bloating, or nausea and tends to manifest within the higher stomach,” Dr. Gonzalez explains.

Typically indigestion is simply from consuming a particular meals that is more durable to digest (like fatty or fried meals). Different occasions, it is a symptom of an underlying downside like acid reflux disease, a meals intolerance, peptic ulcers, IBS, or gallstones—particularly should you’re getting indigestion quite a bit, notes the Cleveland Clinic.

3. Acid reflux disorder or GERD

Acid reflux disorder occurs when the acid out of your abdomen flows again into your esophagus—i.e., the tube that connects your abdomen to your throat. The end result might be heartburn, higher abdomen ache after consuming, chest ache, or regurgitating meals into your throat or mouth (ew, we all know). And should you get acid reflux disease greater than twice every week, it is referred to as gastroesophageal reflux illness (GERD), per the Mayo Clinic.

Acid reflux disorder normally strikes inside a couple of hours of consuming, particularly after huge or late meals. Frequent culprits like coffee irritate your stomach, however others embody the next, per Johns Hopkins Medicine:

• Spicy meals
• Fried or fatty meals
• Cheese or different dairy merchandise
• Tomato merchandise
• Citrus
• Chocolate
• Peppermint
• Carbonated drinks

4. Meals intolerance or sensitivity

Really feel such as you’re repeatedly getting stomachaches after consuming one sort of meals? You might have a meals intolerance, which occurs when your abdomen has bother breaking down sure components in stated meals. Frequent intolerances embody the next, per the Cleveland Clinic:

• Lactose intolerance (a sugar present in dairy merchandise like milk and ice cream)
• Gluten intolerance (a protein present in wheat, barley, or rye)
• Histamine intolerance (a naturally occurring chemical present in meals like cheese, pineapples, bananas, and chocolate)

Surprisingly, you can even have an avocado intolerance, amongst different meals you would not suppose twice about. These intolerances will typically trigger decrease abdomen ache after consuming and hit shortly after consuming the offending meals. The ache will also be accompanied by the next signs, per the Cleveland Clinic:

• Diarrhea
• Gasoline and bloating
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Complications

Retaining a meals journal may help you slim down which meals are inflicting digestive misery.

5. Celiac illness

Celiac illness is an inflammatory GI dysfunction the place the immune system overreacts to gluten—the protein present in wheat, barley, or rye. An individual with celiac illness will get abdomen ache, diarrhea, bloating, and fuel after consuming meals excessive in gluten. However the situation is completely different (and way more severe) than a gluten intolerance, notes the Mayo Clinic.

Whereas the previous could cause non permanent abdomen discomfort after consuming gluten, the irritation from celiac illness could cause long-term injury to an individual’s GI tract, in addition to result in anemia, fatigue, and weight reduction.

6. Abdomen an infection

Abdomen bugs can run the gamut from a 24-hour flu to extreme infections like these attributable to the micro organism C. difficile or H. pylori. “Within the case of an an infection, abdomen ache typically feels sharp or cramping and might be accompanied by different signs like fever, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea,” and may worsen after you attempt to eat, Dr. Gonzalez says. Intense and long-lasting signs typically level to extreme an infection.

Whereas antibiotics are usually the primary line of therapy for abdomen bugs attributable to micro organism, these attributable to viruses typically simply must run their course.

7. Gastroparesis

Consultants generally discuss with this situation as “delayed gastric emptying,” which may clue you in to what it’s: A dysfunction the place your meals strikes out of your abdomen to your small gut at a slower than regular price, which might be attributable to following situations, in response to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK):

• Unmanaged diabetes
• Underactive thyroid
• Abdomen an infection
• Nervous system issues
• Sure drugs (like narcotics and antidepressants)

One of many basic signs of gastroparesis is getting full after only a few bites of meals, or staying full for longer than regular after consuming. “It typically looks like a boring, aching sensation within the abdomen space. It’s normally accompanied by bloating and nausea,” says Dr. Gonzalez.

