Is your stomach often sore in the morning? Discover the common reasons for morning stomach pain and learn how to stop it and get better sleep.

What Causes Stomach Pain in the Morning?

There are several potential reasons why your stomach may hurt when you wake up:

1. Indigestion

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a common condition where stomach acid irritates the lining of your stomach, upper intestine, or esophagus. It can be caused by factors like medication, obesity, stress, alcohol, caffeine, or eating spicy/fatty foods too quickly. Symptoms include stomach pain, heartburn, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. The fix is to cut down on potential triggers and try home remedies like ginger ale or peppermint tea.

2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that can be triggered by stress, lack of sleep, or disruptions to your circadian rhythm. Morning IBS symptoms like abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and nausea tend to be worse after a poor night’s sleep. The fix is to keep your sleep debt low, avoid eating close to bedtime, and reduce fiber, fat, and spicy foods.

3. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

IBD is a more serious condition involving chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, including conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Symptoms include stomach pain, cramps, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss. If you suspect IBD, speak to a doctor, as anti-inflammatory medications or biologics may be needed.

4. Constipation

Constipation leading to stomach pain can be caused by stress, lack of fiber, dehydration, or inactivity. Symptoms include stomach pain, hard/lumpy stools, and straining during bowel movements. The fix is to increase exercise, fiber, and water intake, and reduce anxiety.

5. Acid Reflux and GERD

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, causing symptoms like stomach pain and heartburn. Chronic acid reflux is known as GERD. One study found almost half of GERD patients experience an acid reflux event within 20 minutes of waking up.

How to Stop Stomach Pain in the Morning

To prevent or stop morning stomach pain, consider the following steps:

• Avoid potential triggers like alcohol, caffeine, spicy/fatty foods, and eating too quickly
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals and chew food thoroughly
• Keep stress and anxiety in check through relaxation techniques
• Get enough sleep and maintain a consistent sleep-wake cycle
• Stay hydrated and eat high-fiber foods to prevent constipation
• Take over-the-counter antacids or try home remedies like ginger ale or peppermint tea
• See a doctor if the pain persists or you suspect a more serious underlying condition

How to Fall Back to Sleep When Your Stomach Hurts

If you wake up with stomach pain that’s preventing you from going back to sleep, try the following:

1. Get up and walk around for a bit to see if the pain subsides
2. Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation
3. Drink a soothing beverage like warm milk, herbal tea, or diluted apple cider vinegar
4. Apply a heating pad or ice pack to your stomach
5. Avoid stimulating activities like using your phone or watching TV
6. If the pain persists, consider taking an over-the-counter antacid or pain reliever
7. Speak to your doctor if the pain is severe or happens frequently

What Causes Stomach Pain at Night?

Nighttime stomach pain can have similar causes to morning stomach pain, such as:

• Acid reflux/GERD, especially when lying down
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) flare-ups
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms
• Gallbladder issues or pancreatitis
• Medications that can irritate the stomach
• Eating heavy, spicy, or fatty foods too close to bedtime

When to See a Doctor About Stomach Pain

You should see a doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Severe, persistent, or worsening stomach pain
• Stomach pain that’s accompanied by fever, vomiting, or unexplained weight loss
• Difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing
• Blood in your stool or black, tarry stools
• Persistent constipation or diarrhea
• Stomach pain that interferes with your daily life or sleep

Your doctor can perform tests to diagnose the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment.

Why Does My Stomach Hurt When I Wake Up? What to Do About It

When your alarm goes off in the morning, you should be waking up excited for a new day, or at least for the coffee that’s been brewing. But, instead, you’re struck down with stomach pain that makes it hard to get out of bed. 

If this is a rare occurrence, it’s probably nothing to worry about, and the pain should go away on its own soon enough. If, however, you’re regularly waking up with stomach pain, or your stomach pain wakes you up early, stopping you from getting a full night’s sleep, you need to find the fix and/or seek medical attention. 

Below, we’ll cover the common reasons your stomach might be hurting when you wake up and what you can do to fix it. Plus, we’ll share how the RISE app can help.

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What causes stomach pain in the morning?

How to stop stomach pain in the morning?

How to fall back to sleep when your stomach hurts?

What causes stomach pain at night?

When to see a doctor about stomach pain?

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What Causes Stomach Pain in the Morning?

Here’s what could be behind your morning stomach pain.  

1. Indigestion 

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is common. It happens when stomach acid irritates the lining of your stomach, the top part of your bowel, or your esophagus. 

It’s not a condition in its own right, however. It’s a symptom of a condition like acid reflux or ulcers.  

Medication, obesity, stress, anxiety, alcohol, caffeine, eating spicy or fatty foods, or eating too quickly can cause indigestion. Symptoms usually appear after eating, so you may get stomach pain right after breakfast. 

Symptoms of indigestion include: 

• Stomach pain 
• Heartburn 
• Bloating 
• Nausea 
• Diarrhea 

The fix: Cut down alcohol, caffeine, and your intake of spicy and fatty foods. Try eating smaller meals and eating more slowly, and keeping your stress and anxiety in check.

