20 Causes of a Stomach Burning Sensation (2024)

A burning sensation in the stomach can be caused by health conditions, lifestyle issues, and medicines. Pain or a burning sensation in the stomach is referred to as indigestion, which describes a group of gastrointestinal symptoms rather than being its own disease.

Also known as dyspepsia, indigestion affects 20% of the population. The collective symptoms that people can experience are burning pain in the upper abdomen, feeling full quickly after eating, and feeling uncomfortably full after eating.

Learn about the causes, treatment, and prevention of indigestion or stomach burning.

20 Reasons Your Stomach May Burn

Stomach burning can be caused by food, lifestyle issues, medical conditions, medications, or for seemingly no reason at all. Not knowing what is causing stomach burn is very common. Almost 75% of people with indigestion never know the cause. This is called functional dyspepsia.

The other 25% who do have a defined cause could find their pain linked to:

• Alcohol consumption
• Caffeine
• Carbonated beverages
• Fatty or greasy food
• Spicy food
• Stress
• Smoking
• Eating too fast or too much at a meal
• Highly acidic foods like tomatoes and oranges

Medications that can cause stomach burning include:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Aspirin
• Some antibiotics

Medical conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract that can cause stomach burning include:

• Peptic ulcer disease
• Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining that can lead to ulcers and bleeding in the stomach)
• Stomach cancer
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes acid to come up the esophagus
• Lactose intolerance
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, which can cause ulcers and other issues
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying)
• Gallbladder inflammation

Treatment

Ways to stop burning stomach pain focus on managing any underlying conditions and preventing future pain. The main treatment options are medications, diet changes, and psychological therapy.

Over-the-counter (OTC) antacid medications can treat indigestion. These medications neutralize and reduce stomach acid levels. Common antacids include:

• Tums (calcium carbonate)
• Maalox (simethicone)
• Alka-Seltzer (sodium bicarbonate)

If indigestion doesn't get better after two weeks of OTC treatment, contact your healthcare provider for prescription medication. The best medicines for stomach burning are proton pump inhibitors, which decrease the amount of acid in the stomach. These include:

• Omeprazole (Prilosec)
• Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• Rabeprazole (Aciphex)
• Pantoprazole (Protonix)

Acid blockers, called H2 blockers, can also help stomach burning, including:

• Famotidine (Pepcid AC, Pepcid Oral, Zantac 360)
• Cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB)
• Nizatidine Capsules (Axid AR, Axid Capsules, Nizatidine Capsules)

Prokinetics may also be prescribed. These medications work by increasing the stomach's emptying time.

If an H. pylori infection is causing stomach burning, then a healthcare provider will likely prescribe two antibiotics to treat the infection. They might include:

• Amoxicillin
• Metronidazole
• Clarithromycin
• Tetracycline
• Tinidazole

People with indigestion should avoid foods and drinks that make their symptoms worse, such as:

• Carbonated beverages
• Alcohol
• Spicy and fatty foods
• Caffeine

If stress or anxiety is causing indigestion, then relaxation techniques should be implemented as part of a treatment plan. These techniques may include meditation, exercise, and talk therapy.

Home Remedies

Treating indigestion at home with over-the-counter medications, diet, and lifestyle changes can make a big difference.

There are few proven home remedies to treat indigestion. However, if the burning stomach pain comes on and there is no medication to be found at home, dissolve baking soda in at least 4 ounces of water. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, the same ingredient found in some over-the-counter medications.

Foods that may help when your stomach is burning include:

• Low-acid foods, such as bananas, melons, cauliflower, fennel, and nuts
• Watery foods, such as celery, cucumber, lettuce, watermelon, and broth-based soups.
• Milk
• Ginger
• Herbal tea

Surgery

When indigestion symptoms caused by GERD do not respond to conventional treatment, a healthcare provider may consider surgery. A Nissen fundoplication is the most common anti-reflux surgery.

This laparoscopic surgery involves wrapping part of the stomach (fundus) around the bottom of the esophagus. This makes it very difficult for stomach contents to move up the esophagus and cause pain.

Prevention

One of the best things to prevent burning stomach pain is to make diet changes. Some foods and drinks can trigger indigestion. Take note of any foods that cause indigestion and avoid them. Foods and drinks that may cause indigestion include:

• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Carbonated beverages
• Spicy foods
• Fatty and greasy foods
• Foods with high acid content (e.g. citrus, tomatoes, tomato sauce, vinegar)
  

Making lifestyle changes may also help decrease the incidence of indigestion, such as:

• Waiting two to three hours after eating before you lie down
• Stopping smoking
• Minimizing stress
• Avoiding NSAIDs when possible
• Avoiding exercise immediately after eating
• Eating slowly and fully chewing food

Summary

A stomach-burning sensation, also called indigestion, is a term used to describe a group of gastrointestinal symptoms. There are several potential causes, including stress, food, medications, and medical conditions. Treatment may include diet and lifestyle changes, OTC or prescription medications, or surgery for moderate to severe indigestion.

If diet and lifestyle modifications aren't working, talk to a healthcare provider for additional treatment options.