{"id":62315,"date":"2023-12-27T11:42:40","date_gmt":"2023-12-27T16:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=62315"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:19:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:19:41","slug":"stomach-pain-after-eating-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/stomach-pain-after-eating-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"What causes stomach pain after eating? Related conditions and treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stomach pain after eating, called postprandial pain, is common in the general population. There are many possible causes of postprandial pain, from simply eating too much or too quickly to serious gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. <\/span>Postprandial pain<\/span><\/a> can feel like burning, stabbing, cramping, nausea, or general discomfort. It can originate from your upper, middle, or lower abdomen. The severity, duration, and location of postprandial pain can help pinpoint the cause.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many cases of postprandial pain go away on their own. However, stomach pain after eating can be a sign of a serious condition, such as <\/span>pancreatitis<\/span><\/a>, inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), or <\/span>peptic ulcers<\/span><\/a>, so you should contact a healthcare professional if the pain is severe or frequent. <\/span><\/p>\n

What causes stomach pain after eating?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Stomach pain after eating can be a one-time incident or a chronic problem. The most common cause is eating too much food at once, says <\/span>Casey Kelley, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified family physician and integrative medicine specialist at <\/span>Case Integrative Health<\/span><\/a> in Chicago, Illinois. However, there are many possible causes of stomach pain after eating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overeating<\/span><\/h3>\n

Eating more food than your stomach can handle can cause stomach pain and nausea. Dr. Kelley says abdominal discomfort from overeating is especially likely if you eat large quantities of spicy, acidic, or oily foods. <\/span><\/p>\n

“If you’re finding yourself frequently experiencing stomach pain after eating, consider keeping a food diary,” Dr. Kelley suggests. Keep track of the quantity and type of food to determine if a pattern indicates when you’re most likely to experience postprandial pain. <\/span><\/p>\n

Food poisoning<\/span><\/h3>\n

Food poisoning<\/span><\/a> can cause stomach pain after eating contaminated foods or drinks. Food poisoning affects about 48 million Americans per year, according to the <\/span>National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases<\/span><\/a>. The bad news is that it can cause sudden, severe stomach pain, vomiting, and <\/span>diarrhea<\/span><\/a>. The good news is that it resolves on its own within days. <\/span><\/p>\n

Food intolerances<\/span><\/h3>\n

Food intolerances refer to the digestive system’s struggle or inability to break down certain food compounds. This causes stomach pain after eating, gas, and diarrhea as the food moves through the digestive tract. <\/span>Common food intolerances<\/span><\/a> and sensitivities include:<\/span><\/p>\n