What can cause a burning sensation in your stomach?

A burning feeling in your stomach is often due to indigestion. Some other possible causes include ulcers and reactions to foods or medications.

While some serious conditions can cause the feeling, most of the time, it doesn't result from a health issue that you need to worry about.

Here are five common reasons for a burning sensation in your stomach. We also look at other symptoms you might have and what your treatment options are.

1. Indigestion

Indigestion is also called dyspepsia. It’s a group of gut symptoms that happen at the same time, including a burning feeling in the stomach.

Every year, around 25% of people in the United States experience indigestion at some point. Many people who have it feel a burning sensation in their upper abdomen.

Common triggers include:

• drinking too much alcohol, coffee, or fizzy drinks

• eating too fast

• eating highly acidic, spicy, or greasy foods

• stress

• smoking

• some antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen

Several health conditions can cause indigestion, including:

• Acid reflux: This involves stomach acid flowing up into your esophagus — the pipe that takes foods and drinks from your mouth to your belly. The issue can cause a burning feeling behind your breastbone. It’s also known as gastroesophageal reflux or heartburn.

• Functional dyspepsia: This is chronic indigestion that doesn’t have an easily identifiable cause. If you have it, you may experience a burning sensation just below your rib cage.

Other associated symptoms

People with indigestion may also:

• feel uncomfortably full during or after a meal

• have bloating and gas

• burp often, which may bring up food or fluid

• have a gurgling or growling belly

Treatment options

You can manage most causes of indigestion with medication and dietary changes.

Your symptoms might improve if you eat or drink fewer:

• alcoholic drinks

• fizzy sodas

• caffeinated drinks

• highly acidic foods, like tomatoes and oranges

• spicy foods

• fatty foods

• greasy foods

If you have indigestion that lasts for longer than 2 weeks, contact a doctor.

2. Food intolerances

A food intolerance can lead to a burning feeling and other indigestion-like symptoms. 

Common intolerances include:

• Lactose: This is a sugar in milk. In a 2017 study of people with reflux symptoms, 55% had an intolerance to milk.

• Gluten: Abdominal pain and discomfort are among the most common symptoms of an intolerance to gluten.

Some foods and drinks can irritate your gut and cause symptoms even if you don’t have an intolerance. Having lots of spicy foods and alcohol can lead to this irritation.

Other associated symptoms

Other common symptoms of a food intolerance are bloating, farting, and diarrhea.

An adverse reaction to food can also present in other ways, including:

• headaches

• fatigue and low energy

• nausea and vomiting

• constipation

• joint pain

• skin rashes

Treatments

You might need to avoid the triggering food or drink altogether.

But with the help of a dietician, it’s usually possible to find ways to safely include the food or drink in your diet.

To learn more about food intolerances — and allergies — check out this ZOE Science & Nutrition podcast.

3. Peptic ulcers

Peptic ulcers are sores that develop at the top of the intestines or in your stomach lining. Often, the cause is an infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria. 

A burning sensation in the stomach is the most common symptom of a peptic ulcer. 

Other causes of peptic ulcers include NSAID use and medical procedures involving the stomach or small intestine.

Males have a higher risk of developing peptic ulcers than females.

Other associated symptoms 

Alongside burning stomach pain, peptic ulcers can cause:

• bloating

• belching

• uncomfortable fullness during or after eating

• acid reflux

• nausea

If an H. pylori infection is behind your ulcers, you may also have a reduced appetite and unintentional weight loss.

Peptic ulcers don’t always cause symptoms, however.

Treatment

A doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat an H. pylori infection. Or, they may prescribe drugs called proton pump inhibitors to address NSAID side effects. 

Peptic ulcers can take several months to heal fully.

4. Medication side effects

NSAID use can lead to indigestion and peptic ulcers — two causes of a burning feeling in the stomach. 

Common NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and aspirin.

Other associated side effects

NSAID use may also cause:

• headaches

• dizziness

• drowsiness

More severe and rare reactions can include:

• allergic reactions

• liver, heart, kidney, or circulation problems

• strokes

Preventing and managing NSAID side effects

If you take NSAIDs to manage the symptoms of a health problem, and you develop a burning sensation in your stomach, speak to a doctor about alternative treatments.

