Stomach Pain After Eating

Drinking a cup of warm mint tea can help in treating stomach pain after eating.

Sometimes you end up eating more. Overeating makes you feel sleepy and tired. Sleeping immediately after meals can lead to stomach pain.

Eating heavy or very spicy food or the intake of food you are allergic or intolerant to, can also be the cause of stomach pain after eating.

Overeating, following an unhealthy diet or sleeping right after eating, disrupts the process of digestion, leading to stomach problems.

Stomach pain after eating might indicate an underlying digestive or other health disorder. Read on for the symptoms, causes, remedies and preventive measures for stomach ache after eating.

Accompanying Symptoms

▸ Fever

▸ Abdominal swelling

▸ Vomiting

▸ Constipation

▸ Indigestion

▸ Abdominal tenderness

▸ Blood in stools

▸ Diarrhea

▸ Intestinal dysmotility

▸ Nausea

Causes

Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is the most probable cause of stomach pain after intake of certain food items. Also known as non-allergic food hypersensitivity, it includes the pharmacologic, metabolic, and gastro-intestinal responses to a particular food or compound found in a variety of foods.

Food Allergy

You may experience intense pain in the stomach after eating a food you are allergic to. Examples of these food items include, shellfish, peanuts, walnuts, eggs, etc. Maintaining a food diary is the best way to identify foods causing these symptoms. Write the details of food items you eat throughout the day in this diary. After a few days, you will be able to recognize whether a certain food item or type of food is causing stomach pain.

Food Poisoning

This is another possible cause of stomach pain after eating. In this case, you will experience a sharp abdominal pain soon after eating.

Heartburn

Heartburn is another common cause of stomachache after meals. You can avoid this by consuming foods that prevent heartburn and by making changes to your lifestyle.

Constipation

Stomach ache along with bloating accompanied by less than three bowel movements in a week and hard stools are symptoms of constipation. It is caused by insufficient amount of fiber in the diet. Less intake of water throughout the day further contributes to this health problem.

Eating Habits

Overeating or consuming food too fast often results in stomach ache. Also, if you keep your stomach empty for a long time and then eat a large quantity of food at one time, it may cause stomach pain.

Ulcers

Acidic foods cause the soft tissue in the lining of the stomach to erode. Eating certain foods which are too hot or spicy can cause a stomach ulcer, leading to excruciating pain.

Gastroenteritis

It is also known as stomach flu and causes extreme pain in the stomach. You may also experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Celiac Disease

It is a reaction of your immune system after you consume gluten, a protein in barley, wheat and graham flour. The small intestine triggers an immune response every time you consume gluten. This causes inflammation of the lining of the small intestine, leading to bloating and stomach pain.

Lactose Intolerance

In people who are lactose-intolerant, the body rejects milk and milk products. Consumption of milk-based foods causes intense pain in the stomach along with bloating.

Appendicitis

Intense lower right side abdominal pain is caused by appendicitis. This may also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or mild fever. Visit a doctor if you experience these symptoms along with stomach ache after eating.

Gallstones

Upper right abdominal pain after eating is a symptom of gallstones. Pain in this area caused due to gallstones, often spreads to the right upper back, right shoulder or chest.

Pancreatitis

Severe upper abdominal pain experienced instantly after eating a heavy meal or pain experienced six to twelve hours after a heavy meal may indicate pancreatitis. This pain often starts in the upper abdomen and spreads to the sides and the back. It may also be followed by nausea, racing heartbeat or fever.

Intestinal Obstruction

Moderate stomach cramps after eating, followed by vomiting that smells like stools is a symptom of intestinal obstruction. Other symptoms of intestinal obstruction include watery stools or no stools at all.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a digestive disease which results in the formation of pouches within the bowel wall. They may get infected and inflamed. Severe stomach cramps accompanied by tenderness in the lower left side of the abdomen are symptoms of diverticulitis.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional bowel disorder. Feeling tired after eating, along with stomach bloating and pain in the lower abdomen is a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome.

Home Remedies

While severe, prolonged pain should be brought to your physician’s notice, mild pain may be treated by home remedies.

▸ Eating asafoetida will help relieve stomach ache immediately. Roast asafoetida on low flame and mix it with yogurt.

▸ Add a spoon of fennel seeds to boiling water. Drink a glass of this water when lukewarm.

▸ Drink plenty of fluids or water to keep yourself hydrated.

▸ If you have vomited, wait for some time before you start intaking solid foods again.

▸ Take rest as you may feel weak after vomiting.

▸ When you start eating solid foods, start with the easily digestible ones.

▸ Drinking hot water with ginger and honey added to it, can help you fight nausea.

▸ Taking an antacid can help alleviate acidity and make you feel better.

Prevention

Going by the old adage “prevention is better than cure”, here are few tips for you to avoid stomach pain after meals.

▸ Follow regular meal timings and stick to a healthy diet.

▸ Don’t eat your food hurriedly.

▸ Instead of having a large quantity of food in one go, consume small portions.

▸ Let there be a gap of 2 to 3 hours between your last meal and your sleep.

▸ Avoid drinking coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol along with food.

▸ It is advisable to follow a gluten-free diet.

▸ You must avoid fatty, fried, greasy and spicy foods as they may cause stomach problems.

▸ Also, try to eliminate foods which have trans-fatty acids.

▸ Try to discourage the intake of refined foods like white bread and sugar.

▸ After eating, sit straight for at least 30 minutes.

▸ Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen or anti-inflammatory medicines without the advice of a physician.

▸ Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day.

▸ Yoga and breathing exercises can help maintain overall health.

▸ A light walk after meals can aid digestion of food.

Stomach pain can be a symptom of an underlying health ailment. If the pain doesn’t subside after the use of home remedies, if it continues for an unusually long period, or if it is unbearable, visit a doctor immediately.

Disclaimer: This article on stomach pain after eating is for informational purposes and does not intend to substitute the advice of a medical expert.

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