Gastroenteritis and Food Poisoning
Stomach flu and food poisoning have many of the same symptoms, including stomach pain. What you can stomach flu is probably food poisoning. The main difference is the onset. Stomach flu takes up to two days to incubate; food poisoning takes up to six hours to give you the Salmonella Two-Step.
Both last a few days and it make take a few days more to recover from all the vomiting and diarrhea. Neither are particularly deadly, unless you have an underlying condition or get dehydrated.
Gastritis
Gastritis is damage to the stomach lining through inflammation, irritation, or erosion. Generally, you’ll have a lot of stomach pain and indigestion. You can have an acute onset or a chronic case. There are many causes including excessive alcohol use, chronic vomiting, bacterial infection, and overuse of medications.
Untreated gastritis can lead to severe blood loss, ulcers, and increase you risk of stomach cancer. If your stomach hurts with vomiting, especially of blood or coffee ground-like material, and black tar stools, talk to your doctor.
Acid Reflux
Heartburn, acid reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are related. All three can make your stomach hurt. Heartburn is stomach acid in your esophagus.
Acid reflux causes heartburn and other painful symptoms. GERD is chronic acid reflux. Common triggers include eating too much, wearing restrictive clothing, spicy foods, smoking, and lying down after eating a big meal.
Untreated acid reflux can lead to ulcers, a damaged esophagus, and eventually esophageal cancer.
Ulcers
Ulcers form when sores don’t heal. You can get ulcers from your stomach to esophagus. Ulcers cause stomach pain, a feeling of indigestion, and nausea. The two most common causes are H. pylori bacterial infection and overuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
Stomach pain can occur on an empty or full stomach, difficulty swallowing, and feeling unwell after eating. If ulcers go untreated, you may vomit blood or pass red or black stools. If you see either of these, go to the doctor immediately.
Constipation
Constipation is the inability to have a bowel movement. As your colon fills with waste material, you’ll get stomach pains. You may bloat and if the condition goes on long enough, your breath may start to smell. You should have three or more bowel movements a week and they should be fairly easy to pass.
There are some serious conditions that cause constipation so have it checked out if it doesn’t respond to drinking water and eating fiber.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome is a functional disorder of the digestive system. With IBS, you may have stomach cramps, bloating, gas, mucus-y stools and constipation or diarrhea.
The cause is unknown, but IBS sufferers have a more sensitive colon and the brain perceives pain more acutely. There is also a link with either too much or too little serotonin.
