Stomach Pain and GERD: Treatment and Prevention

Jan 09, 2024

Whether you call it "heartburn" or its official name, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), this digestive disorder can cause pain, most often in the chest and throat.

GERD can also cause stomach pain, which is usually felt in the upper abdomen.

This article will take a closer look at GERD-related stomach pain, its treatment options, and what you can do to avoid stomach pain caused by GERD.

GERD is pretty common. It affects about 20 percent of the adult U.S. population.

GERD occurs when the digestive acids and enzymes in your stomach don't want to stay in your stomach. Instead, they flow back up into your esophagus toward your mouth. This is because a band of muscle around the base of your esophagus — called the lower esophageal sphincter — weakens and doesn't seal properly.

The purpose of the lower esophageal sphincter is to open when food moves down your esophagus. This allows food to descend into your stomach. If this muscle is weakened, it can allow a backflow of stomach contents into your esophagus, irritating it and causing pain.

The most common symptoms of GERD are persistent acid reflux (heartburn) and regurgitation. Many people with GERD experience a burning sensation in the chest that's caused by stomach acid rising up into the esophagus.

But pain in your upper abdomen, or stomach area, is another symptom of GERD. If you have stomach pain with GERD, you may feel a burning or gnawing pain in your stomach, or what some people describe as a "sour" stomach.

Eating certain foods — such as fatty, fried, spicy, and citrus foods — can trigger or exacerbate GERD. Being pregnant can also make it worse, as well as some behaviors, such as:

If your abdominal pain is mild, you might be able to wait it out for a few hours and see whether it resolves. If it worsens or continues for a longer period of time, contact your doctor or healthcare professional.

If you have chest pain or if you vomit blood, seek emergency care immediately.

Besides heartburn, regurgitation, and stomach pain, other common symptoms of GERD can include:

Making certain lifestyle changes may help reduce your GERD symptoms, including stomach pain. For instance, a doctor may recommend:

Treatments for GERD may include:

Talk with a doctor about which of these options may help reduce acid production that can harm your esophagus as well as help relieve your stomach pain.

Also ask a doctor about possible side effects of different treatments. For example, proton pump inhibitors may upset your stomach.

In general, you don't want to ignore GERD because, over time, the acidic backflow from your stomach toward your throat can damage the lining of your esophagus. This can lead to serious conditions like Barret's esophagus, which increases your risk of esophageal cancer.

So, even if the stomach pain from GERD doesn't bother you too much, it's best to talk with a doctor about possible GERD treatment options to prevent long-term complications.

Just as you might treat your GERD-related stomach pain by embracing certain lifestyle habits, those same strategies may help you prevent GERD and the painful symptoms that can accompany it.

Let's look at these prevention strategies in more detail.

Some foods are notorious for triggering GERD episodes, such as:

You can limit or avoid some or all of these foods to manage your GERD symptoms.

You don't have to just alter what you eat. You can change how you eat, too. Try forgoing big, heavy meals and opt for smaller, more frequent meals instead to see whether that improves your symptoms.

GERD is linked to obesity. If you have overweight or obesity, losing some weight can help reduce symptoms like heartburn and stomach pain.

If you smoke, this may be one of the harder steps to take, but it's worth it: Quitting tobacco can improve your health in many ways.

In addition to boosting your cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and reducing your risk of many cancers, quitting smoking can help reduce your risk of GERD and its pain-related symptoms.

Keeping your head slightly elevated may help prevent stomach acid from moving up into your esophagus.

Prop your head up with a wedge pillow under the top of your mattress when you sleep. You could also try sleeping on your side to see whether that makes a difference, as side sleeping may be linked to some health benefits.

GERD pain is most commonly felt in the upper abdomen. If you have pain in other parts of your abdomen, it may be caused by something else.

Some possibilities include:

Stomach pain may not be the primary symptom of GERD, but it can often accompany acid reflux and regurgitation, which are the most common symptoms.

If you find that OTC treatments and lifestyle changes don't improve your GERD-related stomach pain and other symptoms, talk with a doctor about other treatment options that may be right for you.