You eat a meal, and soon afterward your stomach starts to hurt. But then something strange happens. An hour or two passes, your food begins to move through your digestive system, and the pain gradually disappears. If this happens repeatedly, you may wonder: Why does my stomach hurt after eating but feel better later? The … Read more
You finish a meal, and instead of feeling satisfied, you notice something uncomfortable happening below your belly button. Maybe it’s cramping. Maybe it’s pressure, bloating, or a sharp pain on one side. And sometimes, you feel the urge to use the bathroom soon after eating. So why does your lower stomach hurt after eating? Lower … Read more
You finish a meal, and a few minutes later, you feel pain right below your ribs. Maybe it’s a burning sensation. Maybe it feels like pressure, fullness, or a dull ache. Sometimes the pain is in the middle of your upper abdomen. Other times, it seems to sit more toward the right or left side. … Read more
You wake up feeling fine. Then you eat breakfast—and suddenly your stomach starts hurting. Maybe it feels like a dull ache. Maybe your upper stomach burns, you feel bloated, or you need to rush to the bathroom. If this happens regularly, you may wonder: Why does my stomach hurt after eating in the morning when … Read more
You finish a big meal. At first, you’re satisfied. Then the feeling changes. Your stomach feels painfully full. You may feel pressure, nausea, burning, or a dull ache that makes you wish you had eaten less. If this happens after a large meal, you may wonder: “Why does my stomach hurt when I eat too … Read more
You finish dinner, relax for a while, and then it starts. Your stomach feels uncomfortable. Maybe there’s a burning sensation, pressure, bloating, or pain in the upper abdomen. Sometimes it happens right after dinner. Other times, the pain appears when you lie down or wakes you up later at night. So why does your stomach … Read more
You eat something spicy. At first, there’s just the familiar heat. Then a few minutes later, your stomach starts burning. Maybe you feel a sharp pain in your upper abdomen. Maybe you get heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, or a strange feeling of warmth that seems to spread through your digestive system. If this happens regularly, you … Read more
You eat fried chicken, a burger, pizza, or another rich meal. A little while later, your stomach starts to hurt. Maybe it’s a heavy, uncomfortable feeling. Maybe there’s burning in your upper abdomen. Or perhaps you develop pain under your right ribs. You might start wondering: “Why does fatty food make my stomach hurt?” Fatty … Read more
You finally sit down for a meal, take a few bites—and then your stomach starts hurting. Maybe it’s a dull ache. Maybe it feels like burning or pressure. Or perhaps you feel fine while eating, but the pain starts 30 minutes or a few hours later. If this happens repeatedly, it’s natural to wonder: “Why … Read more
You eat a meal, and a few hours later your stomach feels unusually full, tight, or swollen. You may start wondering: “Could something be wrong with my gut bacteria?” The answer is more complicated than simply saying “bad bacteria cause bloating.” Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome. … Read more