Over-the-counter pain relief like aspirin can help reduce pain in the moment, but these can also irritate your stomach. Ginger ale and peppermint tea are home remedies that may ease stomach pain. 

We’ve covered what helps with digestion and how to improve gut health naturally here. 

2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) 

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a functional gastrointestinal disorder. It can be triggered by stress, a lack of sleep, or being out of sync with your circadian rhythm — your body’s roughly 24-hour biological clock. 

If you’ve had a night of poor sleep, abdominal pain from IBS may be worse the next day. And sleep disruption can make GI symptoms and visceral hypersensitivity (pain in your visceral organs like your stomach) worse. Morning IBS symptoms are also worse after a night of poor sleep. 

Symptoms of IBS include:

• Stomach pain
• Cramps 
• Diarrhea 
• Constipation 
• Bloating 
• Nausea 

The fix: Keep your sleep debt low and circadian rhythm in check (more on how to do that soon) as these can trigger IBS and make symptoms worse. Avoid eating within two to three hours of bedtime and reduce how much fiber, fat, and spicy foods you eat. Exercise, lowering anxiety, and melatonin supplements can also help. 

To see more causes and treatments, check out how to sleep with IBS here. 

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3. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a more serious gastrointestinal disorder. It happens when your gastrointestinal tract is chronically inflamed. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease come under IBD. 

Symptoms of IBD include: 

• Stomach pain 
• Cramps 
• Diarrhea 
• Fatigue 
• Weight loss
• Blood in stool 

The fix: Speak to a doctor if you think you have IBD. Anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, and biologics (which neutralize inflammation-causing proteins) may be needed.

4. Constipation 

Constipation is infrequent bowel movements or having difficult bowel movements. It’s usually described as fewer than three bowel movements a week. 

Common causes of constipation include stress and anxiety, not eating enough fiber, not drinking enough water, or a lack of exercise.

Symptoms of constipation include: 

• Stomach pain 
• Having hard or lumpy stools 
• Straining to have a bowel movement 
• Pain when having a bowel movement 

The fix: Try lifestyle changes like doing more exercise, drinking more water, eating more fiber, and reducing your anxiety to ease constipation. Medications like laxatives can also help.    

5. Acid Reflux and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Acid reflux is usually felt as a burning sensation in your chest, but you may also feel stomach pain. 

It happens when stomach acid flows back up your digestive tract into your esophagus. Chronic acid reflux is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 

One small study found almost half of GERD patients have an acid reflux event within the first 20 minutes of waking up.

Symptoms of acid reflux include: 

• Stomach pain
• Heartburn 
• Nausea 
• Bad breath
• A bad taste in your mouth 
• Bloating 

The fix: Try eating smaller and more frequent meals and avoid overeating, reducing your anxiety, losing weight if you’re overweight, avoiding eating too close to bedtime, and sleeping with your head elevated. You can also take over-the-counter medication like Prevacid, Nexium, or Prilosec, after consulting with your doctor. 

Sleeping on your left side may also help. A 2022 study found left-side sleeping helped those with GERD have more reflux-free nights. 

You can learn more about the best side to sleep on for digestion here and how to sleep with acid reflux here. 

6. Food Intolerances and Allergies 

You might have had something new for dinner last night — or accidentally consumed something you know you’re allergic to — and now you’ve woken up in pain or with an upset stomach.  

Allergies or intolerances to dairy, shellfish, wheat, gluten, soy, eggs, or nuts can cause stomach pain, as can celiac disease. 

Symptoms of food allergies include: 

• Stomach pain 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Hives
• Wheezing
• Swelling of the tongue, lips, or eyes 
• Diarrhea 

The fix: If you don’t know of any food allergies, keep a food diary to track what you’ve eaten and when you get symptoms. You can also speak to a doctor about allergy tests. 

7. Pancreatitis 

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. You might feel pain in your stomach, especially after eating — so this may come on after breakfast. 

Symptoms of pancreatitis include: 

• Sharp pain in your stomach or back 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Fever 
• Having a swollen or tender belly  

The fix: Seek medical attention. Pain relief can help in the moment, but you may need antibiotics, fluids, or surgery. A doctor will also be able to determine the cause of your pancreatitis and treat that. This could be something like gallstones or alcohol misuse. 

8. Peptic Ulcer 

A peptic ulcer is an ulcer found on your stomach lining or in your small intestine. They’re caused by a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterial infection or from overusing anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) like aspirin. 

You may get peptic ulcer pain at any time of the day, but it might feel worse in the morning as you have an empty stomach. 

Symptoms of peptic ulcers include: 

• Stomach pain 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Loss of appetite 
• Weight loss 
• Indigestion  

The fix: An over-the-counter antacid can ease pain. See a doctor if you think you have a stomach ulcer as you may need antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors to reduce stomach acid, or surgery. 

