Sometimes, you feel a heaviness in the stomach, or a feeling as if there is a lump in your stomach, after eating food. This may be due to several causes which may or may not be related to the gastrointestinal tract. Let us take a look at all the possible causes of this condition, along with treatment methods or remedies for the same.
Causes of Stomach Lump
Formation of lump is definitely an abnormal condition and can be a symptom of stomach cancer. Cancer, as you know, is a condition that occurs when a malignant tumor is formed in the body. Stomach cancer can be life-threatening, if not diagnosed at an early stage.
Therefore, it is essential to get the condition diagnosed immediately. Similarly, abdominal hernia is also one of the potential causes of lump in the abdomen. In case you observe that the lump pulsates, and you experience a feeling of fullness on eating, then you may be suffering from ruptured aortic aneurysm.
But, on the other hand, lump in stomach actually can also be heaviness which is caused due to different conditions, other than cancer. One of the most common cause of lump or heaviness in stomach after eating is stress. It has been observed that stress actually slows down the process of digestion, and causes a feeling of heaviness or abdominal pain.
Along with stress, panic attacks and anxiety also affect digestion causing abdominal discomfort. Indigestion is also a common condition for feeling abdominal heaviness in children and adults. In most cases, it is found that foods rich in fiber are not digested properly, which leads to indigestion.
Lastly, bloating, or formation of gas, is another cause of stomach heaviness or feeling as if a lump is formed in the body. Excessive intake of air caused due to consumption of aerated drinks, chewing gum, improper chewing of food leads to bloating.
Treating Lump in Stomach
If you observe any such symptoms, you should consult the doctor immediately. Methods like X-ray, MRI and blood tests will help in diagnosing the underlying cause of this symptom. If it is caused due to any of the above mentioned diseases like stomach cancer or abdominal hernia, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment related to it.
On the other hand, if it is caused due to stress, indigestion or bloating, the doctor may chalk out a diet plan to get rid of the symptoms. The doctor may prescribe medication to ease the abdominal pain; however, one should follow other self-help methods or remedies to avoid recurrence of this condition.
Stress should also be reduced using relaxation techniques to avoid abdominal discomfort. Secondly, food should be chewed properly and eaten slowly. Thirdly, if the heaviness of stomach is caused due to bloating or indigestion of foods, one should keep a note of foods causing it, and avoid consuming these foods altogether.
Consumption of aerated drinks and alcohol should also be reduced. One should also remember that following a balanced diet and exercising regularly, can prevent most gastrointestinal disorders.
As we can see the causes can range from minor to life-threatening ones, it is advisable to consult a doctor and get the condition diagnosed properly. Most conditions can be treated effectively if timely treatment is undertaken. Take care!