Stomach pain after eating

Gastroenterologists often see patients who complain of stomach pain after eating. Although no significant problems have been found in these people, such complaints deserve a serious medical examination. It is especially important to examine this symptom in older people, because the incidence of stomach cancer increases with age.

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Causes of stomach pain after eating

One of the most poorly understood and unpredictable organs is our stomach. It is the central organ of the digestive system, which is responsible for digesting food. This organ of the digestive system can often react to our bad habits, such as poor quality water, unhealthy food, too much food, etc. However, the stomach still manages to digest all this when it starts to protest. Eventually, this leads to stomach pain after eating. This pain can change its character depending on the cause.

Sometimes a person may feel pain in the stomach after eating. The reasons may be:

• Food intolerance
• Appendicitis
• Gallstones
• Pancreatitis
• Heartburn
• Incorrect food and water intake
• Overeating
• Stomach ulcer

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Food intolerance

This is the most likely cause of stomach pain after eating certain foods. The pain may develop if you have an allergy to some foods. Keeping a food diary is the best way to identify foods that cause such symptoms. Describe in detail in this diary the foods you eat during the day. After a few days, you will be able to determine which product or type of food leads to health problems. Like stomach pain, bloating after eating dairy products usually occurs due to lactose intolerance.

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Food poisoning

Another possible cause of stomach pain after eating may be food poisoning. In this case, you will experience sharp pain in the stomach shortly after eating.

Typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that occur suddenly (within 48 hours) after consuming contaminated food or drink. Depending on the toxins in the food, a person may experience fever and chills, bloody stools, dehydration, and nervous system problems. These symptoms may occur in one person or in a group of people who have eaten the same food.

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Appendicitis

Severe pain in the stomach area and lower right side of the abdomen after eating may be caused by appendicitis. It may also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or a slight fever. Call your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms along with stomach pain after eating.

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Gallstones

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped sac located below the liver in the upper right part of the abdomen. Gallstones form when the bile stored in the gallbladder hardens.

Bile contains water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, proteins, and bilirubin waste. Bilirubin gives bile and stool a yellowish-brown color. If bile contains too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin, it can harden into gallstones.

There are two types of gallstones – cholesterol stones and pigment stones. Cholesterol stones are usually yellow-green and consist mostly of hardened cholesterol. They account for about 80 percent of all gallstones. Pigment stones are small and dark because they are made of bilirubin. Stones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. The gallbladder may contain just one large stone, hundreds of small stones, or a combination of both.

Pain in the stomach after eating in the upper right corner is a symptom of gallstones. Pain in this area often radiates to the upper right back, right shoulder and chest.

Pancreatitis

Burning and severe pain in the upper abdomen, stomach pain that occurs immediately after eating, or pain that does not stop six to twelve hours after a large meal may be caused by pancreatitis. This pain often begins in the upper abdomen and spreads to the right and left sides or the lower back. It may be accompanied by nausea, rapid heartbeat, or fever.

Mild stomach cramps after eating, accompanied by vomiting that smells like stool, are one of the characteristic symptoms of intestinal obstruction. Other symptoms of intestinal obstruction include loose stools or no stool at all. Severe stomach cramps may be accompanied by pain in the lower left abdomen - often a symptom of diverticulitis.

Heartburn

Heartburn is another common cause of stomach pain. Stomach pain with bloating immediately after eating is accompanied by a characteristic symptom: less than three bowel movements per week and hard stools that resemble constipation. Constipation occurs due to insufficient fiber in the diet. Infrequent water consumption throughout the day further contributes to this health problem. Feeling tired after eating, as well as bloating and stomach pain after eating, are symptoms of heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome.

Incorrect food and water intake

Stomach pain can be caused by drinking a lot of fluids right after eating. Drinking water, fresh fruit juices, soft drinks or any other beverages right after eating dilutes the stomach acids. The right concentration of stomach acid helps kill the harmful bacteria in the food and keeps your digestive system healthy. When stomach acid is diluted, the food is hard to digest. Also, the harmful bacteria are not eliminated and your body then tries to vomit the food, which leads to an upset stomach.

This regimen can lead to diarrhea after eating. An infection caused by bacteria or viruses can also lead to stomach pain immediately after eating. When bacteria or viruses enter the body, the body reacts negatively to them and tries to get rid of the infection through diarrhea or vomiting. Nausea after eating is a very common occurrence in this case. Stomach pain, along with nausea, is also a symptom of gastritis.

Overeating

Overeating or eating too fast often leads to stomach pain, so try to curb your appetite. Also, if you keep your stomach empty for a long time and then eat a huge amount of food at one time, it can cause stomach pain after eating. To avoid this, moderation in diet is very important. Follow a meal plan and eat a healthy diet. Drink fluids throughout the day, but avoid drinking water for half an hour after you eat. Avoid eating unhealthy foods as well. Walking is the best remedy after eating to ensure proper digestion of food.

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Stomach ulcer and other problems

Remember that stomach pain after eating can be a symptom of serious problems such as perforated stomach ulcers, heart attacks, and many other minor or major health problems mentioned above. If the pain does not subside, be sure to consult a doctor. Make sure that the doctor makes the most detailed diagnosis if the problem of stomach pain is experienced repeatedly.

Who should you contact if you have stomach pain after eating?

Remember that stomach pain after eating can be a serious problem, so you need to treat it with all due attention by contacting a gastroenterologist or therapist.