Lower Abdominal Pain
You may also benefit from making over-the-counter remedies for mild stomach discomfort. Medicines like Tums, Pepto-Bismol, and Pepcid, or generic versions, can reduce symptoms and help you feel better quickly. 6
7 Common Causes of a Burning Sensation in the Stomach
7 Common Causes of a Burning Sensation in the Stomach
Occasional stomach upset is very common, especially as you get older. Most of the time, a mild case of pain or a burning sensation in the stomach isn’t a cause of concern. Over-the-counter medicines can help with the discomfort.
However, some conditions can cause prolonged symptoms or symptoms that get worse over time. When that happens, you will need to talk to your doctor to get the treatment you need.
Stomach pain and burning can have a variety of causes. Food and medicines can be a culprit, but there are also medical conditions that can lead to stomach pain and other symptoms. Common causes of stomach discomfort include:
Food and medications: Certain foods or medicines can trigger stomach discomfort. You may have undiagnosed sensitivities to certain foods that lead to indigestion and a burning sensation in the stomach. In addition, some popular foods lead to stomach upset, including: 1
- Acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus
- Onions and garlic
- Alcohol
- High-fat foods
- Caffeinated drinks like coffee
- Carbonated drinks
- Pain medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, Celebrex, and Dayopro
Ulcers: Gastric ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of your stomach. They can be caused by a buildup of stomach acids, infection, or as a side effect of some medications. Ulcers cause pain and burning sensations. Most ulcers require prescription medication as treatment. 2
Functional Dyspepsia: Functional dyspepsia is the medical term for indigestion that doesn’t have a clear cause. You may experience occasional discomfort or burning sensation for no apparent reason. You may or may not have other symptoms like gas and bloating. Functional dyspepsia isn’t harmful, but it can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. 3
GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD is a condition where stomach acids rise up into the esophagus and cause a burning sensation. You may also notice a sour taste in your throat, regurgitation, a persistent cough, or difficulty swallowing. 4
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Irritable bowel syndrome, also called IBS, is a common, chronic digestive disorder. The cause is unknown. People with IBS experience a stomach burning sensation along with gas, cramps, diarrhea, or constipation. 4
Stomach infection: Bacterial infections in the stomach can cause symptoms like burning and pain. Other symptoms of an infection include bloating, increased belching, nausea, decreased appetite, and unexplained weight loss. 4
Cancer: Several types of cancer can develop in the stomach, all of which pose serious threats to your health. Stomach cancer usually develops slowly, and symptoms may get worse over time. You may notice pain and burning as well as more serious symptoms including: 5
- Feeling full after even small meals
- Abdominal swelling or fluid buildup
- Constant discomfort
- Appetite or weight changes
- Nausea and visiting
- Blood in stool or vomit
- Weakness and fatigue
Home Remedies to Treat Burning Stomach
In many cases, you can reduce stomach burning by avoiding foods that lead to discomfort. Reducing your intake of caffeine, soda, alcohol, or acidic foods can prevent episodes of stomach pain and bloat. You can try cutting back on one type of food at a time to see which makes the biggest difference in how you feel.
You may also benefit from making over-the-counter remedies for mild stomach discomfort. Medicines like Tums, Pepto-Bismol, and Pepcid, or generic versions, can reduce symptoms and help you feel better quickly. 6
Some people find adjusting their position during an episode of stomach pain can make a difference. You may be more comfortable if you sit up instead of lying down. Taking small sips of water may also improve symptoms. Be careful not to drink too much and over-fill your stomach. That may make symptoms feel worse.
Preventing Burning Stomach Sensation
You can make lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of having frequent episodes of stomach discomfort. Avoiding foods that upset your stomach is one way to prevent ingestion. In addition, you can try taking steps to improve your overall wellness, including:
- Quitting smoking
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Eating smaller meals
- Avoiding eating late at night
- Reducing alcohol consumption
If you take medications that upset your stomach, ask your doctor about alternatives. You may be able to switch to a treatment that doesn’t cause discomfort.
When to See a Doctor for Burning Stomach Sensation
Some causes of a burning stomach sensation can only be resolved by getting medical treatment. You should see a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms: 6
- Shortness of breath
- A feeling of tightness in your chest
- Blood your stool
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- Unexplained weight loss
In addition, you should see your doctor if you have frequent episodes of burning in your stomach, the burning is getting more severe over time, or home care doesn’t help with your symptoms. Your doctor can run tests to determine if you have a condition like ulcers or an infection that requires prescription medication. You may need blood tests to check for infection.
Your doctor may also order imaging tests such as endoscopy. The doctor will insert a tube with a small camera on it into your stomach to look for signs of ulcers, cancer, or infection.
If you have a serious health condition, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan. Conditions such as ulcers or chronic GERD may be managed with precautionary medications such as proton pump inhibitors or H2-receptor antagonists. If an infection is causing your discomfort, you will need an antibiotic. If your doctor suspects cancer, they will refer you to an oncologist who will treat your condition.
Most cases of ingestion or what causes a burning sensation in the stomach are not serious. You can try home care and over-the-counter remedies to feel better in the short term. If you have questions or if your symptoms get worse, call your doctor for help.
- Cleveland Clinic. (January 19, 2023). “”
- National Health Service. (January 14, 2022). “Stomach Ulcers.“
- Mayo Clinic. (December 29, 2022). “Functional Dyspepsia.“
- Medical News Today. (n.d.) “Stomach Burning: What to know.“
- American Cancer Society. (January 22, 2021). “Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer.“
Cleveland Clinic. (December 19, 2022). “Indigestion (Dyspepsia).
