What Causes Stomachaches?

For the most part, stomachaches are a natural and expected part of life. In fact, most individuals experience quite a few stomachaches over the course of their life. Thankfully, most stomachaches aren't cause for serious concern. However, if individuals experience bad pain or recurring pain, they may want to have a doctor do an examination. General practitioners can diagnose and treat many common causes of abdominal pain, though they may refer patients to a specialist if the problem appears to be more complex. Get to know the variety of reasons individuals may experience stomachaches now.

Indigestion

Indigestion is a recurrent or persistent discomfort or pain that occurs in the upper portion of the abdomen. The medical term for indigestion is dyspepsia. Rather than being a medical condition of its own, indigestion is considered a piece of a larger underlying condition. It may be a sign of gallbladder disease, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or other digestive issues. The symptoms vary. It's common to experience a burning sensation in the upper abdomen or stomach, pain throughout the abdomen, a bloated feeling, gas and belching, vomiting, nausea, growling stomach, and an acidic taste in the mouth. Some patients find their symptoms increase when they're stressed. Heartburn often occurs alongside indigestion, but it's a separate symptom that indicates other potential problems.

Stomach Virus

Stomach pain is often caused by a stomach virus, which are viral infections that attack the digestive system. There are a number of stomach virus strains, though the one that most commonly occurs in the United States is a norovirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between nineteen and twenty-one norovirus infections occur in the United States every year. They most commonly occur throughout the winter, but it's also possible to contract them in the summer. Norovirus infections can be transmitted through drinking contaminated water, eating contaminated food, touching infected individuals and then touching the mouth, or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth. Noroviruses frequently mutate, so many individuals will catch more than one over the course of their lives.