9. Period Pain 

Cramps and bloating can hit you at any time of your period, including the morning. And period pain may be made worse by the fact it’s hard to get enough sleep (due to a potent cocktail of pain, anxiety, and fluctuating hormones). 

Symptoms of period pain include: 

• Stomach cramps 
• Bloating
• Lower back pain
• Breast tenderness
• Migraines 

The fix: Try a hot water bottle or heating pad to ease the stomach ache and pain relievers like ibuprofen. Yoga, a brisk walk, and abdominal massage can also help.

Getting enough sleep can make the pain easier to deal with, but sleep can be hard to come by on your period. We’ve covered how to sleep on your period and more about insomnia before your period here.  

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10. Gastritis 

Gastritis is when your stomach lining becomes inflamed. This can be caused by an infection, overuse of certain pain relievers, or overuse of alcohol. 

Gastritis may become worse when you eat, so you may feel your stomach pain more after breakfast.  

Symptoms of gastritis include: 

• Stomach pain 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Feelings of fullness in your upper abdomen 

The fix: Speak to a doctor. You may need antibiotics, acid blockers, or proton pump inhibitors. 

11. Diverticulitis 

Diverticulitis happens when small sacs develop in the wall of your large intestine and become inflamed. 

Symptoms of diverticulitis include: 

• Stomach pain, usually in the lower left side of your abdomen  
• Constipation 
• Fever 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting  

The fix: Speak to a healthcare professional. You may need antibiotics. Mild cases can be treated with rest and dietary changes, but more severe cases may need surgery. 

12. Gallstones 

Gallstones are small stones, usually of cholesterol, that form in the gallbladder. 

You may have no symptoms and not even need treatment. But, if a gallstone becomes trapped in a duct in your gallbladder, you may feel symptoms like: 

• Stomach pain in the center or upper right of your abdomen 
• Back or right shoulder pain 
• Nause
• Vomiting 

The fix: Speak to a doctor. They may prescribe medication to dissolve your gallstones or recommend surgery to remove your gallbladder. 

13. Food Poisoning 

You can get food poisoning from eating contaminated food. It usually goes away on its own within a few hours or days. 

Symptoms of food poisoning include: 

• Stomach pain
• Cramps  
• Diarrhea 
• Vomiting 

The fix: Unfortunately, you’ll have to ride out the illness. Keep hydrated, eat small meals of bland foods, and rest as much as possible. Get medical advice if your symptoms don’t improve after a few days, you’re pregnant, over 60, have an underlying serious condition, or it’s your child who’s sick. 

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How to Stop Stomach Pain in the Morning?

Apart from treating the root cause (see our fixes above), here’s what you can do to reduce stomach pain in the morning. 

1. Lower Your Sleep Debt 

The RISE app can tell you how much sleep debt you have.

Sleep debt is the name for the amount of sleep you owe your body. It’s compared to your sleep need, the genetically determined amount of sleep you need. 

When you don’t meet your sleep need at night, you start building up sleep debt, and this can lead to low energy levels, poor mood, and many mental and physical health conditions — including those that could be causing your stomach pain.  

Poor sleep has been linked to a number of causes of stomach pain including: 

• Upper and lower GI symptoms 
• Upper abdominal pain 
• Reflux 
• Diarrhea
• Constipation 
• IBS 
• Low cortisol

To make matters worse, when you don’t get enough sleep, you feel pain more acutely. So, even if a lack of sleep isn’t behind your stomach pain, it could very well make it much harder to deal with. 

Plus, sleep deprivation can throw your hunger hormones out of whack, making you more likely to overeat and reach for unhealthier foods — both of which can contribute to digestive issues and stomach pain. You learn more about the link between sleep and what and how much you eat here.

Luckily, you can pay down the sleep debt you’ve built up. 

To lower your sleep debt, you can: 

• Take naps: Check RISE for the best time to do this. 
• Go to bed a little earlier. 
• Sleep in a little later: Keep this to an hour or two to avoid messing up your circadian rhythm (more on that soon). 
• Improve your sleep hygiene: Sleep hygiene can cut down the time it takes you to fall asleep and reduce how often you wake up during the night, helping you get more sleep overall. More on what to do soon.

The RISE app can work out how much sleep debt you have and keep track of it as you pay it back. We measure your sleep debt over your past 14 nights and recommend you keep it below five hours to feel your best. 

RISE users on iOS 1.202 and above can click here to view their sleep debt.

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2. Get in Sync with Your Circadian Rhythm

The RISE app can predict your circadian rhythm each day.

Your circadian rhythm is your body’s biological clock. When you’re out of sync with it, you can not only cause low energy and sleep problems, but a whole host of health issues — including in your digestive system, causing stomach pain. 

But you don’t just have one circadian rhythm to think about. You have one master clock in your brain that controls your sleep-wake cycle. And you have clocks in almost every other tissue and organ — these are called peripheral clocks. 

When your master clock, peripheral clocks, and the outside world are at odds, you can easily suffer from digestive issues like constipation, acid reflux, IBS, IBD, and even digestive cancers. 