DISCLAIMER
The information featured in this site is general in nature. The site provides health information designed to complement your personal health management. It does not provide medical advice or health services and is not meant to replace professional advice or imply coverage of specific clinical services or products. The inclusion of links to other web sites does not imply any endorsement of the material on such websites.
Health Topics
- Allergies
- Brain Health
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular Health
- Covid-19
- Dermatology
- Diabetes
- Fitness
- Flu Treatment
- Gastroenterology
- HCAT News
- Health Education
- Infectious Diseases
- Memory Care
- Men’s Health
- Mental Health
- Neurology
- Orthopaedics
- Pain Management
- Plastic Surgery
- Prenatal Health
- Rehabilitation
- Respiratory Health
- Rheumatology
- Senior Health
- Skincare
- Sleep
- Spotlight Articles
- Uncategorized
- Weight Loss
- Wellness
- Women’s Health
Lower Abdominal Pain
If you have abdominal pain below your belly button, your healthcare provider might call it lower abdominal pain. Dividing the abdomen into regions helps narrow down the many causes of abdominal pain.
Overview
What is lower abdominal pain?
Abdominal pain has many causes and may involve many different organs. To help narrow it down, healthcare providers often think of the abdomen in regions. Your lower abdomen is the portion that falls under your belly button. Lower abdominal pain may involve any of the organs that live between your belly button and your pubic bone. This includes abdominal organs and pelvic organs. With pain, it can be hard to tell the difference.
Possible Causes
What causes lower abdominal pain?
Lower abdominal pain is most likely to come from one of the organs in your lower abdominopelvic cavity. These include your:
Less commonly, pain may be referred from somewhere else in your body if it triggers nerves that travel between the two areas. Your kidneys live in the back of your abdominopelvic cavity, but pain in your kidneys may wrap around to the front. People with testicles may feel testicular pain in their abdomen.
Types of pain
Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic, and so can its causes. Acute causes occur suddenly, and they’re usually temporary. They include injuries and most infections. Chronic diseases can cause chronic pain that persists for a long time or that comes and goes. Both types of pain can become progressively worse. This can be a sign that the disease is also getting worse. Seek urgent care for severe or progressive pain.
Is lower abdominal pain serious?
Some causes are serious and some aren’t. It can be hard to tell from the way you feel. If your pain is severe or getting worse, it’s worth seeking medical care regardless of what’s causing it. A healthcare provider can help relieve your pain while also investigating the cause. If you’ve had chronic pain for a while and you don’t know why, that’s also worth investigating, even if it doesn’t feel too severe.
What is the most common cause of lower abdominal pain?
Most of your small and large intestines are in your lower abdominal cavity, and they take up most of the space in there. For this reason, conditions affecting your intestines are the most common causes of lower abdominal pain. These include everyday digestive problems such as gas and indigestion, diarrhea and constipation. They also include more serious gastrointestinal diseases, both chronic and acute.
You may have indigestion, gas or problems with your poop if you have a food allergy or intolerance, or if your digestive system isn’t working right. Many things can interfere with the digestive process. You may also feel pain if your intestines are inflamed, which happens when your immune system is activated. Inflammation in your small intestine (enteritis) or in your large intestine (colitis) may be caused by:
- Infections.
- Ulcers.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Celiac disease.
- Small bowel obstruction or large bowel obstruction.
- Small intestine cancer or colon cancer.
What causes lower abdominal pain in people assigned female at birth?
If you have female reproductive organs, these also live in your lower abdominopelvic region. These organs are another common cause of lower abdominal pain. After all, it can be hard to tell the difference between intestinal cramps and menstrual cramps because your uterus and intestines are so close together. While some period pain is normal, it can sometimes indicate a problem, such as:
- Endometriosis.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- Uterine fibroids.
- Uterine cancer.
You also may feel pain in your ovaries if you have:
What else causes lower abdominal pain?
When your digestive system or your female reproductive system isn’t involved, you may have pain originating from your urinary system. A urinary tract infection is a common cause of pain in your bladder or ureters. Kidney infections may cause lower abdominal pain if it radiates from your back. You may also have bladder inflammation or kidney pain from other irritations or diseases.
What if my lower abdominal pain is just on the left or right side?
Lower left abdominal pain is often related to diverticulosis and diverticulitis of the colon. Diverticula, pouches that develop in your colon wall, most often occur on the lower left side. These pouches make great hiding places for bacteria and can easily become infected, causing inflammation and pain.
Lower right abdominal pain may be related to your appendix, which branches off to the right from your large intestine. Inflammation in your appendix (appendicitis) is a common cause of lower abdominal pain. An inflamed appendix can also burst, spreading infection to your peritoneum (peritonitis).
You may also have lower abdominal pain on one side if you have a condition affecting one ovary or one kidney. A growth, such as a tumor or a cyst, may occur in one ovary or one kidney on either side. A kidney stone usually affects one kidney at a time. Ovulation pain usually affects one ovary at a time.
Care and Treatment
What treatment is available for lower abdominal pain?
You can treat milder pain at home with over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics, such as NSAIDs and acetaminophen. Or you may need prescription pain relievers, such as steroids or opioids, depending on your condition. If you go to the hospital with severe pain, they might give you medication through an IV. They’ll also look to isolate and treat the underlying cause of your pain, which might be many things.
The most common causes of lower abdominal pain aren’t serious. You can often treat intestinal or menstrual cramps at home with rest, heat and hydration. Try giving your digestive system a rest if it’s bothering you, and stick to broths and teas for a day. Herbal teas such as peppermint, licorice, and ginger can help soothe your digestive system. In the longer term, you might want to adjust your diet.
