Stomach pain is one of the most common reasons why people visit the hospital. They is a common complaint in adults and children. Several vital organs are found in the upper stomach area such as the upper intestines, gall bladder, liver, and pancreas.
There are some factors responsible for upper stomach pain such as stomach virus or stomach gasthat may not cause much pain, while others need medical treatment.
Many conditions can lead to upper stomach pain. In some situations, one condition can cause another. For instance, ulcers [1] can cause indigestion and gallstones [2] may lead to liver dysfunction.
In this article, I will be discussing ten potential causes of upper stomach pain. These causes are;
Indigestion
Indigestion is a painful feeling that occurs in the upper stomach and rare cases in the mouth or throat. Sometimes, the pain could originate from the chest area. It is caused by a substance you ate or drank.
The clinical name for indigestion is dyspepsia. It mostly occurs when there is excess acid in the stomach which occurs after overconsumption of food with high acid content. In some cases, indigestion can be caused by stomach ulcers, stomach cancer, or even acid reflux. When indigestion occurs consistently and is accompanied by pain, it indicates the presence of complications. Indigestion accompanied by unexplained weight loss is also dangerous and needs doctor’s attention immediately.
OTC drugs are mostly used to manage ingestion if it is temporary. It is important to know what triggers it (certain foods), so people can have healthy changes in their lifestyles.
Symptoms of functional indigestion include:
- Nausea [3]
- Bloating [4]
- Feeling satisfied after a few bites
- Painful fullness
If it occurs regularly, you need to see a doctor help manage the symptoms and diagnose any underlying trigger.