20 Reasons Why Your Stomach Hurts

                                                      Nearly everyone has had a stomachache at some point. But really, any organ in your abdomen (there are many) could be to blame.
Tummy trouble can be short-lived, come and go, or show up only after you eat—all clues to the cause. Doctors can also run a number of tests to narrow it down, says Vivek Kaul, MD, acting chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y.

Gallstones are stones that form in the gallbladder, a tiny sac that hangs out under the liver, disgorging bile as needed to digest fats.
These stones cause swelling and can block the duct into the intestine, resulting in pain. Gallstone pain tends to strike the right side of the upper abdomen, particularly after fatty meals.
Such meals trigger the gallbladder to contract. “If the gallbladder is inflamed, any contraction of that nature will be amplified and typically will cause pain to the patient,” says Dr. Kaul.

Inflammation of the pancreas can cause burning pain in the upper or middle abdomen. Some people even have shooting pain that drives right through to their back, says Dr. Kaul.
You may lean forward or lie on your back to try to relieve the pain, which may subside into a dull ache, nausea, and vomiting, says Osama Alaradi, MD, a gastroenterologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Too much alcohol can be a culprit, says Dr. Kaul, as are gallstones (the gallbladder and pancreas deliver their digestive juices into the intestine via the same duct). It often requires hospitalization.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, can cause pain in the upper stomach and lower chest, aka heartburn.
The cause? A valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus is weak, allowing food and acid from the stomach to splash upwards. Ouch!
Eating too much food or the wrong type of food (fatty, for instance) can make it worse. Losing weight, watching what you eat, and medication like antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors, can also help.

Millions of people around the world have lactose intolerance. In fact, in some areas of the world, the lactose intolerant outnumber those who can digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products.
This type of food intolerance causes mild to severe abdominal pain depending where you place on the tolerance scale, says Patricia L. Raymond, an assistant professor of clinical internal medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School. “I advise everyone who thinks they have an intolerance to take a lactose tolerance test,” she says. “It’s not a yes or no answer because severity comes into play.” Symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, burping, gas, and indigestion and vary based on your level of sensitivity.
The solution? Skip the dairy products, like milk and cheese, and be wary of packaged foods. Raymond says packaged foods often contain hidden milk products or whey, a milk-based byproduct found in many protein powder mixes and other nutritional foods. If you’re lactose intolrant you can also drink Lactaid milk or take Lactaid pills to prevent stomach aches and pains.

No drug is without side effects and sometimes that includes abdominal pain. “A medication itself can be caustic or slow the stomach’s emptying, causing pain,” says Dr. Raymond.

Pin medications known as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin have this caustic property and can cause swelling in the stomach lining and may even lead to ulcers.
Oral bisphosphonates, a popular class of drugs that helps preserve bone density and prevent osteoporosis, can cause swelling—and therefore pain—in the lower esophagus, says Dr. Kaul. Also look out for antibiotics, specifically those containing azithromycin, and take them after a meal to give the stomach a proper lining for the drug.

Narcotic and blood pressure medications relax the stomach’s walls and allow food to sit and ferment in your stomach, contributing to a queasy feeling.

Diverticulitis is an inflammation of “diverticula” or pockets that form in the lining of the intestine, usually the colon.
“These look like punched-out holes in the lining of the colon that tend to get inflamed or obstructed with stool or other foreign material,” says Dr. Kaul.
Symptoms can include cramping in the lower abdomen, which may respond to antibiotics. A high-fiber diet can help. In more severe cases, it can cause abscesses, bleeding, and even perforations, resulting in severe pain, or even the need for surgery or a hospitalization.

Some people react badly to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. The most severe form of gluten intolerance is called celiac disease.
“The gluten causes damage in the small intestine,” explains Dr. Alaradi. “The small intestine doesn’t work normally, it doesn’t absorb nutrients.” Experts and patients are becoming more aware of gluten intolerance and celiac disease, which causes gas, bloating, mild-to-severe pain, and fatigue.
The small intestine’s inability to absorb nutrients may lead to chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and even malnutrition.

Endometriosis only affects women. It’s a condition that occurs when cells from the lining of the uterus escape and start to grow in other parts of the body, usually somewhere in the pelvis.
Pain, irregular bleeding, and infertility can result. Endometriosis is difficult to diagnose, says Dr. Kaul, and often requires a referral to a gynecologist and a pelvic ultrasound.
If the endometriosis is confined to one small area, surgery may help. Otherwise it is treated with pain medication and hormone therapy, as the menstrual cycle tends to drive painful symptoms.

Even though the thyroid gland is located in the neck, it can cause problems lower down in the body.
“The thyroid regulates several functions in the body and the digestive tract is one of the systems,” explains Dr. Alaradi.
If the thyroid produces too much hormone (hyperthyroidism), it speeds up the digestive tract, resulting in diarrhea and abdominal cramps, he says.
On the other hand, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) slows down the digestive tract, potentially leading to pain from constipation and gas.