Here’s how to get in sync: 

• Keep a consistent sleep schedule: Aim to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same times each day, even on your days off.  
• Eat meals at roughly the same times and during the day: Eating can change the timing of your circadian rhythm, so keep meals at roughly the same time and avoid eating when your body’s not expecting it (i.e. at night). Finish up your final meal two to three hours before bed to stop digestive issues from keeping you up. What you eat matters, too. We’ve covered the best foods for sleep here. 
• Go to bed during your Melatonin Window: This is what we call the roughly one-hour window of time when your body’s rate of melatonin production is at its highest. Melatonin is your body’s sleep hormone, so going to bed during this window can help you fall and stay asleep.

The RISE app predicts your circadian rhythm each day based on factors like your inferred light exposure and last night’s sleep times. You can then see when your body naturally wants to wake up, wind down for bed, and go to sleep, and sync up your sleep and meal times to it.  

RISE can also remind you when to have your final meal of the day and show you when your Melatonin Window will be. 

RISE users on iOS 1.202 and above can click here to see their circadian rhythm on the Energy screen.

3. Improve Your Sleep Hygiene 

The RISE app can remind you when to do 20+ sleep hygiene habits.

Sleep hygiene can help you both meet your sleep need each night and stay in sync, by helping you feel sleepy at bedtime and fall asleep at the right times. 

Here’s what to do: 

• Get bright light first thing: Morning light resets your circadian rhythm for the day. Aim for at least 10 minutes of light as soon as possible after waking up, and get 15 to 20 minutes if it’s overcast or you’re getting light through a window.
• Avoid light close to bedtime: As light suppresses melatonin, you want to avoid it in the run-up to bedtime. Dim the lights and put on blue-light blocking glasses 90 minutes before bed.  
• Avoid caffeine, large meals, intense exercise, and alcohol too late in the day: All four can keep you up or wake you up during the night. These things may also be a trigger making stomach pain worse if you have indigestion, acid reflux,  IBS, or GERD. 
• Do a calming bedtime routine: Lower your stress (another trigger for issues causing stomach pain) and slow your brain and body down for sleep. Try reading, listening to music, or doing yoga. We cover how to relax before bed, even when you’re stressed, here.
• Keep your bedroom dark, cool, and quiet: Set your thermostat to 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, use blackout curtains, and wear earplugs and an eye mask. 

To remember it all, the RISE app can guide you through 20+ sleep hygiene habits each day and tell you the ideal time to do each one based on your circadian rhythm to make them more effective.

RISE users on iOS 1.202 and above can click here to set up their 20+ in-app habit notifications.

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How to Fall Back to Sleep When Your Stomach Hurts?

Woken up before your alarm with stomach pain? Here’s how you can get back to sleep to get some more shut-eye: 

• Treat the pain: If pain has woken you up, try grabbing a hot water bottle or heat pad, doing some gentle stretches, or abdominal massage. 
• Keep the lights low: Light suppresses melatonin, so keep the lights as low as possible if you get up during the night. 
• Do a sleep reset: If you find yourself awake in bed for more than 20 minutes, get up and do a relaxing activity until you feel sleepy. Try reading, meditating, or journaling. This will stop your brain from associating your bed with wakefulness.  
• Keep calm: Easier said than done, but anxiety over pain or lost sleep will only make it harder to drift back off. As much as you can, try to remain calm. Avoid looking at the time and counting down the hours until you need to get up. RISE can guide you through science-backed relaxation techniques to help slow your mind. 
• Sleep on your side: If you’re a front sleeper, try switching your position to avoid putting weight on your stomach when it’s in pain. Left-side sleeping has been shown to help those with GERD. We’ve covered the best side to sleep on here and the best sleeping positions to lose weight here.
• Maintain excellent sleep hygiene: To stop anything like caffeine or alcohol from waking you up in the future, keep your sleep hygiene on point each day. 

RISE users on iOS 1.202 and above can click here to go right to their relaxation audio guide homepage and get started.

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What Causes Stomach Pain at Night?

Going to bed with stomach pain or waking up with it in the middle of the night? Many of the causes of stomach pain in the morning are the same as nighttime stomach pain.

These include: 

• Indigestion 
• IBS 
• IBD 
• Constipation 
• Acid reflux and GERD 
• Food allergies 
• Pancreatitis 
• Peptic ulcer
• Period pain
• Diverticulitis 
• Gallstones 
• Gastritis 

Your stomach pain may feel worse at night as you’re laying down, which makes it easier for stomach acid to rise into your esophagus, for example. Pain may be worse after a large meal, and you may have just eaten dinner close to bedtime. Pain may also feel worse because you have no distractions like work or family when you’re laying in bed. 

Speak to a doctor if stomach pain at night is a regular occurrence for you. 

Waking up with stomach pain can be a scary experience, or you may be worrying as battling pain has become a regular part of your morning routine. But when does stomach pain in the morning go from harmless to something serious? 

Most of the time, stomach pain is harmless and will go away on its own. But you should seek medical help for stomach pain if it’s a regular occurrence or if severe pain has woken you up from sleep. 

