Are you having that uncomfortable feeling of a burned stomach? You feel like your stomach is very acidic, and your upper chest and abdomen are burning. The pain can worsen and interrupt your daily life. Yet you are not alone to have a burned stomach. The burning feeling in the stomach is a familiar and growing digestive problem among people due to the unhealthy lifestyle and overuse of certain medications.
In this article, you will find the most common causes of the burned stomach, symptoms of burning sensation in the stomach, and the most effective home remedies and prevention tips to cure that burning sensation in the stomach. Until the end, you might find what is causing you discomfort in the abdomen and how to find relief for your belly.
What does a burned stomach feel like? – Symptoms
If you have that burning sensation in the stomach, you know the pain. The burning stomach might be due to various underlying diseases like peptic ulcers(1), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)(2), and gastritis(3). Indigestion and excessive acid in the gut also cause burning in the stomach. You might experience these other symptoms along with a burned stomach.
Nausea
Burning in the upper chest; feels like heartburn
Bloating
Burping
Feeling of fullness
Indigestion
These are the common other symptoms when you are feeling like your stomach is burning. You can cure these symptoms by home remedies and avoiding certain foods that cause indigestion. But you should visit the doctor immediately if you are experiencing the following severe symptoms with a burning sensation in the stomach.
Black, tarry, or bloody stools
Severe abdominal pain
Trouble swallowing or breathing
Severe vomiting or vomiting up blood
Fever that accompanies your stomach pain
Swelling in your abdomen
Yellowing of the eyes or skin
Pain that interferes with sleep
Most common causes of burned stomach
The most frequent causes of burning sensation in the abdomen include:
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease –GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease happens when the stomach acid flows back to your esophagus, giving you that burning sensation in the stomach and heart. You might experience a sour or bitter taste at the back of your mouth.
The low lifestyle may also result in GERD. Smoking, eating large meals, consuming deep-fried and spicy foods, drinking soda, alcohol, and coffee in excess, overuse of certain medications can raise the risk of having GERD.
Gastritis
Gastritis refers to the inflammation of the lining of the stomach. Other common gastritis symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and burning pain in the upper abdomen that worsens or gets better after eating.
The common cause of gastritis is due to infection of Helicobacter Pylori. The other factors resulting in gastritis are emotional stress, overuse of certain medications, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (4) is a disorder affecting the large intestine, causing other signs and symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and other bowel movement changes.
There is no precise cause of this disorder, but stress, infection, change in gut microbes, and abnormalities in the digestive system’s nerves may play a role. The other factor that triggers the IBS may be intolerance or allergies to certain foods.
Overuse of certain Medications
Overuse of certain medications can also lead to a burned stomach or heartburn. Regular intake of certain medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) (5) can cause a burning sensation in the stomach.
Body’s Reaction or Intolerance to certain foods
Your body might be intolerant to certain foods. If you consume foods that are intolerant to your digestive system, you might experience a burning sensation in the stomach. Food intolerance occurs when your body has a chemical reaction to eating certain foods.
The most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance. If you are lactose intolerant, you might encounter abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and a burning sensation in the stomach after consuming milk or other dairy products. If you experience these symptoms after having certain foods, you might be intolerant to that food. It would be best to avoid them.
People with Celiac disease (5) are not tolerant to gluten; gluten is the name for proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. When people with celiac disease consume gluten in their diet, the immune system attacks the small intestine, causing harm to the digestive system and resulting in a burned stomach.
Consumption of Alcohol
As we know, even a little alcohol can irritate the digestive system. Drinking alcohol causes your stomach to make more acid, resulting in various digestive problems like gastritis, acid reflux, and other health problems. Alcohol irritates and even erodes the lining of the stomach if consumed excessively. Drinking too much alcohol can raise the risk of peptic ulcers, liver damage, and other gastrointestinal problems.
Smoking
Smoking harms your digestive system in several ways. Smokers tend to get stomach burn, acid reflux, and peptic ulcers more often than non-smokers. Smoking cigarettes is associated with a higher risk of Crohn’s disease and gallstones. It also increases the risk of further damage to liver disease. Smoking can make pancreatitis worse too. Besides, smoking is associated with the digestive organs’ cancers, including the head and neck, stomach, pancreas, and colon.
Home remedies for relieving the Burned Stomach
To effectively treat the burning sensation in the stomach, you need to know the underlying cause of the burned stomach. But for now, you can try these soothing home remedies to get instant relief from stomach burn.
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Coconut Water
Coconut water helps to cool the lining of the stomach, reducing the burning sensation.
To get relief, drink a glass of coconut water half an hour after your meal.
Ginger
Ginger is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It works wonders for your digestive system and soothes the upset stomach.
You can chew the raw ginger. If you don’t like it raw, you can have ginger tea and have hot ginger tea with some honey as a sweetener for instant relief.
Banana and Papaya
This low-acid fruit can help those with a burned stomach by coating an irritated esophageal lining, thereby helping combat discomfort. Due to the high-fiber content, bananas can help strengthen your digestive system — which can help ward off digestion problems.
Papaya is also a rich source of natural digestive enzymes like papain and bromelain, which can treat heartburn and gastritis. Eating papaya encourages digestion and soothes the stomach by promoting a healthy acidic environment.
Aloe Vera juice
Aloe Vera is widely known for its anti-bacterial and skin healing properties. Research suggests that purified and decolorized aloe vera juice may be a helpful and effective treatment for the burned stomach.
Yogurt
Yogurt has a soothing effect, like banana and papaya, that helps keep stomach discomfort at bay. It also contains probiotic bacteria, a form of good bacteria found in the digestive tract that gives your immune system a boost. Yogurt also enhances your ability to digest food properly.
Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is known worldwide as one of the best home remedies for abdominal pain and as a soothing, relaxing brew. Chamomile helps reduce the burning sensation in the stomach.
So sit and drink a cup of chamomile tea! Chamomile tea has a soothing effect that helps stop the burning pain so that it doesn’t move upward to the middle of your chest and into your throat from your stomach!
Outlook for burned stomach
Stomach burn can be miserable if it occurs frequently and interrupts your daily activities. The best way to prevent a burned stomach is by changing your lifestyle and eating habits. It would be best to manage the emotional stress and avoid the use of painkillers to get rid of the burning sensation. Consuming excessive alcohol and smoking can worsen the symptoms; it would be best to avoid them. But knowing the precise cause of the burned stomach may help you get rid of the symptoms more quickly.
It would be best to visit the doctor for the actual cause of your pain and form an effective treatment plan so that you don’t have to live with that discomfort in your belly!
