Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIndigestionGERDLactose IntoleranceMedication Side EffectsGluten IntoleranceThyroid DisordersFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Indigestion
GERD
Lactose Intolerance
Medication Side Effects
Gluten Intolerance
Thyroid Disorders
FAQs
Some conditions can cause recurring stomach discomfort. If you experience mild stomach discomfort, it’s important to track your triggers to help your doctor arrive at the correct diagnosis.
Catherine McQueen / Getty Images
Indigestion, also called dyspepsia, causes mild stomach discomfort in the upper area of the abdomen. It is not considered a disease but rather a collection of symptoms that starts following a meal.
How Common Is Indigestion?About 25% of people in the United States experience indigestion each year.
How Common Is Indigestion?
About 25% of people in the United States experience indigestion each year.
Treatment for indigestion typically involves medications and changing problematic eating habits, such as avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, and reducing alcohol and caffeine intake. Antacids may also help.
GERDleads to symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, and stomach pain. It occurs when the muscle at the end of your esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, does not close properly.This allows stomach acid and the food you eat to make its way back up the esophagus, which connects your throat to your stomach.
Factors that may affect the lower esophageal sphincter and lead to GERD include:
Treatment for GERDtypically includes lifestyle changes. This includes losing weight, avoiding trigger foods, and eating smaller meals. Keeping your head elevated when you lie down and avoiding lying down after you eat can also help.
Medications can help with symptoms, including antacids and medications like H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors that reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes.Antacids are available over the counter (OTC), while H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors are available both OTC and as prescriptions.
The Different Types of GERD Medication and When They’re Used
Lactose intoleranceoccurs because the small intestines lack enough of the digestive enzymelactaseto help break down and digest milk sugars, which are known as lactose.
When your body doesn’t have enough lactase, the lactose in food makes its way into thecolon, the large intestine, where bacteria begin to ferment and break it down. This is what causes stomach discomfort and other symptoms like bloating and gas.
The main treatment for lactose intolerance is to avoid dairy products such as milk and milk products. Some people may only need to limit the amount of lactose they eat or drink, while others may need to avoid lactose altogether.
Beware of Hidden Dairy in Packaged FoodsLactose can hide in foods such as butter, baked goods, cereals, and processed foods that are battered, like chicken wings and chicken fingers.
Beware of Hidden Dairy in Packaged Foods
Lactose can hide in foods such as butter, baked goods, cereals, and processed foods that are battered, like chicken wings and chicken fingers.
You can also takelactasetablets before you eat or drink milk products or add lactase drops to milk before you drink it. The lactase breaks down the lactose in foods and drinks, reducing your chances of having lactose intolerance symptoms. However, young children and pregnant people may not be able to use lactase products. Check with your doctor before trying them.
Understanding How Medications Can Affect Your Stomach
Some oral medications can irritate various parts of the gastrointestinal tract and cause stomach discomfort. If medications get stuck in the esophagus or don’t make their way to the stomach, they may release chemicals and cause irritation. Some medications can hinder the way the lower esophageal sphincter muscle operates.
A common class of medications associated with stomach discomfort is NSAIDs. This includes medicines such as ibuprofen and other common pain relievers. These medicines weaken the ability of the lining to resist acid made in the stomach, and can sometimes lead to inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), ulcers, bleeding, or even perforation of the lining.
People with a food intolerance, such as gluten intolerance, must be sure medicines do not contain fillers or additives with these substances.
With some medications, the stomach discomfort will ease once the body gets used to it. With others, if the discomfort is too much to deal with, doctors will typically suggest trying a new medication or taking OTC medications that can help ease symptoms.
To prevent these medications from irritating your stomach:
Which Medicines Cause Stomach Pain?
Gluten intolerance occurs when your body cannot digest or break down gluten. Gluten is a protein that can be found in wheat, barley, rye, and other grains.
Studies have shown that gluten intolerance stems from a weak intestinal barrier. When someone with a weak barrier consumes gluten, an inflammatory immune response is triggered, which leads to symptoms such as bloating, pain, cramping, headaches, and fatigue.
There is a serious form of gluten intolerance called celiac disease. It is anautoimmune diseasein which eating gluten leads to inflammation and damage to the small intestine over time.
Treatment for gluten intolerance andceliac diseaseusually involves avoiding foods with gluten and eating a gluten-free diet.
Testing Positive for the Celiac Disease Gene
Thethyroidis a gland that produces hormones to help the body function. When the thyroid doesn’t work as it should, athyroid disorderoccurs.
It can become overactive or underactive. Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid doesn’t create enough hormones, and hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid makes too much of one specific hormone known as thyroxine.
There are many different types of thyroid disorder, including:
Research has shown that thyroid disorders and gastrointestinal issues often go hand in hand.
When to See a DoctorStomach pain can sometimes be an emergency. To determine if you need to seek immediate medical attention, take note of your symptoms and monitor them. If the pain becomes severe, you notice any bruising, you are pregnant, or you have recently had surgery, you should see your doctor right away.
When to See a Doctor
Stomach pain can sometimes be an emergency. To determine if you need to seek immediate medical attention, take note of your symptoms and monitor them. If the pain becomes severe, you notice any bruising, you are pregnant, or you have recently had surgery, you should see your doctor right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I get an upset stomach after eating?
