Hunger pain in the stomach: causes and methods of treatment

The article was checked by gastroenterologist E.G. Melnikova. , is for general informational purposes only and does not replace specialist advice. For recommendations on diagnosis and treatment, consultation with a doctor is necessary.

At the Clinical Hospital on Yauza, the cause of stomach pain will be quickly identified and successful treatment will be carried out. Highly qualified doctors - gastroenterologists, modern examination technologies and expert equipment (endoscopy, endosonography, CT and MRI, all laboratory diagnostics, etc.) ensure high efficiency of conservative and surgical treatment of diseases accompanied by stomach pain.

Pain in the stomach , “pain in the pit of the stomach” may be associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, then it is considered pain of organic origin. If the pain is not associated with organic changes (inflammation, destruction) in the stomach or nearby organs, it is called functional pain.

Diagnostic stages

1. Consultation with a gastroenterologist

After a detailed study of complaints and anamnesis of the disease and life, a thorough medical examination, the gastroenterologist develops an examination plan individual for each patient. A gastroenterologist may prescribe consultations with other specialists, for example, an infectious disease specialist or a psychotherapist.

2. Endoscopic examination (gastroscopy)

The gold standard and a necessary stage of modern examination, even in the case of presumably neurogenic pain. Modern techniques used at the Yauza Clinical Hospital, including combined (endo-ultrasound), significantly expand the diagnostic capabilities of conventional fibrogastroscopy.

3. Laboratory diagnostics

Depending on the direction of the diagnostic search and the results of endoscopy, laboratory tests (blood, urine, feces, gastric juice, testing for Helicobacter, etc.) are prescribed.

At the Yauza Clinical Hospital, it is possible not only to conduct a thorough examination of the gastrointestinal tract (ultrasound and endoscopy, radiation diagnostics - CT and MRI, laboratory diagnostics) but also basic related pathologies, for example, examination of the cardiovascular system or cancer search.

Abdominal pain in the morning: 16 causes and their symptoms

Below are some of the most common causes of stomach pain in the morning:

Acid reflux and GERD

Acid reflux is a condition in which acid and other stomach contents flow abnormally back up into the esophagus. This may cause a burning sensation in the back of the mouth.

The most common symptom of acid reflux is heartburn, which affects about 60 million people at least once a month, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Someone who has more than two episodes per week may have a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can cause complications if left untreated. People with acid reflux may feel abdominal pain, usually in the middle of the abdomen.

Gastritis

Gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach lining, can develop suddenly or slowly over time. Pain in the upper abdomen is a common symptom of this condition, and nausea and a feeling of fullness may also occur.

Gastroenteritis

It is sometimes called the stomach flu. Gastroenteritis is a viral or bacterial infection that affects the stomach and intestines. This causes abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Stomach ulcers

Also known as peptic ulcers, stomach ulcers can cause a dull, burning pain in the stomach in the morning or at other times. Peptic ulcers are ulcers on the lining of the stomach and the lining of the small intestine closest to the stomach.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. This is a common cause of severe and sudden abdominal pain that begins around the navel and extends below. The pain usually gets worse over time. Other symptoms may include nausea and fever. Appendicitis often requires surgery.

Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease can cause inflammation anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. This inflammation can cause abdominal cramps and pain. Diarrhea, constipation, weight loss and fatigue are other symptoms of this chronic disease.

Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is the medical term for stomach upset. Lifestyle choices, such as the type of food a person eats, can cause it, but it can also be associated with certain medical conditions. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom associated with indigestion, although people may also suffer from nausea and bloating, which swells quickly when eating.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that can cause abdominal pain as well as changes in bowel habits. People with IBS may experience frequent alternating constipation and diarrhea. They may also feel bloated and have sluggish bowels.

Abdominal adhesions

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 9 out of 10 people who have open abdominal surgery develop adhesions, or scar tissue, in which organs stick to each other and to the abdominal wall. Most people with adhesion do not develop complications, but for those who do, chronic abdominal pain is common. Other symptoms include bloating, constipation and nausea.

Food allergies

Abdominal pain is a common symptom of food allergies, affecting 4–6% of children and 4% of adults. Other symptoms include nausea, hives and potentially fatal anaphylaxis, which interferes with breathing and causes a drop in blood pressure.

Constipation

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) defines constipation as having three or fewer bowel movements per week that may be difficult or painful. People with constipation may also develop abdominal pain. People can usually treat constipation on their own, but if it becomes chronic or other symptoms such as bleeding or fever occur, see a doctor.

Diverticular disease

Diverticular disease, or diverticulosis, affects about half of people over 60 years of age. It appears as a bulge of the colon in pouches. Usually the pouches do not cause any problems, but if they become infected or inflamed, symptoms may develop. This is known as diverticulitis. People may experience abdominal pain (usually on the left side), fever, nausea, and more serious complications.

Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection that affects the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix.

According to the Women's Health Administration, about 5% of women have PID, and it is most common among women ages 15-24. The most common symptom is pain in the lower abdomen. Other symptoms include fever, unusual vaginal discharge, and pain with sex or urination. It can cause serious complications if not treated quickly.