8. Ulcer

An ulcer—or a sore on the liner of your abdomen—can pop up after an H. pylori an infection or from long-term use of NSAID ache relievers (like ibuprofen). “The ache usually looks like a burning or gnawing sensation within the center a part of the abdomen,” says Dr. Gonzalez. It might probably additionally hit with nausea, vomiting, bloating, or feeling uncomfortably full after you eat.

For some folks, consuming could make an ulcer ache worse, notes the NIDDK. However it’s extra frequent to really feel an uptick in ache when your abdomen is empty, which quickly eases up if you eat, Dr. Gonzalez says.

9. IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a GI dysfunction that may trigger stomach ache, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. It may be attributable to many issues, from elevated muscle contractions in your intestine to nerve hypersensitivity between your intestine and mind, per the Mayo Clinic. However many individuals with IBS are additionally delicate to FODMAPs—a bunch of carbohydrates that are not well-absorbed by the GI tract, per March 2023 analysis in Frontiers in Medicine¹. This implies, your IBS signs is likely to be triggered by, or made worse, after consuming these meals.

FODMAPs present up in a ton of various meals, together with the next, per Johns Hopkins Medicine:

• Many fruits
• Greens
• Grains
• Nuts
• Dairy merchandise

Most people who find themselves FODMAP-sensitive solely have points with sure FODMAP meals—not all of them. A registered dietitian can information you thru a short lived elimination diet that can assist you pinpoint which meals you could have to keep away from.

10. Crohn’s illness

A sort of inflammatory bowel illness (IBD), Crohn’s illness causes power irritation of the GI tract, resulting in stomach ache, diarrhea, weight reduction, anemia, and fatigue. “The abdomen ache typically looks like cramping or aching and might be worse after consuming,” says Dr. Gonzalez. That is notably true should you’re feeling a symptom flare and also you eat meals that set off your signs, which may embody the next, per the Cleveland Clinic:

• Entire grains
• Beans
• Fibrous fruits and veggies
• Nuts and seeds
• Alcohol
• Caffeine

Therapy for Crohn’s is normally a mixture of medicines like immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, and anti-inflammatories. Your physician might also prescribe antibiotics in the event that they discover an an infection in your intestine, or loperamide (Imodium) to assist cease up diarrhea at house. And in extreme circumstances, you could want surgical procedure to assist ease your signs, per the NIDDK.

11. Different situations

Consuming can probably worsen signs attributable to different digestive issues, too, together with the next, per Dr. Gonzalez:

• Appendicitis
• Gallstones or gallbladder illness
• Pancreatitis
• Liver illness
• Ulcerative colitis (a sort of IBD)
• GI cancers, in uncommon circumstances

What the placement of your abdomen ache means

Typically the place you are feeling discomfort can clue you in to what sort of abdomen downside you are coping with. Here is what sure areas might imply, per Dr. Gonzalez:

• Ache in your higher stomach: This typically factors to an issue in your abdomen, small gut, gallbladder, liver, or pancreas.
• Ache under your stomach button: This might need one thing to do along with your appendix, colon, or bladder.

When you’re not sure about what the placement of your ache means, attain out to your physician.

Easy methods to deal with abdomen ache after consuming

Getting a deal with in your abdomen ache (so it does not come again) begins with addressing the underlying trigger, Dr. Gonzalez factors out. Managing ache attributable to a sure meals, as an illustration, would require limiting or avoiding the meals, whilst you may want meds for different situations like gastritis—aka, abdomen irritation—or Crohn’s illness.

That stated, there are steps you may take to appease your abdomen within the meantime. Some choices to contemplate embody the next:

Take over-the-counter meds

When you’re coping with fuel, bloating, or abdomen ache after consuming an excessive amount of, attempt over-the-counter (OTC) meds, recommends Dr. Gonzalez. Issues like Gas-X can break up fuel bubbles in your GI tract. And should you’ve obtained acid reflux disease, an antacid like TUMS or Rolaids can neutralize the acid in your abdomen. And in case you have decrease GI points like ache, cramping, or diarrhea? Go together with Pepto Bismol, which has anti-inflammatory compounds to calm your intestine.