Soothe Morning Stomach Pain the Night Before 

There are many causes of morning stomach pain, ranging from food allergies and indigestion to acid reflux and IBS. Speak to a doctor if you regularly wake up with stomach pain or if it’s severe enough to wake you up in your sleep.  

For other times, focus on lowering your sleep debt and syncing up with your circadian rhythm to keep your digestive health in tip-top condition. Maintain excellent sleep hygiene to help make this happen. 

The RISE app can work out how much sleep debt you have, predict your circadian rhythm each day, and remind you when to do 20+ sleep hygiene habits. All this will help you get a good night’s sleep, improving your overall health and wellness and, hopefully, leading to pain-free mornings. 

Stomach Pain in the Morning: Causes, Symptoms, and More

Abdominal pain can occur with multiple health conditions, including ulcers, indigestion, and inflammatory bowel disease. You may experience additional symptoms depending on the cause.

Everyone experiences stomach pain at some point. The pain can be a cramping sensation that leaves you curled up in a fetal position, or a dull, intermittent ache that comes and goes.

But while abdominal pain can be episodic and occur at anytime, you may experience pain primarily in the mornings. The underlying cause could be something you ate the night before, inflammation, or your intestines preparing for a bowel movement.

Even though morning stomach pain is probably nothing to worry about, you shouldn’t ignore a severe ache that doesn’t go away. Persistent pain could indicate a serious problem, so seek medical attention immediately.

Here’s a look at 10 potential causes of morning stomach pain.

A stomach ulcer is a sore that develops in the lining of your stomach. It can cause a burning or dull pain in the middle of the stomach, in the space between your chest and belly button.

Pain can happen any time, but you might have increased discomfort in the mornings because pain can occur when the stomach is empty.

An over-the-counter antacid or acid blocker can relieve symptoms, but you should see a doctor if symptoms worsen or persist.

If an ulcer causes a hole in the abdominal wall, emergency surgery may be needed.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition that affects the large intestines. It can cause pain on the lower right or lower left side of the stomach. Other symptoms include:

• diarrhea or constipation
• excessive gas
• mucus in the stool
• bloating

Certain foods and stress can trigger IBS, so you may experience worsening symptoms in the morning if you’re worried or stressed about school or work.

There’s no cure for IBS, but lifestyle habits may improve symptoms. Avoid trigger foods, including:

• dairy
• carbonated drinks
• fried or fatty foods

Other good lifestyle habits are:

• getting regular exercise
• practicing stress management
• taking a fiber supplement or anti-diarrheal medication

Some medications are approved for people with IBS, so talk to your doctor if symptoms don’t improve with home remedies.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for two conditions: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both can cause stomach pain around the belly button or the lower right abdomen, and some people experience pain in the mornings.

Crohn’s disease can affect the entire digestive tract and causes other symptoms, such as:

• diarrhea
• weight loss
• anemia
• nausea
• fatigue

Stress and certain foods and drinks can make symptoms worse, such as carbonated drinks and high-fiber foods.

Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, affects only the colon, also known as the large intestine. Symptoms include:

• bloody diarrhea
• increased bowel urgency
• low energy
• weight loss

Since there’s no cure for IBD, the goal of treatment is reducing inflammation and improving symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication, an immunosuppressant, or an antibiotic.

Keeping a food diary can also help you isolate foods and beverages that trigger flares.

Constipation refers to fewer than three bowel movements a week. Irregular bowel activity can lead to trapped gas in your intestinal tract, resulting in severe cramping in the lower abdomen in the morning and at other times of the day.

Other symptoms include straining to have a bowel movement or feeling as if you haven’t completely emptied your rectum.

A sedentary lifestyle can trigger constipation. Increased physical activity may provide natural relief by stimulating intestinal contractions. In addition, a stool softener or fiber supplement, and eating more fruits and vegetables may improve symptoms.

See a doctor for constipation that lasts longer than two weeks.

Inflammation of the pancreas can cause pain in your upper abdomen, with pain radiating to your back. The pain is sometimes worse after eating, so you may experience discomfort after eating breakfast.

Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and a fever. Although mild pancreatitis may improve on its own or with an over-the-counter pain reliever, see a doctor for persistent pain that doesn’t improve.

Your doctor may prescribe medication to control inflammation or an enzyme supplement to help your body break down nutrients in food. Eating a low-fat diet can prevent future flares. Include foods such as:

• fruit
• whole grains
• vegetables
• lean protein

Diverticular disease is when small pockets or sacs develop in the wall of your large intestine. Diverticulitis occurs when one of these sacs becomes infected or inflamed, causing pain in the lower left abdomen.

Other symptoms can include:

• constipation
• fever
• nausea
• vomiting

Diverticulitis may or may not cause symptoms. Persistent and severe pain typically requires medical treatment. Your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection, or you might need an outpatient procedure to drain an abscess.

In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the affected part of the colon. Diverticulitis pain may be worse in the morning and improve after passing gas or having a bowel movement.