Also, taking NSAIDs with water and food may reduce the risk of developing side effects.

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5. Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term digestive condition that causes a range of symptoms.

When IBS causes stomach pain, people often describe it as a stabbing, aching, sharp, or throbbing sensation. However, everyone experiences pain differently, so it could feel like burning.

Research shows that in the U.S., females are twice as likely as males to develop IBS. This study also found that people report worse symptoms — including abdominal pain — during menstruation.

Other associated symptoms

IBS causes severe changes in bowel habits. You may develop constipation, diarrhea, or both.

Other symptoms can include:

• acid reflux

• bloating and swelling

• excessive farting

• low energy

• nausea

Treating IBS

No single test can diagnose IBS. Doctors will rule out other conditions, like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, before they start recommending diet changes. 

Managing IBS symptoms often involves changing your intake of triggering foods and drinks. These may include certain sweeteners, or they may be processed foods that contain resistant starch.

ZOE’s U.S Medical Director Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, who is a board-certified gastroenterologist,  tells us that “Some patients see improvement in their symptoms very quickly if they take these simple steps: Cut out caffeine, alcohol, and spicy and fatty foods.”

He also says that peppermint oil, probiotics, and fiber supplements can help, though you’ll need to go through some trial and error.

A dietitian may recommend adjusting your fiber intake to help you manage constipation and diarrhea.

To learn more about IBS, listen to the ZOE Science & Nutrition podcast on the topic.

Could it be stomach cancer?

Several types of cancer start in the stomach. They don’t always cause symptoms, especially in the early stages. But when symptoms arise, they can include a burning sensation in the abdomen.

Stomach cancer is not common. It accounts for roughly 1.5% of new cancer diagnoses in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. 

Cases are also dropping by 1.5% every year. The society estimates that about 26,500 new stomach cancer cases will be diagnosed in the country in 2023.

When to contact a doctor

If you have any of these symptoms alongside a burning sensation in your stomach, seek medical help:

• frequent vomiting

• bloody vomit

• black or tarry stool

• blood in your stool

• dizziness or fainting

• a loss of appetite

• unexplained weight loss

• sudden, severe abdominal pain that doesn’t go away

• pain or difficulty swallowing

• pain in your arm, chest, jaw, or neck

• shortness of breath

• yellowing of your skin or eyes

Also contact a doctor if the burning sensation lasts for longer than 2 weeks.

Diagnosis

Learning more about the burning feeling in your stomach can help a doctor find the cause. It’s a good idea to keep track of:

• the location of the pain

• how often you feel it

• when it occurs and how regular the pattern is

• whether it spreads to other areas

• any other symptoms, like vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation

The doctor will ask about your medical and family histories and perform a physical exam to check for swelling, tenderness, and bowel sounds.

If they can’t identify the problem, they may then ask for:

• blood, urine, and poop tests

• imaging tests, like X-rays and MRI or CT scans

• an endoscopy, which involves inserting a long, thin tube with a camera attachment into your stomach

Diet changes and prevention

Dr. Bulsiewicz has described how to reduce acid reflux by changing your diet. And it’s not only what you eat, but how you eat that matters.

According to Dr. B, some strategies include:

• taking time to enjoy your food and eating in a relaxed way

• avoiding bending or lying down after eating

• giving your body 3–4 hours to digest your last meal before you go to bed

• gradually adding more fiber to your diet

He also recommends the Mediterranean diet, which prioritizes:

• fruits, veggies, and high-fiber whole grains

• legumes, seeds, and nuts

• olive oil as a main source of fat

• low amounts of lean white meat, fish, dairy, and eggs

When it comes to recommending approaches to IBS, his advice involves attending to the community of bugs in your gut: your gut microbiome.

With ZOE’s at-home test, you can find out which “good” and “bad” bacteria make up your gut microbiome, along with how your body responds to sugars and fats.

We can then give you personalized advice about which foods will best support your gut health.

To find out more about how it works, take our free quiz today.

Summary

A burning sensation in your stomach can stem from several factors. The most common cause is indigestion.

Peptic ulcers, certain foods, certain medications, and IBS can also lead to this burning feeling. 

Changing your diet could ease the pain. In some cases, a doctor may need to examine you and prescribe treatment.