What Causes Epigastric Pain?

Epigastric pain refers to any pain experienced within the middle portion of the upper abdomen, which is located right below the rib cage. Because of how nebulous this condition is, a large number of different causes can bring about this pain, some of which point towards more severe underlying problems. Occasional pain in this area of the body is usually something individuals can avoid obtaining treatment for since it will dissipate on its own. In many cases, the pain may be the result of eating food that has gone bad. If the pain doesn't dissipate, however, it's likely the problem is more substantial than eating bad food. The main causes of epigastric pain typically occur because of digestive issues or other underlying conditions. Identifying the cause of epigastric pain will make it easier to have the condition diagnosed and treated.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common condition that occurs when the bile or acid in the stomach causes irritation along the lining of the esophagus. Other conditions like acid indigestion and heartburn are directly caused by this disease. Some of the main symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux include burning chest pain, indigestion, an acidic taste in the mouth, and regular bouts of coughing. Over-the-counter medications and certain diet changes are usually enough to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Epigastric pain because of gastroesophageal reflux disease is likely due to the irritation the acid causes to your food pipe. This condition can also lead to a wide range of more severe health problems, which is why it's essential to obtain prompt treatment. Prompt treatment will also reduce epigastric pain.

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Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is a relatively harmless condition that occurs when the body has difficulties digesting dairy products like milk and butter. All dairy products contain lactose, a type of sugar. This is what individuals can be intolerant to. Even consuming small amounts of dairy can cause symptoms of lactose intolerance to develop, one of which is epigastric pain. Most patients who are lactose intolerant don't have enough of the lactase enzyme in their body, which is essential for breaking down lactose sugars once they enter the body. Some of the additional symptoms individuals should look out for include nausea, diarrhea, bloating, throwing up, and stomach pains. The epigastric pain will likely feel like pressure placed on the abdomen, which individuals should be able to handle without requiring additional treatment. They must simply avoid consuming dairy products in the future.

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Gastritis

Gastritis is a condition that adversely affects the stomach lining. When individuals suffer from this problem, the lining of their stomach will become inflamed and cause pain in the abdomen and surrounding areas. This condition can occur because of an immune system disorder or a bacterial infection. The problem can also range in severity from mild to very serious. Milder cases of gastritis present themselves as acute issues that only last for a short time. On the other hand, some cases can be chronic, which means they can last anywhere from a couple of years to forever. While chronic cases of gastritis are difficult to treat, the symptoms can typically be lessened with certain acid-reducing medications. The main symptoms include black stool, nausea, pain in the chest, and vomiting blood or a darker liquid.

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Presence Of Gallstones

One cause of epigastric pain that can lead to severe pain is the presence of gallstones, which can develop in gallbladder when there's too much cholesterol within the bile. When these stones are large enough, it's possible for them to block the opening of the gallbladder, which can be very painful. If the stones are unable to pass through the gallbladder, the pain will likely become so severe that either hospitalization or some form of surgery is necessary. The presence of gallstones will invariably cause abdominal pain. Unlike some of the other causes on this list, the pain caused by this issue is usually always severe. Some of the other symptoms individuals might be going through because of gallstones include high fever, clay-colored stools, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite.

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Peptic Ulcer Disease

It's possible for the lining of the small intestine or stomach to become damaged because of too many pain relief medications or a bacterial infection. When this occurs, patients may experience peptic ulcer disease, which results in the development of sores with a wide range of different symptoms, including epigastric pain. Peptic ulcer disease is somewhat unique in that the epigastric pain patients experience can either worsen or get better after they've eaten. Some other symptoms of peptic ulcer disease include vomiting, nausea, feeling full after eating only small amounts of food, and shortness of breath. If individuals believe they're suffering from peptic ulcer disease and it's causing their epigastric pain, a variety of treatments, typically centered around acid blockers, can help them recover.