Gallstones are hard deposits of digestive fluid in the gallbladder. Some people don’t have any symptoms, whereas others have intense pain in the upper abdomen or the middle abdomen below the breastbone.

Pain can also radiate to the right shoulder and shoulder blade. See a doctor for sudden, severe abdominal pain. Your doctor can give you medication to dissolve gallstones. If symptoms don’t improve, you may need surgery to remove the gallbladder. Pain may be worse at night and in the mornings.

Food allergies can also cause stomach pain. Common food allergens include:

• dairy
• shellfish
• wheat
• gluten
• nuts

A food allergy can cause symptoms like:

• stomach cramps
• vomiting
• nausea
• hives
• wheezing
• dizziness
• swelling of the tongue

Stomach pain caused by a food allergy might be worse in the morning if you consume trigger foods before bed, although symptoms can occur anytime of the day.

Celiac disease

If you have Celiac disease — an autoimmune disease where gluten causes inflammation in the small intestines — you may have stomach pain in the morning along with other symptoms like:

• diarrhea
• gas
• bloating
• anemia

An antihistamine might relieve some symptoms of a food allergy, such as hives, swelling, and itching. But it’s still important to identify and avoid foods that trigger a reaction because severe allergic reactions can lead to anaphylaxis.

This is a life-threatening reaction that can cause breathing difficulty and a dangerous drop in blood pressure.

See a doctor if you develop hives, itching, or wheezing after eating certain foods. A skin or blood test can confirm or rule out a food allergy.

Indigestion can cause pain in the upper abdomen, bloating, and nausea. Keep in mind that indigestion is a symptom of another condition, such as acid reflux, ulcers, or gallbladder disease.

Symptoms can occur after eating, so you may have stomach pain in the morning after breakfast. See a doctor if indigestion continues for more than two weeks, or if it’s accompanied by weight loss, vomiting, or black stools.

Eating smaller meals, regular exercise, and stress management may improve indigestion.

This infection of the female reproductive organs can cause:

• lower pelvic pain
• fever
• vaginal discharge
• painful urination or intercourse

Pelvic pain can occur any time of the day, but it may occur in the mornings for some women.

See doctor if you experience any stomach pain accompanied by a fever or foul vaginal discharge. Bacteria typically causes PID, so your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.

Although stomach pain happens to everyone, you shouldn’t ignore stomach pain that’s persistent, sudden, or gradually worse. Seek immediate medical attention, especially when pain includes vomiting, bloody stools, or a fever.

Morning stomach pain can be caused by something as simple as constipation or gas, or it could be a sign of a condition that requires a special diet, prescription medication, or surgery.

Pain in the lower abdomen in women: possible causes, diagnosis, treatment

Contents:

• Causes of abdominal pain in women
• Nature and types of abdominal pain
• Diagnosis of lower abdominal pain
• Indications for treatment
• Methods of treatment of pain in the lower abdomen
• Disease prevention

Why does the lower abdomen hurt in women?

Women quite often suffer from pain in the lower abdomen, arising from both physiological causes and serious diseases. Trying to eliminate pain by taking antispasmodics is possible only when it is established that there is no threat to the body.

When other warning symptoms are added to the pain, you should immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis. A complex of examinations, a detailed collection of anamnesis is needed, after which the doctor will prescribe an adequate treatment.

Causes of abdominal pain in women

Pain in this area may indicate inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, intestinal disorders, congenital pathologies. There are several likely sources.

• Ovulation – in the middle of the cycle, a number of women experience pain, usually it quickly passes and is well stopped by antispasmodics. True, in the event that a woman suffers from apoplexy (increased volume of fluid in the abdomen), the pain will be much longer and painkillers will not help.
• Appendicitis – if the pain during ovulation is well known to women, then the sensations from the inflamed appendicitis will be strong and unknown, they will be localized on the right side, during the day they will intensify, then almost completely disappear. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.
• Intestinal spasm – usually accompanied by stool changes. Most likely, the cause of intestinal spasm is overeating the day before or eating a large amount of junk food, such as chips.
• Ectopic pregnancy – usually this, in addition to pain in the lower abdomen, indicates a delay in menstruation. In this case, a pregnancy test may show a negative result. In order to exclude this dangerous diagnosis, you need to contact a gynecologist and take a blood test for hCG.
• Inflammatory processes of the uterine appendages – inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs can be triggered by hypothermia or infections. If the causes of pain in the lower abdomen are precisely this, then it is extremely important to consult a doctor in time, since inflammation of the appendages can cause infertility.
• Cystitis – in this case you will feel very peculiar pains of a cutting nature in the very bottom of the abdomen, they will be especially well felt in the process of urination.
• Menstruation – usually on the first day of menstruation or a few days before their onset, almost all women feel a pulling, dull pain in the lower abdomen, most often it is well eliminated by taking analgesics. Pain during this period is considered normal.
• Oncological diseases – in the event that the pain is difficult to characterize and accurately determine its localization, then things may be much worse than you think and you urgently need the help of doctors.
• Uterine fibroids – benign neoplasms can also cause inconvenience and pain, and a woman will also observe extremely heavy menstruation.

