What is a stomach ache?

Stomach ache is simply abdominal pain where the cause may not be easy to discern. It can be connected with a burning sensation, bloating, nausea or even vomiting.

What causes stomach aches?

Gastroesophageal reflux may cause stomach ache. This is when some of the contents of the stomach come back up into the oesophagus. Unlike the stomach, the oesophagus is not protected by mucus so, when food comes back up, the acidity of the gastric juices creates a burning sensation in the oesophagus.

When digestive juices destroy the stomach wall or the duodenum, this forms an open wound, called a peptic ulcer.

Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach’s mucous membrane. It can be caused by a bacterial infection or prolonged use of anti-inflammatories.

Finally, a high-fat meal may cause an upset stomach. The liver synthesises a large quantity of bile salts, but, if it is unable to produce enough bile salts, this may cause abdominal pain or diarrhoea.