A burning sensation in the stomach is an unpleasant and alarming signal of increased acidity, which, in the absence of attention to it and treatment, can provoke the development of serious diseases. Regular and long-lasting such sensations can lead to complications in the form of ulcers and even malignant neoplasms. Mucous membranes experience constant irritation due to increased acidity, which leads to possible changes.
An alarming symptom is the occurrence of burning pain at night or early in the morning.
Symptoms: how does the pathology manifest itself?
Burning in the stomach is not necessarily the result of improper nutrition and diet. The cause of heartburn is acidity, and it can occur both before and during meals. Sometimes the cause of this symptom may be hypersensitivity of the esophagus, but such cases are rare.
The burning sensation in the stomach can be accompanied by other signs, for example, a sensation of sour taste in the mouth and throat. Bad breath may appear.
All of the above symptoms can be accompanied by nausea, pain that radiates to the back. In the abdominal cavity, it is felt mainly on the left. If gastric acid burns the mucous membrane, then an obsessive belching joins, which, in turn, leads to burning of the throat mucosa.
All this complex of symptoms can be a signal of gastritis or gastric ulcer. The exact cause of this set of symptoms can be determined by a doctor. First of all, an examination will be necessary, and then treatment, depending on the diagnosis.
Causes of burning sensation
We list the main causes of burning in the stomach:
- Improper nutrition, systematic overeating, excess of junk food (spicy, fatty, salty, hard to digest). An unpleasant burning sensation in the epigastric region can appear both immediately after eating, and after some time. In the morning, heartburn, nausea, an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth can be observed. The manifestation of these symptoms can be both regular and periodic.
- Gastritis and ulcer. Burning inside the abdominal cavity is one of the most pronounced symptoms. With these pathologies, the mucous membrane is damaged, and when gastric juice enters the affected areas, this causes pain. Patients often say that the stomach is on fire. Very often, such manifestations occur on an empty stomach.
- Foodborne Toxic Infection. Pathogenic bacteria, if ingested, may cause a burning sensation in the stomach.
- Very many medications as side effects have a negative effect on the digestive system, for example, antibiotics.
- Throwing bile or pancreatic juice is a strong irritant. In this case, a very intense burning sensation is felt in the stomach, which radiates to the back.
- Pregnancy is the period during which a woman often suffers from heartburn. This is because the uterus grows, increasing in size, thereby it begins to compress the abdominal organs, gastric juice can be thrown into the esophagus, nausea and discomfort appear in the stomach and its region, and this is especially typical in the last trimester of pregnancy.
- Esophagitis. Symptoms of this disease are pain, a significant burning sensation. The membranes of the stomach and epithelium are inflamed, there is no protection against acid, which is why such unpleasant sensations arise.
- The most unfavorable cause of burning in the stomach is also the likelihood of neoplasms. They in the initial stage may not manifest themselves in any way, except as pains and other ordinary manifestations from the gastrointestinal tract.
- Consider the additional causes of burning in the stomach (but not heartburn). Psycho-emotional stress can also cause gastrointestinal upset. Sometimes, against the background of a nervous shock, the normal functioning of the stomach ceases, and it cannot properly digest food. This may be accompanied by a complete loss of appetite, which persists for a long time. On a nervous basis, a person does not eat anything at all. There is a loss of body weight, which leads to a change in the work of many organs.
Diagnosing the causes of discomfort
To make an accurate diagnosis, a set of examinations is required. These include:
- gastroscopy;
- a study of gastric juice;
- X-ray examination;
- analysis of feces for pathogenic bacteria and worm eggs.
Pathology treatment
After diagnosis, treatment should be prescribed. The doctor determines the tactics of treatment, depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease, the condition of the patient, his age and other factors. Usually prescribed drugs that help restore burned epithelium and gastric functions. In addition to drug treatment, it is very important to adhere to the principles of a healthy lifestyle, the proper organization of the daily regimen, avoid nervous strain and, of course, adhere to proper nutrition.
Treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is not a single day's task. Usually, the therapy is long and requires the patient to follow the doctor’s recommendations, not only until the first acute symptoms have been removed, but also in the future.
Drugs for effective therapy
Usually prescribed drugs such as Omez and Festal, as well as antacid preparations that help reduce the acidity of gastric secretion. These include Almagel, Maalox. The appointment of anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, Tribimol, is not ruled out. The treatment is aimed at forming an enveloping protective film to protect the gastric mucosa.
Antacids
Antacids neutralize excess acid, but do not have a lasting effect.
The purpose of prescribing alginates is to protect the gastric mucosa from the undesirable effects of acidity on the walls of the stomach
Prokinetics are prescribed to normalize the functions of the digestive tract and sphincter.
Additionally, vitamin B12 may also be prescribed.
What else does treatment for burning in the stomach mean?
Therapeutic diet
In the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the observance of a therapeutic diet plays an important role. Many patients unfairly ignore this key point of therapy, and in fact it is he who is actually the guarantor of the absence of relapse of the disease.
The principle of therapeutic and dietary nutrition does not have any particular difficulties. You should include willpower and, if possible, refrain from eating foods such as:
- carbonated drinks;
- alcohol;
- fatty foods and dishes;
- strongly spicy, salty and pickled products;
- smoked products;
- butter baking;
- fast food;
- if possible, exclude coffee or at least not abuse it, minimize it.
If you follow all the instructions, then the burning sensation in the stomach will soon pass.
Compliance with these fairly simple recommendations will allow you to stop the progression of the disease in time and not bring simple disorders to peptic ulcer or gastritis.
Home Remedies for Heartburn
Among the folk methods for symptomatic elimination of burning in the stomach , the following can be noted.
- Everyone knows a pinch of soda, which is bred in a glass of water (warm). Do not make more concentrated solutions. Drinking should not be taken quickly, drink in one gulp, it will not take effect. Also, one cannot resort to this method too often, since this can lead to alkalization of the whole organism.
- Potato juice. Taking ¼ cup before meals in 15 minutes avoids heartburn.
- Calamus root. You just need to chew and swallow it. If necessary, drink water.
These methods do not have a therapeutic effect, but only allow you to remove minor symptoms in the form of heartburn for a while.
We examined the causes and treatment of burning in the stomach.