A woman should be attentive to her health, especially reproductive health, so pain in the lower abdomen should alert her. If a woman is concerned about pain during urination, or immediately after, as well as constant discomfort and aching pain in this area, you should visit a gynecologist, then a urologist. Even more carefully, one should approach the painful sensations if impurities are found in the urine: mucous and bloody.

When the pain radiates to the lower back, it is necessary to exclude an infectious disease of the kidneys and ureters – pyelonephritis. The characteristic burning pain in cystitis is often combined with inflammatory processes in the genitals.

The nature of abdominal pain and its features

The nature of pain varies depending on the cause that caused it.

Inside the abdomen there are several important organs and interacting structures. By the nature of the pain, already at the initial examination, the doctor will determine how urgent the medical intervention should be. It also determines which specialist you need to contact.

Types of pain commonly encountered in practice:

• Acute cutting pain in the lower abdomen in a woman often indicates dangerous reproductive problems that require urgent care. The most common problems are: ectopic pregnancy, adnexitis, endometriosis, complicated ovarian cyst or rupture.
• Cramping, such as muscle contractions and spasms, are most dangerous during pregnancy, if the term of delivery has not yet come. This pain is often accompanied by bleeding. The doctor is likely to suggest the threat of termination of pregnancy.
• Pulling that occurs periodically, as a rule, disturbs in the presence of chronic inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs. If they occur after intense exertion or during sexual intercourse, with a high degree of probability this indicates the presence of endometriosis, adnexitis, and adhesive disease. At rest, the pain subsides, but this does not mean that the process has completely subsided. When pulling pains appear, you should definitely consult a doctor, even if you think that there is no urgency.
• Pressing pains often occur in pregnant women with high uterine tone, and are considered a rather dangerous condition that requires an immediate visit to the doctor in charge of the pregnancy. Sometimes such pain is caused by a growing uterus, pressing on the internal organs.
• Often, pain in the lower abdomen can be caused by physiological causes before menstruation. The uterus enlarges during this time, causing pain and discomfort in nearby structures. When menstruation has already begun, the pain intensifies, weakness appears. Menstrual flow is usually copious. With such symptoms, it is advisable to visit a doctor and undergo an examination.

In any case, you should not delay going to the clinic if you experience pain.

Timely diagnosis will increase the effectiveness of treatment, prevent complications, and shorten the duration of drug therapy.

Diagnosis of the causes of pain in the lower abdomen

Some diseases are similar in intensity and nature of pain. Differential diagnosis includes comprehensive examinations and examination by several specialized specialists. Attention is paid to the nuances: the frequency of pain; the presence of severe seizures; discharge from the urethra, vagina, uterus.

A variety of diagnostic tests are used to determine the source of pain and discomfort.

Laboratory tests:

• Smear for genital infections. Based on its results, a conclusion is obtained on the development of a latent bacterial flora.
• Bacterial culture of urine. Data are needed to detect urinary tract infections, abnormalities in the functioning of the kidneys and pathologies of a urological nature.

Instrumental examinations by doctor’s referral:

• Ultrasound (ultrasound examination) – allows you to qualitatively assess the condition of tissues, blood vessels, exclude blood supply problems, ectopic development of the embryo. The method is absolutely safe and has no restrictions on the number of procedures for a patient in any condition.
• Colposcopy – Examination with multiple magnification using a colposcope.
• Hysteroscopy is the study of intrauterine changes, in which tissue biopsy and other minimally invasive techniques are available.
• Radiography – a picture in a plane under the influence of x-rays, revealing pathologies of the structure of bone tissues and organs.
• CT (computed tomography) – X-ray irradiation in a special box, in which the image is obtained in a three-dimensional volume. The accuracy of the indicators is achieved by setting the layer-by-layer cut to 1 mm.
• MRI – electromagnetic wave tomography, in which, under the influence of radiation, different tissues give a different reaction. The method is more used in the diagnosis of diseases of soft tissues, blood vessels.
• Laparoscopy – an invasive approach with penetration into the painful area for a detailed examination of the internal organs of the lower abdomen and taking tests. The laparoscopic examination technique is used for neoplasms, revealing hidden injuries, it is used only when absolutely necessary. Laparoscopy involves inserting a cannula into the cervix to gain direct access to the problem area.

Instrumental studies require preparation. It is imperative to observe hygiene and the diet prescribed by the doctor, and in some cases – a complete refusal to eat and drink for a certain time. After the appointment of the appropriate examination, the woman receives an exact list of preparation rules.

Indications for treatment

If you feel pain in the lower abdomen, you should immediately contact the clinic, since the diagnosis of the disease at its first stage will greatly increase the speed of recovery and help avoid complications. First, it is recommended to visit a gynecologist. If he does not find problems in the genitals, he will need to be examined by other specialized specialists: a urologist, a therapist.

