You might be looking forward to a deep, peaceful sleep at night, unaware that your stomach has other plans. Stomach pain at night is usually a sign of digestive problems, but it indicates serious health issues as well. Your doctor can root out the source of your nighttime stomach pain by conducting a diagnosis. This blog will educate you on the possible causes of your pain below.
What Causes Stomach Pain at Night?
Some common causes you might be waking up with stomach pain are:
1. Gas
Sharp stomach pain is a common symptom of gas. As digestion slows down at night, you might experience a stabbing twinge of pain in your upper abdomen and stomach.
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is different for everyone, but abdominal pain is a common symptom. People with IBS might notice bloating and gas after they eat. Hence, eating a large meal at night might result in stomach pain that disturbs your sleep.
3. Acid Reflux
Eating spicy, tomato-based, fried food, among others, can trigger occasional acid reflux. Moreover, eating or drinking too much can also result in this condition. Other than this, lying flat right after the meal can also wake you up with stomach pain at night.
If acid reflux occurs more than once per week, you might have issues in your esophagus like inflammation, scaring, ulcer, or bleeding.
4. Stomach Ulcer
Peptic or stomach ulcer is also a culprit of burning stomach pain. A stomach ulcer can cause aggravating pain when the stomach is full. In addition, the presence of corrosive stomach acid also triggers pain. The pain can occur at night or between meals due to these factors.
5. Gallstones
Your stomach pain might be due to the stones in your gallbladder, as they might block the gallbladder duct. A fatty or big meal can lead to a gallbladder attack at night. Consequently, you might wake up from your slumber in pain.
6. Food Poisoning
Abdominal pain might indicate food poisoning, especially if it occurs a few hours after you consume contaminated food. Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting might also accompany food poisoning. Consult a reputable doctor instantly if you suspect food poisoning.
7. Food Allergy or Intolerance
Bloating, diarrhea and gas can occur with stomach pain among people who have trouble digesting or processing certain foods. Your stomach pain might be pointing at a food intolerance or allergy.
Lactose intolerance is a common reason behind severe stomach cramps and pain, and it is a type of food intolerance.
8. Cardiac Event
Many people don’t know this, but stomach pain is a symptom of some cardiac events. For instance, myocardial ischemia can look like shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, pain in the neck and jaw, etc. But some also experience gastrointestinal symptoms during a cardiac event. Thus, stomach pain might indicate a cardiac event. Contact a cardiovascular specialist immediately if you think this might be why your stomach hurts.
9. Menstrual Cramps & Endometriosis
Menstruation is a painful experience for most women, as the uterine lining sheds during this time. Among other discomforts like cramping and bloating, stomach pain at night or any time during the day also occurs.
Women with endometriosis suffer severe menstrual pain that lasts longer. In this condition, the uterine lining tissue grows outside the uterus at an exceeding rate. As a result, nighttime or daytime stomach pain occur.
What Should I Do?
Stomach pain at night occurs due to multiple reasons. It is better to know the cause behind yours, or it might keep disturbing your sweet sleep time. Go to a reputable doctor, like our specialist at Aqeeq Internal Medicine. We are a few numbers away at 832-786-8195.