What Is An Upset Stomach?

And What Causes An Upset Stomach?

This article will focus on answering the most common questions like what is an upset stomach in easy-to-read and easy-to-understand non-medical language. We'll also investigate what causes upset stomach, what are upset stomach symptoms, and what to do for an upset stomach.

What is an upset stomach? Upset stomach is a term often used by the general public to describe discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen. It is, more often than not, a collection of symptoms and not a disease or condition itself. Some people rarely get upset stomach symptoms. Others get an upset stomach often.

Upset stomach occurs because something gets into your digestive tract that causes problems. It could be contaminated food, a virus, pollutants, or even poison. It could even simply be too much food or drink. Vomiting is your body's way of getting rid of something in your stomach that your digestive system cannot process properly, or that might be harmful. When you have an upset stomach, you usually get nausea, and vomiting often follows.

Common upset stomach causes The causes of upset stomach are many and varied. While upset stomach problems may sometimes be caused by serious diseases, disorders and illnesses, it is more often related to lifestyle choices and diet.

The list of typical causes includes:

• Eating too much, or eating too fast
• Eating fatty, greasy or spicy foods
• Excess caffeine
• Drinking a lot of carbonated beverages and alcohol
• Too much chocolate
• Smoking
• Nervousness, stress, tension and anxiety or emotional trauma
• Certain medications: antibiotics, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Gallstones
• Pancreas inflammation (pancreatitis)
• Stomach inflammation (known as gastritis) and/or stomach ulcers
• Stomach "flu" (viral gastroenteritis)
• Stomach cancer

Upset stomach symptoms These typically include belching, bloating and sometimes pain in the stomach region, which is why it is usually called upset stomach. Other names include indigestion dyspepsia.

Besides bloating and a feeling that you need to belch, there are some other symptoms of upset stomach:

• Even if you haven't eaten much recently, you feel full. You may not be able to finish a meal that, at other times, would be easy to consume entirely.
• You may feel uncomfortably full after a meal, or the feeling of fullness seems to last longer than it should.
• Stomach pain or pain in the upper abdomen, near the bottom of your breastbone (also known as the sternum).
• Burning pain in the upper abdomen: a burning sensation between the bottom of the sternum and your and navel.

What to do for an upset stomach Fortunately, symptoms of upset stomach can often be prevented or - once you have it - treated.

If you know certain foods tend to upset your stomach, you can stay away from them.

But sometimes you'll get an upset stomach from foods you think you can handle. Or you may have an illness or condition that causes your stomach to become upset. When this happens, you can try over-the-counter and prescription medications that help reduce stomach acid or move food out of your stomach more quickly. Medications for upset stomach include:

Antacids like Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Riopan. These are available over-the-counter.
 
H-2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs), including Axid, Tagamet, Pepcid and Zantac. These are available which are available over-the-counter or by prescription.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) including Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix and Zegerid. These work best fro individuals who also have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Most PPIs are only available by prescription, although you can get Prilosec over-the-counter.

Prokinetics can be helpful if your stomach empties slowly.

Antibiotics are appropriate if your upset stomach is being caused by bacteria like Helicobacter pylori.

Antidepressants are something of a "last resort" your doctor may consider after a thorough evaluation. You can only get antidepressants by prescription, of course. Such medications may reduce your sensitivity to pain and help you relax while suffering from the symptoms of upset stomach.

Are "upset stomach" and "heartburn" the same thing? Medically speaking, heartburn (also known as acid reflux) and upset stomach are not the same thing. Acid reflux is a pain or burning feeling in the center of your chest that has probably been caused by stomach acid erupting out of the stomach and into the more sensitive tissue of the esophagus.

The raw, stinging or burning sensation may even radiate into your neck or back after eating.

For additional information, click on stomach problems after eating.