What Causes Discomfort in the Upper Abdomen

Stomach discomforts have quite a number of reasons to happen. Indigestion, constipation, and consumption of high-calorie foods all day, are just some of the reasons. But whatever the reason may be for upper stomach discomfort, this condition tends to spoil one's appetite and zest for life. This is because, stomach being the powerhouse of digestion, is quite susceptible to various stimuli, which can cause upper abdominal discomfort as a symptom.

For any anomaly in health, the first thing to check is the lifestyle followed by the person. The kind of food consumed also plays a major role in determining the digestive health of a person. Many a time, people experience upper stomach pain and discomfort after eating. The discomfort is at times, accompanied by burning and cramping in the upper abdomen.

There could be many causes (both bacterial and viral) responsible for this condition, of which some could be:

• Peptic ulcers
• Gastritis
• Esophagitis
• Gastric ulcer
• Pyloric stenosis
• Pneumonia
• Urinary tract infection
• Gallstones
• Candidiasis
• Exercising immediately after eating
• Acid reflux

This condition may not exhibit symptoms of pain always. It may also be accompanied with a feeling of fullness and bloating. Gastric conditions like dyspepsia also exhibit such symptoms for discomfort in the upper stomach. And nausea is one of the conspicuous symptoms of this condition, along with stomach pain and bloating.

Upper stomach cramps which develop after eating a heavy meal could be caused by pancreatitis. The symptoms set in with nausea, followed by racing pulse rate and fever. Other causes include intestinal blockage, diverticulitis, heart diseases, diabetes, heartburn, and food poisoning.

Besides these, discomfort and bloating in the abdomen are also caused due to lactose intolerance. This happens, if one's diet is not constituted of high-fiber food, because of which metabolism slows down and constipation symptoms set in.

People who do not chew their food properly and do not consume enough water (at least 8 pints a day), face painful stomach cramps after eating, which at times may culminate into a stomach flu. It is strongly advised against consuming any drink immediately after meals.

The reason is that, fresh fruit juices and water, consumed post meals dilute the stomach acids, which when deviant from their normal concentration fail to kill the bacteria, thereby failing to digest the food.

Diarrhea is one such outcome of upper stomach discomfort. In such cases, one should always try out some stomach ache home remedies like roasted asafetida powder in yogurt and fennel seeds. Make sure to drink a lot of water throughout the day in order to detoxify the body regularly.

Pregnancy is a time, when even the smallest discomfort should be taken seriously. And a majority of women, always experience upper abdominal pain during pregnancy. Pain caused by stomach cramps during this phase should never be ignored, and immediate medical attention must be sought for the same.

Some of the following causes that are responsible for stomach discomfort in pregnant women are listed here:

• Preeclampsia (caused by hypertension and high blood pressure during pregnancy)
• HELLP syndrome (disintegration of red blood cells and a sudden fall in the platelet count)

• Renal Infections (like urinary tract infection)
• Excessive gas and bloating (caused by severe indigestion and constipation during pregnancy)
• Expansion of ribs during pregnancy (a natural occurrence due to the developing fetus)

Hence, pregnant women should take extra care when it comes to their daily diet. Foods packed with calcium, potassium, and vitamins are a must for them, to speed up the metabolism, strengthen the bones, and enhance the immune system of the body. Besides, they must also follow pregnancy exercises on a regular basis to avoid such pains.

To keep away such conditions, one should follow a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet (with a high-fiber content) and follow a physical regime. After all, a sound digestive health depends on a healthy digestive system.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.