Do you know why you feel a burning sensation in stomach? Well, it’s because of “Indigestion,” which is also known as Dyspepsia. It’s a bothersome but common symptom that occurs due to an underlying condition, like intolerance of specific food products.
Indigestion is also utilized as a term to define gastronomical symptoms instead of its own disease. Experts say that Indigest affects around 20% of the world’s population.
Some of the symptoms that individuals will experience are feeling uncomfortable after eating and burning pain in the upper abdomen. Some people will also feel full pretty quickly, right after eating.
What Causes the Burning Sensation in the Stomach?
Although Indigestion is one of the primary causes of the burning sensation in stomach, there are several other conditions that can cause this symptom:
- GERD [Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease]
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a medical condition that leads to acid reflux. The reflux takes place when the stomach acid travels to the esophagus, which causes a burning sensation in the stomach and chest. GERD also has several other signs/symptoms, which are:
- Bloating and Gas
- Difficulty in Swallowing
- Chronic Cough
- Sour Taste at the backside of the Mouth
- Regurgitation [The stomach or food acid rises up to the mouth]
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease can also cause complications. For example, when the stomach acid begins to wear off the esophagus, it increases the chances of conditions like Barrett’s Esophagus. This can lead to harmful changes within the esophageal lining.
- Functional Dyspepsia
The majority of the cases related to indigestion don’t have a direct cause. Physicians have defined this as “Functional Dyspepsia.” This condition can cause a burning sensation in stomach symptoms, and around 70% of the individuals have claimed that they have experienced this symptom.
Much research has analyzed all the outcomes of the procedure called the Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Here, a flexible and thin tool equipped with a camera is used for checking the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract. Functional Dyspepsia is completely harmless.
But its symptoms/signs can be pretty bothersome. The physician might rule out all the other causes right before they diagnose it.
- Reaction to Specific Food Products
Another cause of the burning sensation in the stomach is when people have a strong reaction to some food products. These food products can also cause GERD-like symptoms, and they are:
- Nightshade food products, such as tomato, bell pepper, and eggplant
- Diary, especially in individuals who are lactose intolerant
- Alcohol [It can irritate the intestines, stomach, and digestive tract]
- Gluten occurs in individuals who are gluten intolerant
- Peptic Ulcers
These are sores that wear through the stomach lining. Manu individuals who have peptic ulcers have said that they experienced burning pain in their abdomen and stomach. Besides that, peptic ulcers can also lead to
- Feeling full before eating
- Stomach Cancer
During rare cases, the burning sensation in the stomach might be a symptom/sign of stomach cancer. There are several other signs of stomach cancer, which are:
- Fullness within the Upper Abdomen
- Vomiting and Nausea
- Severe Heartburn
- Unexplained Weight Loss
- Blood in the Stool
- Vomiting Blood
Experts say that non-cancerous conditions can cause many symptoms mentioned in this section.
- IBS [Irritable Bowel Syndrome]
IBS, also known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is a normal condition that affects people of all ages and genders. Physicians are not well-aware of the actual cause of IBS, but people who have it experience stomach-burning symptoms. Besides that, it also has several other symptoms, which are:
Even though irritable bowel syndrome is a long-lasting health condition, you can easily manage its symptoms through proper and effective treatment.
- Stomach Infections
Helicobacter Pylori, also called “H. pylori,” is a bacteria that can infect your stomach. Individuals who have the Helicobacter Pylori infection will experience stomach burning, along with the following symptoms:
- Unexpected Weight Loss
- Loss of Appetite
There are some medications that can also impact the gastrointestinal system and cause a burning feeling in the stomach. These medications include all the [NSAIDs] non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, which are:
- Ibuprofen [Advil]
- Oxaprozin [Daypro]
- Aspirin [Bayer Aspirin]
- Naproxen [Aleve]
- Celecoxib [Celebrex]
If you take the NSAID and experience a stomach-burning sensation, you should speak with the physician. He/she might change the medication or the dosage.
An occasional stomach-burning sensation is not always a sign of a condition or disease. It might be due to an unsettled stomach. Avoiding consuming all the problematic food products from your diet can help prevent the stomach-burning sensation from occurring again.
But on certain occasions, the burning sensation in the stomach can be due to a chronic health condition or a reaction to a particular medicine. The treatment you receive will depend heavily on the condition. So, if you’re uncertain of the stomach-burning sensation, please see a doctor without delay.
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