If you’ve ever woken up with a bit of a pang in your stomach, you may have sought to understand why. Is it something you ate? Something you drank? Maybe a sign of a more serious illness? Maybe just gas from drinking too much water before bed? So many questions, and yet there are no straightforward answers. There is no one answer to why does my stomach hurt every morning. It is rather a combination of several factors and explanations that result in that feeling of discomfort. But the general rule of thumb is that almost always—if it hurts in the morning—it’s because you probably ate something that didn’t agree with you or perhaps stressed your digestive system too much the night before. Here are some reasons why this could be happening.
Why Does My Stomach Hurt Every Morning?
Eating too late at night
The first thing you should rule out before trying to understand why does my stomach hurt every morning is what you ate. Did you eat something that didn’t sit well with your stomach? Did you eat something that was difficult to digest, perhaps? Did you eat too late at night? Eating too late at night is a very common culprit of digestive issues. It’s important to know that our stomachs secrete enzymes to aid digestion. These enzymes are at their strongest during the first couple of hours after eating. If you eat too late and the enzymes are still working in your stomach, the ingredients you consumed will be broken down and absorbed too quickly, which can cause bloating, cramping and indigestion.
Dehydration
If you woke up with a painful stomach, you should look at whether you’re properly hydrated or not. Consuming water to the point that it’s actually too much water can lead to mild cramping, gassiness, and indigestion. If you’re not properly hydrated, your body can’t properly digest food which can cause some of the symptoms you mentioned. Drinking a lot before bedtime can lead to waking up with a bloated, full stomach.
Stress and anxiety
If your stomach discomfort is followed by a headache and some cramping in your legs or feet, you may want to rule out stress and anxiety as a cause. Digestion is controlled by the nervous system, so if you’re experiencing extreme stress or anxiety, the stomach may not be able to fully process food properly.
Constipation and too much fiber
If you wake up with a stomach ache after eating a bowl of fiber cereal or having a couple of servings of vegetables, it may be a case of a fiber overdose. Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet, but too much fiber can lead to constipation. If you’re bloated, gassy, and uncomfortable but not actually experiencing pain, it’s possible that you didn’t get enough fiber or that your diet does not have enough fiber.
Food allergies
If your stomachaches don’t go away if you eliminate certain foods from your diet, try eliminating those foods and see if the pain goes away. If it does, you may have a food allergy.
IBS and IBD
If you’re experiencing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there are some things that you can do to help alleviate the pain. You should focus on eating more fiber, which will help keep your digestive system moving along more smoothly. You may also want to consider trying probiotics or prebiotics to help keep the gut healthy. Eating smaller meals throughout the day will also help keep your digestive system functioning properly.
What Can I Do To Relieve My Stomach Pain?
Eat more fiber-rich foods
Fiber is found in many different types of foods including fruits and vegetables. It’s important to make sure your diet has enough fiber to help your digestive system work properly. The easiest way to increase your intake of fiber is by eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Fiber also helps keep you feeling full for longer periods of time so you will eat less when eating the same amount of calories.
Drink tea or coffee instead of sodas or other drinks with caffeine
Caffeine can cause stomach cramps because it stimulates the nervous system and temporarily increases activity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It may also cause constipation as it relaxes muscles in the colon which can lead to incomplete bowel movements resulting in hard stools or constipation (Don’t drink this kind of soda if you have IBS). Additionally, caffeine can worsen symptoms if consumed with alcohol, which dehydrates your body further increasing symptoms due to lack of fluid intake (Don’t drink this kind if you have IBS).
Eat smaller meals
Fiber is digested slowly, so eating several small meals throughout the day will help keep your digestive system moving along more smoothly.
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are high in water, which can help prevent constipation by keeping you feeling full.
Drink tea or coffee instead of sodas or other drinks with caffeine
Caffeine can cause stomach cramps because it stimulates the nervous system and temporarily increases activity in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It may also cause constipation as it relaxes muscles in the colon which can lead to incomplete bowel movements resulting in hard stools or constipation (Don’t drink this kind if you have IBS). Additionally, caffeine can worsen symptoms if consumed with alcohol, which dehydrates your body further increasing symptoms due to lack of fluid intake (Don’t drink this kind if you have IBS).
Conclusion
Overall, there is no one answer to why does my stomach hurt every morning. It is rather a combination of several factors and explanations that result in that feeling of discomfort. But the general rule of thumb is that almost always—if it hurts in the morning—it’s because you probably ate something that didn’t agree with you or perhaps stressed your digestive system too much the night before.
FAQs:
Is it normal to have stomach pain in the morning?
Yes!
What is the best way to treat stomach pain and discomfort?
The best way to treat stomach pain and discomfort is to avoid things that aggravate it or cause you to be uncomfortable. This can be done by eating a diet rich in fiber, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly.
How long does it take for your stomach to feel better after an upset?
It depends on where you are in your digestive system, what foods caused the problem and how long you had eaten that food before experiencing the symptoms of stomach upset. Generally speaking, a few days will pass before full recovery occurs but this can vary from person to person due to different diet and lifestyle habits (e.g., how often you eat out).
Is there a connection between gas and stomach pain?
Yes. Gas can be caused by excess production of gas in the digestive tract or by too much food in the gut that is not broken down properly. When you eat too much food at once, it’s like putting too much pressure on your digestive system—the muscles of your GI tract can’t handle it all at once and so it may create unpleasant symptoms such as bloating, cramping, abdominal pain and excess gas (gas causes abdominal pain).