Certain foods can trigger an upset stomach, such as fatty or greasy foods, dairy products, or foods that contain gluten. If you are not sure what is causing your upset stomach, talk to your doctor about an elimination diet to figure out what food is triggering it.
How do I know if my stomach pain is serious?
Stomach pain is usually harmless, but it can be a sign of a serious health problem. If the pain persists for longer than a few days, worsens over time, or is severe, you should seek medical attention immediately. Conditions such asappendicitispresent with stomach pain and can be life-threatening if untreated.
What can I take to get rid of stomach discomfort?
The cause of your stomach discomfort will determine what you can take to ease it. In the case of indigestion, an OTC antacid is typically used. Prior to self-treating, you should see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Why does my stomach bother me when I lie down?
Stomach discomfort can often occur if you lie down too soon after eating. To prevent this, you can eat smaller meals and avoid lying down for at least two hours after a meal.
Summary
Stomach discomfort has many different causes, including indigestion, GERD, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, and thyroid disorder. Some medications like NSAIDs can also result in an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach. The best way to treat this discomfort is to identify and treat the underlying cause.
A Word From Verywell
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Indigestion (dyspepsia).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of indigestion.Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol.2014 Jun 14;20(22):6759-6773. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment.Deng Y, Misselwitz B, Dai N, Fox M.Lactose intolerance in adults: biological mechanism and dietary management.Nutrients.2015 Sep 18;7(9):8020-8035. doi:10.3390/nu7095380National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for lactose intolerance.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Medications and the digestive system.Uhde M, Ajamian M, Caio G, De Giorgio R, Indart A, Green PH, Verna EC, Volta U, Alaedini A.Intestinal cell damage and systemic immune activation in individuals reporting sensitivity to wheat in the absence of coeliac disease.Gut.2016 Dec;65(12):1930-1937. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2016-311964Cleveland Clinic.Thyroid disease.Kyriacou A, McLaughlin J, Syed AA.Thyroid disorders and gastrointestinal and liver dysfunction: A state of the art review.Eur J Intern Med.2015 Oct;26(8):563-71. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2015.07.017
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Indigestion (dyspepsia).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of indigestion.Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol.2014 Jun 14;20(22):6759-6773. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment.Deng Y, Misselwitz B, Dai N, Fox M.Lactose intolerance in adults: biological mechanism and dietary management.Nutrients.2015 Sep 18;7(9):8020-8035. doi:10.3390/nu7095380National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for lactose intolerance.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Medications and the digestive system.Uhde M, Ajamian M, Caio G, De Giorgio R, Indart A, Green PH, Verna EC, Volta U, Alaedini A.Intestinal cell damage and systemic immune activation in individuals reporting sensitivity to wheat in the absence of coeliac disease.Gut.2016 Dec;65(12):1930-1937. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2016-311964Cleveland Clinic.Thyroid disease.Kyriacou A, McLaughlin J, Syed AA.Thyroid disorders and gastrointestinal and liver dysfunction: A state of the art review.Eur J Intern Med.2015 Oct;26(8):563-71. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2015.07.017
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Indigestion (dyspepsia).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of indigestion.Saha L.Irritable bowel syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and evidence-based medicine.World J Gastroenterol.2014 Jun 14;20(22):6759-6773. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6759National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment.Deng Y, Misselwitz B, Dai N, Fox M.Lactose intolerance in adults: biological mechanism and dietary management.Nutrients.2015 Sep 18;7(9):8020-8035. doi:10.3390/nu7095380National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for lactose intolerance.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Medications and the digestive system.Uhde M, Ajamian M, Caio G, De Giorgio R, Indart A, Green PH, Verna EC, Volta U, Alaedini A.Intestinal cell damage and systemic immune activation in individuals reporting sensitivity to wheat in the absence of coeliac disease.Gut.2016 Dec;65(12):1930-1937. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2016-311964Cleveland Clinic.Thyroid disease.Kyriacou A, McLaughlin J, Syed AA.Thyroid disorders and gastrointestinal and liver dysfunction: A state of the art review.Eur J Intern Med.2015 Oct;26(8):563-71. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2015.07.017
Cleveland Clinic.Indigestion (dyspepsia).
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment.
Deng Y, Misselwitz B, Dai N, Fox M.Lactose intolerance in adults: biological mechanism and dietary management.Nutrients.2015 Sep 18;7(9):8020-8035. doi:10.3390/nu7095380
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for lactose intolerance.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Medications and the digestive system.
Uhde M, Ajamian M, Caio G, De Giorgio R, Indart A, Green PH, Verna EC, Volta U, Alaedini A.Intestinal cell damage and systemic immune activation in individuals reporting sensitivity to wheat in the absence of coeliac disease.Gut.2016 Dec;65(12):1930-1937. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2016-311964
Cleveland Clinic.Thyroid disease.
Kyriacou A, McLaughlin J, Syed AA.Thyroid disorders and gastrointestinal and liver dysfunction: A state of the art review.Eur J Intern Med.2015 Oct;26(8):563-71. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2015.07.017
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