We list the indications for which a visit to a doctor is mandatory:

• any kind of pain in the lower abdomen, not related to the menstrual cycle
• curdled discharge, offensive odor
• blood, mucus from the vagina or rectum
• genital itching, burning (including during urination)
• frequent urination
• nausea, vomiting
• constipation, stool problems
• blood in urine
• fever, chills, weakness
• sudden weight loss
• sharp pain in the lower abdomen in women in the absence of medical care leads to the irreversible development of pathologies. There are no typical contraindications to therapy, but not all effective research methods are acceptable for specific cases. The doctor’s task is to correctly determine an approach that is safe for the patient’s health and effective in treatment.

In the Bibirevo Central Clinic, an experienced doctor will examine you, prescribe diagnostic tests, and, based on their results, prescribe treatment in accordance with the stage of the disease detected and the severity of its course. Specialists will identify the source of pain using high-precision diagnostic equipment.

Methods of treatment for abdominal pain

Treatment is carried out in a complex, taking into account all possible problem areas. This will prevent the spread of infection and inflammation, if any.

The following treatments are used:

First Aid: If the pain is mild and caused by a physiological adjustment, a single dose of pain medication and warmth on the lower abdomen will help. Rest often reduces and relieves pain even without medication. But this technique can be used only if inflammation is not detected, and pain does not appear regularly.

With conservative treatment, drugs are selected individually, according to the cause of pain:

• Acute pain in the absence of infection is relieved by analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• If an infection is detected, antiviral or antibacterial (depending on the pathogen) drugs are used, as well as drugs that strengthen the immune system. If the infection is bacterial, preparations that restore the microflora are also used.
• If pain persists for a long time, physiotherapy is prescribed as an aid. But it must be borne in mind that it is not indicated for all diagnoses in which pain appears.
• To strengthen the body, natural remedies are used: local inflammation helps to remove decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs, herbal teas. Anti-inflammatory tampons and compresses are also used. It must be borne in mind that thermal procedures (warm compresses and a heating pad) for abdominal pain can only be used in the absence of inflammation. You can use them after examination by a gynecologist and urologist. It is dangerous to use such funds without an appointment.

If the pain is sharp and stabbing, urgent admission to the hospital is necessary. Hidden problems such as the appearance of adhesions, the likelihood of neoplasm, blockage of the fallopian tube, intestinal obstruction, require emergency care.

Disease prevention

Long-term practice shows that many diseases can be prevented simply by following simple rules:

• wash hands, observe general hygiene;
• strengthen immunity by taking natural immunomodulators;
• avoid hypothermia;
• eat rationally. Most of the diet should be vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins;
• Avoid constipation. If necessary, stimulate intestinal motility with folk remedies;
• lead an active lifestyle.

The occurrence of pain in the lower abdomen in women indicates that a pathogenic process is developing in the body. If a woman drowns out pain with painkillers, and does not try to find its cause with the help of a doctor, the acute stage of the disease becomes chronic, the pain becomes regular, and constantly returns.

Information verified by an expert

Kim Svetlana Frantsevna Obstetrician, Gynecologist, Ultrasound specialist

what are intestinal diseases and how to treat them – an article on the site Aptechestvo, Nizhny Novgorod

Intestinal diseases are not uncommon. They manifest themselves as bloating, pain, or irritable bowel syndrome. Even an experienced doctor cannot determine by symptoms why the intestines hurt, he will need the results of tests and studies. Therefore, the information in the article should not be used to diagnose yourself or your loved ones. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Causes of pain in the intestines

What are the most common intestinal diseases? How do they manifest themselves? Why does the intestine hurt? We will answer these questions in the article. The cause of regular pain can be:

• enteritis or enterocolitis;

• dysbacteriosis;

• irritable bowel syndrome;

• infectious intestinal diseases.

Less common are diverticula, tumors, and acute intestinal diseases requiring surgical intervention.

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by mild pulling or stabbing pains in the abdomen of a cramping nature, aggravated in the morning. Also, the patient may feel the urge to defecate, which disappear after emptying. Nausea, bloating, stool disturbance, alternating diarrhea and constipation are observed. Non-absorbable antibiotics, probiotics, and sedatives are used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

With intestinal dysbacteriosis, pain spasms are diffuse in nature, but a strong focus of pain usually occurs in the left iliac region. This disease is often the result of taking antibiotics and other drugs, so when treating the intestines, they should be canceled. In this case, you should pay attention to the chair. With dysbacteriosis, it is more often a liquid greenish color. Treatment of the intestines with dysbacteriosis should include probiotics and drugs that restore the intestinal microflora.

Chronic enteritis and enterocolitis manifests itself as dull or aching pains around the navel, sometimes in the side. Usually they increase after errors in the diet or after drinking alcohol. Fecal masses with enteritis are mushy with pieces of undigested food, with enterocolitis – diarrhea can be observed. Relief occurs after the gas passes, so it is important to take drugs to reduce gas formation in the treatment of the intestines.

Bowel treatment

Only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment for intestinal diseases.