Feeling a burning sensation in stomach? It might be IBD

Overview

Do you experience a burning sensation in your stomach or have stomach infections? It could be a symptom of IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease). IBD is a group of health conditions leading to chronic inflammation of your alimentary canal (digestive tract). 

There are two types of IBD. It includes:

Ulcerative colitis. In this condition, you develop inflammation and stomach ulcer (soreness) starting at the rectum, continuing along the lining of your colon (large intestine).

Crohn’s disease. This health condition can cause inflammation and soreness to any portion of your digestive canal, right from your mouth to your anus. In some cases, stomach infections are likely to spread through multiple layers of your digestive tract.

What are the Symptoms of IBD?

Symptoms of IBD vary depending on the severity of inflammation and where it occurs. Some of the common signs and symptoms are:

• Diarrhea
• Fever and fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Blood in stool
• Reduced appetite
• Weight loss

What are the Causes of Burning Sensation in Stomach?

Many people believe that IBD or stomach acid is caused due to lack of proper diet and stress. However, there is no scientific or clinical data to prove this claim. Doctors have confirmed that improper diet and stress will aggravate but do not cause IBD. Immune system malfunction might be one of the causes. But, the exact cause of IBD remains unknown.

What to eat:

Certain foods can help you stay well ­nourished without aggravating symptoms. Here is a list of foods that should be easy for your digestion.

• Almond milk
• Eggs
• Oatmeal
• Vegetable soups
• Papaya
• Pureed beans

What Not to Eat?

• Your trigger food(food that has caused you trouble before)
• Certain high fiber food
• Nuts, seeds, and popcorn
• High-fat food
• Spicy food
• Caffeine and alcohol

Each person has his trigger agents that cause the symptoms to aggravate.

When to See a Doctor?

If you feel that there is a significant change in your daily bowel movements, if you experience any of the symptoms (mentioned above), or if your symptoms start worsening, make sure to get in touch with your doctor at the earliest. Although IBD is not fatal in general, in some cases, it can be life-threatening. 

Consult our gastroenterologist’s team​ at Apollo, who is trained and practiced in the premier institutes across the world and have more than 15 years of experience in this field. Our endoscopy unit comprises six endoscopy theatres with fully equipped state-of-the-art modern endoscopy machines and accessories. We have dedicated specialty clinics for IBD and IBS treatment. You can now​ book an appointment online through Apollo Edoc, ​which will ensure zero waiting time for further details.

What are the Risk Factors of IBD?

Some of the risk factors associated with IBD include the following:

• Family history. If IBD runs in your family (close relatives, such as siblings, parents, kids), you are likely to be at a higher risk of developing IBD.
• Smoking. Smoking is another risk factor that can aggravate your symptoms of IBD.
• NSAIDs. Using NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications) is likely to increase your risk of having IBD. It can also worsen your symptoms if you have IBD.
• Age. Increasing age could be a potential risk factor

What are the Complications of IBD?

Common complications of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis include:

• Colon cancer
• Formation of blood clots
• Inflammation in the joints, skin, and eyes
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis (progressive liver condition)
• Side-effects of IBD medications

Condition-specific complications are as under:

Ulcerative colitis

• Severe dehydration
• Perforated colon (formation of a hole in your colon)
• Toxic megacolon

Crohn’s disease

• Malnutrition
• Bowel obstruction
• Anal fissures
• Fistulas

What are the Treatment Options for Burning Sensation in Stomach?

Your doctor will focus the treatment plans on minimizing the inflammation leading to a burning sensation in the stomach. It will not only relieve your symptoms but provide long-term remission while reducing the chances of complications. Following are the IBD treatments your doctor is more likely to recommend:

Medications

• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Immune system suppressors
• Biologic therapy with antibodies that target the proteins causing IBD
• Antibiotics
• Other medicines and supplements may include painkillers, anti-diarrheal drugs, and vitamin supplements.

Nutritional support

Your doctor is likely to prescribe a special diet administered through a feeding tube or injected into your vein. It is recommended in case of severe malnutrition and dehydration.

Surgery

If medications, nutritional support, remedies for stomach burning, and lifestyle modification fail to improve your condition, your doctor will likely suggest surgery for curing stomach burning.

What are the Home Remedies for the Stomach Burning Sensation?

Here are some remedies for burning sensation in your stomach:

• If you have a burning sensation in your stomach, food intolerances, or stomach acid, you should eliminate the trigger food items from your diet. Some of the common food triggers include – alcohol, caffeine, dairy products, gluten, fatty foods, fried foods, citrusy food items, chocolate, etc.
• If you are a smoker, try quitting it. Smoking can aggravate your symptoms.
• Make sure to eat your meals on time. Avoid late-night dinner and keep a distance of at least 2 to 3 hours between your dinner and going to bed.
• Eating smaller meals will help you with proper digestion.
• Exercise regularly.
• Raise your head with the help of an extra pillow to find relief from stomach acid.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you get relief from a burning stomach?

Here is how you can get relief from stomach burning:

• Limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption
• Quitting smoking
• Working out daily
• Removing the trigger foods from your diet
• Chewing your food properly.
• Eating smaller meals
• Maintaining a gap of a minimum of 2 to 3 hours between eating and sleeping.
• Avoiding eating late at night

2. Why is my stomach burning?

You might experience a burning sensation in your stomach because of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and indigestion. Some of the other causes of stomach burning may include ulcers and (GERD) gastroesophageal reflux disease, etc.

3. What drink helps an upset stomach?

Some drink options that can help soothe a burning stomach include the following:

• Clear soups or bouillon
• Decaffeinated tea
• Diluted fruit juices, including cherry, cranberry, grape, and apple