Sip on natural tea

Ginger has been proven to assist ease nausea, cramping, stomach ache, bloating, and fuel, concluded a January 2019 overview in Food Science & Nutrition. That is why lots of people sip on ginger tea after they’ve eaten. You possibly can attempt to steep slices of contemporary, peeled ginger root in sizzling water, or purchase ginger tea baggage—we like Yogi Ginger Tea.

Peppermint tea is one other stable choose. Peppermint has been proven to be extremely efficient for lowering stomach ache and bloating, in response to a January 2019 overview in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies³. Steep contemporary mint leaves in sizzling water to brew your personal peppermint tea, or attempt Traditional Medicinals Peppermint Tea.

Attempt diaphragmatic respiration

Taking gradual, deep stomach breaths places mild stress in your GI tract, which may help get issues transferring alongside and launch trapped fuel, explains Wendi LeBrett, MD, a gastroenterologist based mostly in Los Angeles, California.

The Cleveland Clinic recommends attempting diaphragmatic respiration whereas mendacity down along with your knees bent. Here is learn how to do it:

• Place one hand in your higher chest and the opposite under your ribcage, so you may really feel your breath transfer out and in.
• Breathe in slowly by your nostril for a number of counts, permitting your diaphragm to fill with air. (The hand in your abdomen ought to rise.)
• Tighten your abdomen muscle tissue to power the air out of your diaphragm. It is best to see the hand in your abdomen begin to fall.
• Repeat for 5 to 10 minutes.

Begin strolling

Shifting your physique can even transfer issues alongside in your GI tract, so a post-meal stroll is an efficient alternative should you’re uncomfortable from consuming an excessive amount of, says Dr. LeBrett. Walking after eating may additionally assist with heartburn prevention, discovered a January 2017 research in Digestion.

It’s attainable to forestall abdomen ache after consuming?

It might be attainable to forestall abdomen ache after consuming should you make a couple of life-style changes. Dr. Gonzalez’s high ideas embody the next:

• Eat smaller, extra frequent meals to keep away from getting uncomfortably full
• Attempt to restrict or keep away from meals that appear to set off discomfort
• Eat slowly and chew your meals completely, to assist help wholesome digestion

And should you are likely to get heartburn at evening after consuming, attempt to keep away from consuming inside 3 or 4 hours of going to mattress. It’s also possible to use a second pillow to prop your head up whereas mendacity down, too. Staying on an incline makes it tougher for acidic contents in your abdomen to stream again up into your esophagus, Dr. LeBrett says.

When to see a physician

When you ceaselessly get abdomen ache an hour after consuming (or longer), you need to let your physician know. This might sign an underlying well being situation that must be checked out, Dr. Gonzalez says. It is also finest to hunt medical look after different signs of bad gut health, like the next:

• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Bother swallowing
• Black or bloody stools
• Unintentional weight reduction
• Intense fatigue, which might be an indication of anemia

FAQ

How do I do know if my abdomen ache is severe?

Abdomen ache attributable to a severe underlying concern (like an an infection or a power situation) normally causes extreme, persistent signs. It is fairly typical to really feel just a little stuffed and uncomfortable after sharpening off sure meals (cheeseburger and fries, anybody?). However it’s not regular to have ache different signs after most of your meals. If that is taking place to you, it is necessary to achieve out to your physician to determine the underlying trigger.

What can I drink after a meal to assist digestion?

Attempt ginger or peppermint tea, suggests Dr. LeBrett. Each have properties that chill out the muscle tissue of the GI tract, which may help velocity up digestion, or launch trapped fuel that is making you bloated. Some folks additionally take pleasure in prebiotic soda or simply consuming a plain ol’ glass of H2O to assist transfer their bowels alongside.