Burning Sensation in Stomach

The stomach is an enclosed space or pocket which is located in the left corner of the upper abdomen below the rib cage. The main function carried out by the stomach is breaking down of food that we eat into smaller pieces. In other words, it digests the food. For this purpose, it takes the help of different digestive juices which consist of enzymes and various types of acids. These juices are secreted by the various glands present in the stomach wall. Stomach burning sensation is mostly confined to the upper portion of the abdomen. It is often accompanied by nausea, swelling and painful cramps. Due to the burning feeling, people often get a sense of fullness after eating which results in loss of appetite.

Causes of Burning Sensation in Stomach

Burning stomach is often caused due to inflammation of stomach lining. Medically, it is often referred to as gastritis. If there is any damage in the inner lining of your stomach then you feel a burning sensation when the damaged part is exposed to digestive juices. The common conditions that give rise to this stomach problem are as follows:

• A type of bacteria named as H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) can cause harm to the inner lining of the stomach. It has been found that people are mostly affected by this bacteria in childhood only and it may stay in their stomach all through their life. It is basically transmitted from one person to another through direct physical contact. After entering the stomach, it sits on the protective lining without causing any harm. When it gets favorable conditions, the bacteria erodes off the lining tissue of the stomach and causes inflammation.
• If you get the burning feeling soon after eating, then the problem may be with the food that you have taken. Those who have food allergy or food intolerance feel this kind of stomach discomfort after consumption of a particular food that they are allergic or intolerant to. Others may get it after eating contaminated food. In other words, it can be an early sign of food poisoning. Here, the stomach burning pain is followed by other symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, fever, etc.
• Prolonged use of certain medicines like anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain often boil down the protective membrane of the stomach and lead to gastritis. Other substances that can aggravate this problem are excessive intake of alcohol, smoking or cocaine abuse.
• This can be a symptom of a number of underlying health problems. They are - Crohn's disease, pernicious anemia, gallbladder diseases and so on.
• Severe mental stress can act as a trigger for this problem. Physically stressful conditions such as trauma or any major surgery can cause burning pain in the stomach too.
• Sometimes, patients suffering from cancer experience a burning sensation in their stomach after undergoing treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

Treatment for Burning Sensation in Stomach

This condition is mainly diagnosed by studying the medical history of the patient. Sometimes, blood tests and X-rays are carried out to determine the underlying cause. Treatment for burning sensation in the stomach include medications, change in lifestyle or treatment of any underlying diseases. Firstly, the main aim of the treatment is to control the acid formation inside the stomach. In the initial stage, antacids either in tablet or liquid form is administered to the patients. If it is not effective, then acid blockers are given which reduces the secretion of acid in the stomach. There are other medicines which are prescribed to protect the lining tissues of the stomach. In case the burning sensation occurs due to H. pylori infection, then it has to be treated with the help of antibiotics. It is often combined with other medicines like proton pump inhibitor. This treatment may have to be continued for a long time till the bacteria is eliminated from the body. Those who take pain relieving medicines on a regular basis are advised to minimize its use. If required, they can discuss alternative pain relieving options with their concerned doctor. A change in lifestyle includes limited intake of alcohol. Of course, it is better if you can avoid drinking alcohol altogether as it aggravates the inflammation of the stomach further. Smoking causes damage to the lining of the stomach. So, it is essential to quit this bad habit in such a condition.

The burning sensation in stomach should not be neglected and need to be treated on time. Thus you can reduce the risk of formation of stomach ulcers to a great extent. When you have an uncomfortable burning feeling inside the stomach, you find it difficult to eat properly which leads to unexpected weight loss. In that case, eat in small quantities and increase the number of meals per day. Here, I would also like to mention that you should have easily digestible foods only. Hot, spicy foods, fatty foods should be avoided as they cause stomach irritation.