Stomach Pain After Eating
Recognizing Symptoms
Stomach pain after eating can be attributed to many different causes. While many of the causes are not serious conditions, the pains and discomfort can be quite bothersome. Still, sometimes stomach pain after eating can be the result of a serious condition and so it’s important to know when to contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention.
What many people refer to as the stomach is actually the abdomen. The abdomen is the area from just below the chest to the groin. This area includes many important organs besides the stomach such as the appendix, liver, gall bladder, intestines, etc… Therefore, pain expressing itself in the abdomen can be originating from various sources and not necessarily the actual stomach.
Different Causes of Stomach Pain
The different conditions that cause stomach pain after eating have different degrees of seriousness. For instance, indigestion after eating may be caused simply by eating too fast, eating high-fat foods or eating when a person is extremely stressed. However, it can also be the sign of a more serious condition such as an intestinal blockage, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), cancer or an ulcer when the indigestion occurs frequently. No doubt, indigestion can be quite painful.
Bloating as a result of gas generated from the intake of certain foods can also cause stomach pain after eating. Gas is caused by one of two reasons: air that’s swallowed while eating and while bacteria in the large intestine are breaking down foods. Simply put, most foods are digested by enzymes in the stomach and intestines; when they are not completely digested, bacteria thriving in the intestines digest the rest. In the process, gases are produced which are normally odorless, but certain foods that are particularly hard to digest such as broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, etc… produce excessive amounts of gas and types of gases that smell.
It should also be noted that stomach pain after eating that is due to bloating can also be the result of certain diseases. For example, activity in the small intestine slows down in people with diabetes and the digestive action gets slower the longer a person has diabetes. When that happens, an over population of bacteria in the bowels can manifest as well as a lessening of digestion of important nutrients the body needs.
Diarrhea is also a common cause of stomach pain after eating. The diarrhea can be caused by intolerances to certain foods, certain bacteria, viruses or parasites and even certain medications. It can produce stomach cramps and bloating, both of which are quite uncomfortable. Though often diarrhea is not the result of something serious, if it persists it should be reported to your doctor.
When is it Time to go to the Doctor
If pain after eating is accompanied by other symptoms such as blood in the stool or throwing up blood, it may warrant a trip to your local emergency room depending on what the additional symptoms are. If the pain starts to occur every time you eat, it should be reported to your doctor. Pain accompanied by visible stomach distention (outward swelling) that doesn’t go away, diarrhea that persists and frequent constipation or heartburn should also be reported to your doctor as these can be signs of more serious conditions.
There are far too many causes of stomach pain after eating to try and describe in one article. However, the important thing to be aware of is that persistent or reoccurring pain after eating should be discussed with your doctor to determine the underlying cause. Although many of the causes of abdominal pain that occurs after eating are not serious, certain conditions will require immediate interventions such as medications or surgery.
Leave a Reply