Celiac disease

Celiac disease is also known as gluten intolerance. This food intolerance causes a person's immune system to attack their small intestine when they eat anything that contains gluten. Wheat, rye, barley and many other foods contain gluten. Symptoms vary, but abdominal pain and diarrhea are the most common.

Gallbladder disease

Gallbladder problems can cause abdominal pain, often in the upper right side of the abdomen. Pain may come and go for people suffering from biliary colic. If gallstones are present and block the ducts in the gallbladder, other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dark urine, jaundice and low blood pressure develop.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis develops when the pancreas becomes inflamed, often due to gallstones. Common symptoms include sudden and severe pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting.

Treatment

When low-intensity pain in the stomach occurs for the first time, it is necessary to adjust the diet and diet: give up spicy, fried and fatty foods, limit the size of portions, reconsider the time of dinner. It is possible to take sorbents and a single dose of analgesics.

If stomach pain does not go away within an hour or two, this is a reason to consult a doctor and even seek emergency help.

Treatment of stomach pain depends entirely on the results of the examination. Depending on the identified cause of pain, different methods can be used - conservative (diet, drug treatment) and surgical methods (including endoscopic, laparoscopic).

If you are worried about stomach pain, contact the Clinical Hospital on Yauza. In our hospital, comprehensive diagnostics can be carried out using expert-level equipment; our doctors will quickly and effectively eliminate the causes of pain and relieve you of the unpleasant symptom.

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Causes of the disease and classification of stomach pain

Stomach pain has certain causes.

Among the most common reasons are the following:

• damage/disorder of the digestive organs;
• stimulation of receptors in the area of ​​ulcerative lesions;
• excessive release of hydrochloric acid;
• convulsive contractions that form in the area of ​​the ulcer.

The symptom of pain can occur with varying strength, frequency and intensity of action.

According to experts, such pain is graded into:

• pulsating (can be caused by convulsive contractions of smooth muscle);
• burning (the main indications for its appearance are a high content of hydrochloric acid);
• pulling (appears a short time after eating);
• sucking (arise due to erosive changes).

Dangerous pain: consult a gastroenterologist

• Acute pancreatitis. Inflammation of the pancreas as a result of its damage by its own enzymes. The disease is accompanied by acute pain in the left side, often radiating to the back and worsening with movement, as well as nausea, vomiting and fever. You can't do it without a doctor! In severe cases, patients are sent to intensive care for surgery to drain the pancreas.
• Peptic ulcer disease. Gastric and duodenal ulcers are one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases that occur due to alcohol abuse, poor diet and severe stress. Symptoms include loss of appetite, aching pain (especially at night or when hungry) in the epigastric area, nausea, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, belching of sour or bitter foods. Peptic ulcer disease is dangerous because if left untreated, perforation of the ulcers occurs, accompanied by dagger pain, dark (bloody) stools and vomiting of coffee grounds.

At the first symptoms, consult a specialist. Ulcers can be treated with medication and diet. A competent specialist will help you adjust your diet and prescribe a series of tests that will help identify the disease in the early stages.

• Acute cholecystitis. Inflammation of the gallbladder, which can occur as an independent disease or as a complication of gallstone disease. The disease is accompanied by paroxysmal pain in the right hypochondrium combined with frequent vomiting, nausea, increased body temperature to 38–40 C and bloating. Cholecystitis cannot be cured at home with folk remedies. Complications of acute cholecystitis can be fatal. Contact the clinic immediately for emergency help. Treatment in the case of acute cholecystitis is carried out surgically, in the case of chronic cholecystitis - with medication as prescribed by a doctor.
• Acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. Both acute and chronic gastritis primarily manifest themselves as severe pain in the stomach, loss of appetite, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. In some cases, the patient experiences weakness, dizziness, and loses weight.

The cause of the disease can be an unhealthy lifestyle, bad habits, poor diet, or infection of the mucous membrane with the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori.

It is important to contact a gastroenterologist in a timely manner in order to identify the disease in the early stages and receive appropriate medication and dietary treatment. Treatment with folk remedies can bring relief, but often after it the attacks recur again, and the time of remission between them is reduced

Painful swallowing

The content of the article

Painful swallowing (odynophagia) is a symptom that accompanies many diseases. It can be independent or coexist with dysphagia.

Pain when swallowing is felt at the level of the neck or in the chest area and is described by patients as painful squeezing, aching pain, a burning or tingling sensation. The pain may spread to the back.

Odynophagia often leads to weight loss. Her treatment is causal in nature.

Common causes of pain when swallowing:

• purulent sore throat;
• tongue abscess;
• peritonsillar abscess;
• epiglottis abscess;
• phlegmon of the floor of the mouth;
• throat cancer;
• laryngeal cancer;
• esophagitis (reflux, viral, fungal);
• foreign body in the throat or esophagus;
• damage to the wall of the throat or esophagus due to injury or a foreign body;
• Crohn's disease;
• scleroderma;
• Zenker's diverticulum;
• diphtheria of the pharynx;
• Plummer-Vinson syndrome;
• esophageal motility disorders.

