Definition
Stomach pain is commonly referred to as pain in the middle upper abdomen, just below the breastbone. Although the stomach is a very common cause, it is not the only possible cause. Pain caused by the pancreas or parts of the small intestine can be felt at the same place.
In general, stomach pain is one of the most common complaints in humans. If they occur especially or exclusively at night, this can be an indication of the cause and clearly narrow down the circle of possible diseases. Some of them can have serious consequences if they are not treated. For this reason, a physician should be consulted at an early stage if the stomach pain is severe or persists for a long time at night.
Causes
Stomach pains at night are typical for several diseases. Sometimes the cause is never found for minor ailments – they are then triggered by hunger, for example, and are completely harmless. A very common, known cause is the wrong eating habit before going to bed.
For example, eating too large a meal or eating foods that cause flatulence such as brussels sprouts, beans or peas can cause pain and flatulence. Alcohol is also a common culprit – especially after partying, a hangover at night with severe stomach pain is not uncommon. In addition, various food intolerances, for example to milk or grain, can be noticed especially at night.
If the complaints have existed for some time, other causes are more important. One of the most frequent illnesses in Germany is the so-called reflux disease, in which increased stomach acid flows back into the esophagus and can cause pain in the stomach, chest and throat. Since the reflux of gastric acid is increased when lying down, the pain often occurs at night.
Gastritis and duodenal ulcers are also common causes of recurrent nocturnal stomach pain. The ulcer of the small intestine (peptic ulcer) typically causes pain after several hours without food intake – accordingly, especially at night or during longer periods of hunger. If the stomach pains occur very suddenly at night and are accompanied by very severe abdominal pain, a stomach as hard as a board or chest pain with shortness of breath, a heart attack or an illness requiring surgery such as a perforation of the stomach can also be behind it.