No one wants to think that stomach symptoms are due to a parasitic worm or other creature. But it happens. Parasites can attach themselves to your stomach lining or hang out in the small intestine or colon, leading to a host of unwanted symptoms.
There are many types, but the most common in the U.S. are Giardia and Cryptosporidium, which you can get by swimming in contaminated pools or lakes or drinking contaminated water. (Or in some outbreaks, unpasteurized cider). The tiny protozoa cause cramps, diarrhea, and nausea about 2 to 10 days after exposure (for Crypto) or 1 to 3 weeks later (for Giardia). Other types of parasites can be picked up in undercooked or contaminated food. Dr. Raymond says sushi, when obtained from a less than reputable source, could contain parasites.

Most people who have appendicitis, an inflammation of the appendix, experience sudden pain that’s bad enough to warrant an emergency room trip.
Appendicitis is more common in children and young adults (though it can happen to older adults) and usually starts with pain in the mid-abdomen, progressing into the lower right part of the abdomen. “A telltale sign is pain when you bend your leg because it’s pulling a muscle near your appendix as you make that motion,” says Dr. Raymond. If you think you could have the condition, learn more about  9 Symptoms of Appendicitis.
If the appendix isn’t removed, it can burst, leading to long-term hospitalization and potentially life-threatening peritonitis. Head to the emergency room right away if you think appendicitis is causing your tummy pain. Raymond says it’s extremely normal to have your appendix removed and is a routine procedure.

Peptic ulcer disease, or ulcers in the stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), is a common source of abdominal pain, says Dr. Alaradi.
Pain usually strikes the mid-upper abdominal area and sometimes occurs after meals, he adds. People with duodenal ulcers can wake in the middle of the night due to pain.
NSAID medications and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria are major causes. Antibiotics and acid-suppressing drugs are often used to treat ulcers caused by bacteria.

If you consume too much sorbitol, which is found in some sugar-free products, it can cause pain and diarrhea. According to a 2008 article in BMJ, a 21-year-old woman had an 11-pound weight loss, abdominal pain, and diarrhea (as many as 12 bowel movements a day) from chewing about 16 sticks of gum a day.
A 46-year-old man had similar symptoms after chewing about 20 sticks of sugarless gum and eating sorbitol-containing sweets daily. “Sorbitol goes into your GI tract and since your body can’t absorb it, it gets to the bacteria in your colon, which eat it and produce gas and fluids that contribute to diarrhea,” explains Dr. Raymond.

Stress can cause headaches, high blood pressure, insomnia and, yes, tummy trouble. Depression has been linked with digestive problems (including loss of appetite and weight loss) as well as irritable bowel syndrome. The relationship seems to go both ways, according to a study published in 2012 in the journal Gut.
In other words, depression may be causing the stomach aches but constant abdominal pain may just as easily lead to depression and anxiety.

Food poisoning from viruses or bacteria can cause abdominal pain, along with diarrhea and vomiting. Many outbreaks of food poisoning have been seen in recent years in the U.S., including 20 people in 7 states who picked up Salmonella from contaminated beef in 2011.
In rare cases, food poisoning can be serious or fatal. In general, the symptoms from food poisoning usually last about 1-2 days, says Dr. Alaradi.
However if you have viral gastroenteritis, a stomach bug from food or another person, it may last a bit longer.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammation inside the small or large intestine, Dr. Alaradi explains. It includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
The inflammation from IBD can cause scarring and blockage, which can lead to abdominal pain along with diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Symptoms are chronic, but can flare up and subside in cycles, making it sometimes hard to diagnose.
IBD needs to be monitored closely as it can lead to more serious problems, even cancer, later in life.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease. Although IBS can also lead to chronic abdominal pain and changes in bowel movements (such as alternating constipation and diarrhea), it is not an inflammatory condition and never involves rectal bleeding, says Dr. Alaradi.
It generally affects more women than men, is considered less serious than IBD, and can be managed through treatment of symptoms, such as pain relievers.
And unlike IBD, IBS never progresses into more serious conditions such as cancer, says Dr. Alaradi.

Pelvic inflammatory disease, a bacterial infection of the fallopian tubes, uterus, or ovaries, can cause a low pain under your belly button, says Dr. Raymond. PID can cause scarring of fallopian tubes and risk pregnancy chances, so if you experience other symptoms like fever, vomiting, or signs of fainting, you should see a doctor at the emergency room immediately.

Sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause PID and can be prevented by practicing protected sex with condoms. Other less likely but possible causes of PID and the resulting stomach discomfort include IUDs, childbirth, or abortion, since these things can disrupt the cervix and cause bacteria to form.

Constipation causes stomach pain because blocked fecal matter stretches the colon in a manner it doesn’t want to be stretched, says Dr. Raymond. If you’re experiencing stomach pain and notice you have to strain to have a bowel movement or your trips to the bathroom aren’t regular, constipation is a likely culprit for your stomach aches.

To better move stool through your system, drink more water and consume more fiber. However, if you’ve been constipated for more than a few days or get constipated often, Dr. Raymond suggests eating milk of magnesia. “They’re relatively gentle and help when consuming fiber could just give you extremely hard stool.” Raymond says her patients with defecation disorders also benefit from the use of squatting toilet devices.