Prognosis
When does the upper abdominal pain go away? The duration of upper abdominal pain after eating and the prognosis of how long it will last depends on the cause of the pain. If the cause is harmless, such as an unbalanced diet or eating too quickly, upper abdominal pain usually improves on its own after a short time.
Even in the case of food intolerance or allergy, the symptoms should improve if the triggering food is avoided. An inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach will often heal after a few days to weeks by abstaining from alcohol and nicotine as well as drug treatment. However, the inflammation can recur. An acute gastrointestinal infection will take about a week with the appropriate treatment. In the case of more serious causes of upper abdominal pain after eating, the course of healing and the prognosis depends on the type and extent of the disease.
Prophylaxis
Upper abdominal pain after eating may be prevented by avoiding certain foods. Especially foods that are flatulent or contain a lot of acid often cause upper abdominal pain after eating. Foods such as cabbage, onions, sweets and pork often cause discomfort for sensitive stomachs.
But drinks containing caffeine or alcohol should also be avoided. Smoking cigarettes also very often leads to upper abdominal pain after eating, which is why, among other things, nicotine consumption should be avoided if possible. In addition, sufficient time should be available for eating. Distractions during the meal (e.g. television or radio) as well as stress and time pressure also lead to increased upper abdominal pain.The regular intake of medication can also lead to pain in the upper abdomen under certain circumstances, which is why it should be clarified whether an additional intake of stomach protection medication or a switch to a better tolerated medication is possible and sensible.
Upper abdominal pain after meals and pregnancy
Upper abdominal pain is a frequently described symptom during pregnancy. A previously unknown pregnancy can become noticeable by pulling or slight pain in the abdomen, but slight nausea is also one of the typical signs of a beginning pregnancy. However, these symptoms are usually not only observed after eating.
And even in a more advanced pregnancy, upper abdominal pain can occur independently of food intake. These are usually caused by the growing child, which takes up more and more space in the womb and thus puts pressure on the organs. As a result, stomach pain can occur, in some cases heartburn (reflux) can also occur, since the acid gastric juice flows back into the esophagus, especially when lying down, which can cause an unpleasant burning pain in the upper abdomen.
However, even harmless uterine contractions or premature contractions can sometimes cause pain in the upper abdomen during pregnancy. Upper abdominal pain during pregnancy is therefore normal and usually harmless. However, if the pain occurs after every meal, a doctor should be consulted in order to rule out a cause other than the growing child for the pain.