Possible Causes Of Stomach Pains After Meal

Often most people go through this condition just after eating a meal.
We Sometimes attribute the wrong meanings to it, most at times we take the wrong self medications, but lets quickly examine the possible causes of stomach pain after meals.






The stomach is an organ of the body that is
located at the upper left quadrant of your
abdomen. It is the organ that is responsible for
all digestion and plays an integral part in your
gastrointestinal system. When you suffer stomach
pain right after eating, it could be a sign that
there is something not right in your stomach.
Stomach pain can either be mild or severe, and
treatment of the pain should focus on the pain
etiology. You should never ignore severe pain in
your stomach because in severe cases emergency
treatment is needed.
Causes of Stomach Pain after Eating
1. Gastroenteritis/Stomach Flu
Condition Description: Gastroenteritis, also known
as stomach flu, can cause pain in the stomach
after eating. Your entire gastrointestinal tract gets
attacked by viruses which lead to diarrhea,
stomach pain, vomiting and nausea. These
symptoms can be felt as quickly as 4 hours after
you have ingested the food.
Treatments: To keep this virus at bay, always
wash your hands before handling any food. You
should also avoid contaminated food i.e. if you
suspect the food you are about to eat contains
virus that may infect your digestive tract.
2. Lactose Intolerance
Condition Description: Lactose is a type of sugar
that is mostly found in dairy products like milk. If
a person is lactose intolerant, she/he lacks the
enzyme called lactase. This enzyme is responsible
for sugar digestion. Therefore, if the person
ingests products that contain lactose like ice-
cream, it may result in bloating, severe pain in the
stomach and gas.
Treatments: If you are lactose intolerant, avoid
taking any products that contain lactose i.e. dairy
products. This should relieve you of the pain after
ingesting foods.
3. Stomach Ulcer
Condition Description: Ulcers are shallow
erosions in the soft lining of your intestines or
stomach. When your stomach has ulcers, there
are times eating becomes a problem. If the dinks
and foods you take are acidic, the acidity tends to
aggravate the ulcers causing stomach pain.
Treatments: To treat ulcers, you need to seek
medical advice first. Your doctor may prescribe
antibiotics which will heal the ulcers.
4. Celiac Disease
Condition Description: This is a reaction your
immune system has after eating gluten. Gluten is
a protein that is present in barley, rye, malt,
durum, bulgur, farina, graham flour, semolina and
wheat. If you suffer from celiac disease, each time
you consume gluten, your small intestines will
trigger an immune response. After some time, the
reaction will produce inflammation which
damages the lining of your small intestines, which
many lead to severe stomach pain and bloating.
Treatments: Have a diet that is gluten free.
Completely avoid all drinks and foods that contain
gluten and eat fresh meats, for u its uc potatoes,
vegetables, distilled liquors and wine. You can
also eat grains that do not contain gluten such
as rice, quinoa, tapioca, corn, cornmeal, arrowroot
and amaranth.
5. Food Poisoning
Condition Description: This is a result of drinking
and eating foods hat have infectious organisms
like toxins, bacteria, viruses and parasites.
Symptoms start about 2-4 hours after consuming
the beverage or food. There are some cases
where the symptoms can develop in two days.
Treatments: There is only one cure for food
poisoning; drinks lots of fluids and also get some
rest. The body works to get rid of all the
poisoned foods. Food poisoning mostly happens
when foods like meat have been undercooked.
6. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Condition Description: The symptoms are
different for each person, and they mostly
resemble symptoms for other diseases. This is a
condition that affects your large intestines.
Symptoms of IBS include stomach pain, bloating,
flatulence, constipation, diarrhea and mucus seen
in stool.
Treatments: Since a definite cause for IBS is yet
to be known, its treatment revolves around
relieving the symptoms to enable you to lead a
normal life. Your health provider may prescribe
fiber supplements, anti-diarrheal OTC
medications, anti-cholinergic medications,
antibiotics and anti-depressants. As to home
remedies, you should always maintain a high-fiber
diet and at the same time practice routinely.
7. Gallstone
Condition Description: This is a condition that is
characterized by hardened digestive fluids
deposits which form in the bladder. The
gallbladder has a pear-shape and is located in
your abdomen's right-side, underneath your liver.
The gallbladder is the organ that holds bile and
releases it to the small intestines. Gallstones
cause pain in the abdomen and can appear as
stomach pain after eating
Treatments: Your doctor may recommend surgery
(cholecystectomy) to have the gallbladder
removed. There are also some medications
prescribed which dissolve the gallstones. You
should also eat diets rich in fiber and take some
vitamin supplements.
8. Eating Too Fast or Overeating
Condition Description: This is a condition where
you eat too much food or eat too fast. When you
eat too much food or/and to fast, your digestive
system is disturbed. As a result, the food is not
digested as it should be and you end up with
stomach pain.
Treatments: Curb overeating. Plan all your meals
and ensure that you have followed the planned
timings. Always keep a bottle of water near you
to keep hydrated all day. Also, do not drink water
soon after eating; wait and drink it after an hour.
You can take walks after eating to ease digestion.
9. Heartburn
Condition Description: This condition is
characterized by burning sensations inside your
chest behind the breastbone. The pain caused
often gets worse when you bend over or lie down.
It can also manifest as severe pain after eating.
Treatments: Antacids can be taken to neutralize
the stomach acid and some medications that
reduce production of acids. You should also
maintain healthy weight, avoid drinks and foods
known to trigger heartburn, eat meals in small
portions, elevate your bed-head and avoid
smoking.
10. Other Possible Causes
Abdominal pain can also cause stomach pain.
Other possible causes of stomach pain are
constipation, wind, appendicitis, urine infection,
Crohn's disease and periods. It is important that
you know the exact cause of the stomach pain in
order to administer the right treatment.
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor if the pain is severe such that sitting
still is difficult. If the pain comes with bloody
stool, vomiting, yellowish skin, severe tenderness
and persistent stool, you should consult your
doctor immediately.
Any stomach pain that comes after eating can
cause diarrhea. The main concern of diarrhea is
the risk of dehydration. If you feel dehydrated or
suspect you might be dehydrated, call your
physician. If dehydration goes untreated, it may
cause damage to your brain, which can lead to
death. Dehydration symptoms include dry mouth,
dizziness, dry skin and fatigue.