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Stomach Ache and Stomach Upset

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What happens when you have a stomach ache? " пїЅ When you have a stomach ache, you have pain or discomfort in the upper portion of your belly. Sometimes thats the only symptom you have. Other times, you can have other symptoms such as: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Burning in your chest known as heartburn
  • Burping
  • Bloating (feeling as though your belly is filled with air)
  • Feeling full too quickly when you start eating

Should I see a doctor or nurse about my stomach ache? " пїЅ Most people do not need to see a doctor or nurse for a stomach ache. But you should see your doctor or nurse if: пїЅ пїЅ

  • You have bloody bowel movements, diarrhea, or vomiting
  • Your pain is severe and lasts more than an hour or comes and goes for more than 24 hours
  • You cannot eat or drink for hours
  • You have a fever higher than 102 пїЅ пїЅF (39 пїЅ пїЅC)
  • You lose a lot of weight without trying to, or lose interest in food

What causes stomach aches? " пїЅ In some cases, stomach aches are caused by a specific problem, such as a stomach ulcer (a sore on the inside of the stomach) or a condition called "diverticulitis, " пїЅ in which small pouches in your large intestine get infected. But in some cases, doctors and nurses do not know what causes stomach aches or the other symptoms that happen with them. Even so, doctors and nurses can usually treat the symptoms of stomach ache. пїЅ пїЅ

What treatments help with stomach symptoms? " пїЅ If your symptoms are caused by a specific problem, such as an ulcer, treatments for that problem will likely relieve your symptoms. But if your doctor or nurse does not know what is causing your pain, he or she might recommend medicines that reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. These medicines often relieve stomach ache and the symptoms that come with it. Some of these medicines are available without a prescription. пїЅ пїЅ

Can I do anything on my own to prevent stomach ache? " пїЅ Yes, the foods you eat and the way you eat them can have a big effect on whether or not you feel pain. пїЅ пїЅ

To lower your chances of getting a stomach ache: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Avoid fatty foods, such as red meat, butter, fried foods, and cheese
  • Eat a bunch of small meals each day, rather than two or three big meals
  • Stay away from foods that seem to make your symptoms worse
  • Avoid taking over-the-counter medicines that seem to make your symptoms worse (examples include aspirin or ibuprofen [sample brand names: Advil, Motrin])

People " пїЅ especially kids " пїЅ sometimes get a stomach ache after drinking milk or eating cheese, ice cream, or other foods that have milk in them. They have a problem called "lactose intolerance, " пїЅ which means that they cannot fully break down foods that have milk in them. пїЅ пїЅ

People with lactose intolerance can avoid problems caused by milk if they take a medicine called lactase. Lactase (sample brand name: Lactaid), helps your body break down milk. Some foods come with it already added. пїЅ пїЅ

If your stomach ache seems to be related to constipation, meaning that you do not have enough bowel movements, you might need more fiber or a medicine called a laxative. (Laxatives are medicines that increase the number of bowel movements you have.) пїЅ пїЅ

Taking in a lot of fiber helps to increase the number of bowel movements you have. You can get more fiber by: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
  • Taking fiber pills, powders, or wafers

Is a stomach ache the same for children as it is for adults? " пїЅ In general, yes. Children get stomach aches for the same reasons that adults do. As with adults, doctors and nurses often do not know what causes stomach pain in children. But in children, stomach pain is often triggered by stress or anxiety. For them, it's especially important to pay attention to psychological or emotional problems that might be making pain worse. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 15388 Version 4.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ

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This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. пїЅ пїЅ2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ

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пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