Very hot or very cold drinks and foods can also cause a sore throat.

These are just some of the causes of a sore throat. In fact, there are several dozen diseases associated with this symptom.

Acute pain: call an ambulance

• Acute appendicitis. It all starts with a sharp pain in the navel area, after which the pain is localized in the lower abdomen on the right. It tends to subside, but when you press or turn the body, it returns. May be accompanied by increased body temperature, nausea, vomiting, and weakness. Requires immediate hospitalization and, most often, surgical intervention to avoid intestinal rupture and the development of purulent peritonitis.
• Acute peritonitis. Severe inflammation due to infectious processes in the abdominal cavity. It can be caused by intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, perforated gastric and duodenal ulcers, late-diagnosed appendicitis and some other diseases. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, increased body temperature up to 38*C, single vomiting, signs of shock - tachycardia, confusion, pale skin.
• Acute pyelonephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys. Sharp, almost unbearable pain in the lower back, accompanied by elevated body temperature, weakness and chills, is a sign of pyelonephritis. Call a doctor!

Symptoms that indicate the need to call a doctor or ambulance urgently:

• Severe unbearable pain in any part of the abdomen (pain can radiate to the back, accompanied by cramps or sweat on the face)
• Vomiting, diarrhea (pay attention to the presence of blood in the masses)
• Yellowing of the skin (one of the clear signs of serious malfunctions in the liver and gallbladder)
• Severe increase in body temperature, fever
• Shock—loss of consciousness, increased heart rate, dizziness, and paleness

Don't expect the pain to go away on its own. Call a doctor or go to a clinic emergency room as soon as possible.

Why does the stomach become inflamed?

The stomach contains an aggressive environment: gastric juice is hydrochloric acid and enzymes. At the same time, the organ does not digest itself: the acid does not have access to the lining of the stomach, protected by a layer of mucus. Only those areas where this layer is destroyed are exposed to the aggressive effects of gastric juice.

Painkillers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and alcohol are the enemies of the protective layer.

Their exposure changes the properties of mucus over time. As a result, the acid begins to affect the stomach - and gastropathy develops, and an ulcer may develop in the future. But the connection between spicy foods, smoked meats, fibrous foods and damage to the gastric mucosa has not been proven by scientists.

In addition to external influences, internal factors can affect the condition of the stomach - for example, there is autoimmune gastritis. Acute inflammation can develop due to a viral infection and usually resolves quickly without requiring treatment.

Safe but unpleasant pain: improve your diet and get examined

• Stomach or intestinal upset. We all sometimes eat something wrong or catch the stomach flu. Digestive disorders are accompanied by cramps in the stomach or intestines, nagging pain, which may be accompanied by a feeling of nausea or diarrhea. If the symptoms do not cause you concern and you understand what is causing them, take the medications recommended by your doctor to relieve spasms and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Psychogenic pain. These are pains in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract that occur against the background or as a result of stress. They can accompany neurotic conditions. Sometimes such pain can be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome, but only a doctor can make a diagnosis. If you notice the appearance of abdominal pain due to anxiety or stress, contact your therapist and psychiatrist for supportive therapy. In some cases, properly selected sedative pills help solve the problem.
• Intestinal colic. Weakness, chills and sharp cramping pain in the navel area may indicate colic. They can happen to any person, but this always indicates disturbances in nutrition and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Review your diet - eliminate fatty, spicy and fried foods, give up coffee and sweets for a while. If intestinal colic becomes not an isolated case, but a common occurrence, consult a gastroenterologist.

You can make an appointment with a qualified gastroenterologist in Moscow on the website of the MC “Health” network. Our specialists will help you find the cause of abdominal pain and eliminate it. At the clinic you can undergo a full examination, take tests and receive their results as soon as possible.

Don't wait for a critical situation! Get tested and find out everything about the health of your digestive tract.

Other causes of morning sickness

After excluding the above diseases from the list of causes, the following causes can be considered:

• Pregnancy. Intoxication and nausea in the morning often occurs in pregnant women, especially in the early stages. This is a normal reaction of the body to significant changes and hormonal changes. It is very important to completely eliminate medications used to treat the digestive tract during pregnancy. These drugs can have an extremely negative impact on the health of the patient, the unborn child and the course of pregnancy. Therefore, you will have to endure this illness and use folk remedies, but be sure to consult a doctor.
• Migraine. Morning sickness on an empty stomach may precede a severe headache. You will likely also experience a lot of noise and increased sensitivity to smells.
• High blood pressure (hypertension). The problem of morning sickness may be accompanied by headache and dizziness. If you do not pay attention to these symptoms in a timely manner, you risk developing this disease, which in turn can lead to a stroke.
• Cardiovascular diseases - less often, nausea on an empty stomach appears with heart failure or developing myocardial infarction. If nausea is accompanied by pain, a feeling of heaviness and tightness behind the sternum, numbness or tingling in one half of the body, you should seek medical help as soon as possible, as this may be an incipient myocardial infarction.
• Increased intracranial pressure - nausea and regurgitation in an infant can occur when the pressure inside the ventricles of the brain increases.