The most common disorder experienced after a night of drinking is a hangover the next day, especially when excess alcohol is consumed. People who regularly drink high amounts of alcohol can develop different conditions, including stomach pain or heartburn.
The excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can cause some complications, and it is even a health risk. A regular intake can cause stomach pain to worsen, producing more irritation over time.
Next, in this FastlyHealarticle, we explain everything about relieving stomach pain from drinking alcohol.
Table of Contents
Why does my stomach hurt after drinking alcohol
Drinking alcohol in high amounts can cause damage to the stomach, which appears progressively if you consume it daily, or suddenly.
Excess alcohol inevitably increases the workload on the digestive system, as it causes damage to the mucosa responsible for protecting it.
When alcoholic beverages attack the gastric mucosa, acid production in the stomach increases, and the stomach becomes more sensitive, leading to abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.
Alcoholic gastritis
Heavy alcohol consumption has an irritating effect on the stomach lining, producing what is known as alcoholic gastritis. This gastritis develops after frequent alcohol consumption, which immediately irritates and erodes the gastric mucosa.
This can make the stomach more sensitive to acids or other elements that generate inflammatory processes.
During the first stage of this alteration, the presence of symptoms such as:
- Pain in the upper abdomen can range from burning to a stabbing.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Feeling of fullness and swelling of the stomach.
- Regurgitation of food.
This pathology can be aggravated by some circumstances such as:
- Stress.
- Use of tobacco and drugs.
- Consumption of foods high in saturated and trans fats.
- Regular use of over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen.
- Infections
- Autoimmune disorders
Take into account that if this alteration is not attended to in time or alcohol intake is not suppressed, complications may arise like, for example, intestinal bleeding, which represents a medical emergency and must be treated immediately in the emergency area of a health center.
How to relieve a stomach ache from drinking alcohol
If after drinking alcohol you start to feel a stomach ache, you can take the following measures before going to the doctor:
Hydration
Hydration is one of the most important aspects to consider to relieve stomach pain from drinking alcohol. Dehydration makes the body susceptible to aches and pains.
Keeping your body hydrated will improve the ability to resist these ailments. For this, you must drink plenty of water and eat enough water-rich fruits such as watermelon.
Eat the right foods.
The nutrition of your body is essential. For this, you will need to consume vitamins and even essential minerals after drinking plenty of alcohol. You must bear in mind that the latter damages the vital elements of the body, and because of this, it is possible to feel pain when trying to eliminate the toxins left by alcohol.
Rest
This can be an excellent cure to relieve stomach pain after drinking alcohol, especially when rehydration and nutrition remedies have no effect in reducing pain; sleeping for a few hours can be of great help in curing certain gastric discomforts.
If the improvement is not achieved after putting into practice the previous indications, it is indicative that you suffer from alcoholic gastritis, so you should seek immediate medical attention.
The doctor will be the one to make the diagnosis and start the treatment according to the symptoms you present.
The primary treatment is to stop drinking alcohol, and additionally, you must follow these indications:
- Taking medications known as antacids to decrease damage to the gastric mucosa.
- Consume probiotics to stimulate the growth of helpful stomach bacteria.
- You will be prescribed antibiotics to control gastrointestinal bacteria.
- Give up smoking.
- Decrease stress.
If you suffer from stomach pain from drinking alcohol, see your doctor avoid further complications.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to relieve stomach pain from drinking alcohol, we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.