Abdomen Ache After Consuming: Figuring out Causes & Options

Postprandial ache—aka, a stomachache after you eat—can have a fairly big selection of potential causes, says Hector Gonzalez, MD, a gastroenterologist with Gastro Well being in Plantation, Florida. However you possibly can study rather a lot about what may be occurring by being attentive to your signs.

To unravel your stomachache (and hopefully, hold it from coming again), let’s check out a number of the almost definitely causes. Plus, what you are able to do to assuage a bitter abdomen ASAP.

Associated Tales

1. Overeating

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

“Usually, a stomachache from overeating looks like a normal 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 hassle breaking down meals, slightly than simply consuming an excessive amount of of it. And it feels slightly totally 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 harder to digest (like fatty or fried meals). Different occasions, it is a symptom of an underlying drawback like acid reflux disorder, a meals intolerance, peptic ulcers, IBS, or gallstones—particularly for those who’re getting indigestion rather a lot, notes the Cleveland Clinic.

3. Acid reflux disease or GERD

Acid reflux disease 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 outcome will be heartburn, higher abdomen ache after consuming, chest ache, or regurgitating meals into your throat or mouth (ew, we all know). And for those who get acid reflux disorder greater than twice per week, it is referred to as gastroesophageal reflux illness (GERD), per the Mayo Clinic.

Acid reflux disease often strikes inside a number of hours of consuming, particularly after huge or late meals. Frequent culprits like espresso irritate your abdomen, however others embody the next, per Johns Hopkins Drugs:

• 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 possibly can have a meals intolerance, which occurs when your abdomen has hassle breaking down sure substances 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 may 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
• Fuel and bloating
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Complications

Protecting a meals journal may also help you slender 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 totally different (and rather more severe) than a gluten intolerance, notes the Mayo Clinic.

Whereas the previous could cause short-term abdomen discomfort after consuming gluten, the irritation from celiac illness could cause long-term harm 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 will be accompanied by different signs like fever, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea,” and might 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 remedy for abdomen bugs attributable to micro organism, these attributable to viruses typically simply must run their course.

7. Gastroparesis

Consultants generally consult with this situation as “delayed gastric emptying,” which might 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 charge, which will be attributable to following circumstances, in accordance with the Nationwide Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Illnesses (NIDDK):

• Unmanaged diabetes
• Underactive thyroid
• Abdomen an infection
• Nervous system problems
• 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 uninteresting, aching sensation within the abdomen space. It’s often 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 will 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 once you eat, Dr. Gonzalez says.

9. IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a GI dysfunction that may trigger belly 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 Drugs¹. This implies, your IBS signs may 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 Drugs:

• 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 brief elimination weight loss plan that can assist you pinpoint which meals chances are you’ll must keep away from.

10. Crohn’s illness

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

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

Remedy for Crohn’s is often a mixture of medicines like immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, and anti-inflammatories. Your physician may additionally prescribe antibiotics in the event that they discover an an infection in your intestine, or loperamide (Imodium) to assist cease up diarrhea at dwelling. And in extreme circumstances, chances are you’ll want surgical procedure to assist ease your signs, per the NIDDK.

11. Different circumstances

Consuming can doubtlessly worsen signs attributable to different digestive problems, 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 drawback you are coping with. This is what sure places 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 beneath your stomach button: This might need one thing to do together with your appendix, colon, or bladder.

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

Tips on how to deal with abdomen ache after consuming

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

That stated, there are steps you possibly can take to assuage your abdomen within the meantime. Some choices to think about embody the next:

Take over-the-counter meds

Should 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 Fuel-X can break up fuel bubbles in your GI tract. And for those who’ve bought acid reflux disorder, an antacid like TUMS or Rolaids can neutralize the acid in your abdomen. And if 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, belly ache, bloating, and fuel, concluded a January 2019 evaluation in Meals Science & Diet. That is why lots of people sip on ginger tea after they’ve eaten. You may 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 decide. Peppermint has been proven to be extremely efficient for lowering belly ache and bloating, in accordance with a January 2019 evaluation in BMC Complementary Drugs and Therapies³. Steep contemporary mint leaves in sizzling water to brew your personal peppermint tea, or attempt Conventional Medicinals Peppermint Tea.

Attempt diaphragmatic respiration

Taking gradual, deep stomach breaths places light stress in your GI tract, which may also help get issues shifting 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 together with your knees bent. This is the best way to do it:

• Place one hand in your higher chest and the opposite beneath your ribcage, so you possibly can really feel your breath transfer out and in.
• Breathe in slowly by means of 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 muscular tissues to drive the air out of your diaphragm. You need to see the hand in your abdomen begin to fall.
• Repeat for 5 to 10 minutes.

Begin strolling

Transferring your physique may also transfer issues alongside in your GI tract, so a post-meal stroll is an effective selection for those who’re uncomfortable from consuming an excessive amount of, says Dr. LeBrett. Strolling after consuming may also assist with heartburn prevention, discovered a January 2017 examine in Digestion.

It’s potential to forestall abdomen ache after consuming?

It could be potential to forestall abdomen ache after consuming for those who make a number of way of life changes. Dr. Gonzalez’s prime suggestions 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 totally, to assist help wholesome digestion

And for those who are inclined to get heartburn at night time after consuming, attempt to keep away from consuming inside 3 or 4 hours of going to mattress. You can even 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 move again up into your esophagus, Dr. LeBrett says.

When to see a health care provider

Should you regularly get abdomen ache an hour after consuming (or longer), you must let your physician know. This might sign an underlying well being situation that must be checked out, Dr. Gonzalez says. It is also greatest to hunt medical take care of different indicators of unhealthy intestine well being, like the next:

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

FAQ

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

Abdomen ache attributable to a severe underlying subject (like an an infection or a persistent situation) often causes extreme, persistent signs. It is fairly typical to really feel slightly stuffed and uncomfortable after sprucing 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 vital 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 loosen up the muscular tissues of the GI tract, which may also 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.