What causes sudden stomach pain in the morning?

Sudden stomach pain in the morning may be caused by improper diet, acute gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux, cholecystitis, gastric ulcers, and other reasons.

1. Improper Diet

If one consumes large amounts of alcohol or spicy, irritating foods the previous night, it may cause spasms in the smooth muscles of the stomach, leading to abdominal pain and possibly diarrhea. It is recommended to take medications such as Bacillus subtilis biliary capsule, Bifidobacterium triple viable tablets, or compound digestive enzyme tablets under medical guidance to regulate intestinal flora and help improve symptoms.

2. Acute Gastritis

Acute gastritis typically involves inflammation and damage to the gastric mucosa, making the stomach lining more sensitive. During sleep, when no food is present in the stomach, gastric acid and secretions can accumulate. Upon waking in the morning, these substances may irritate the gastric mucosa, causing discomfort such as stomach pain, nausea, abdominal pain, and bloating. It is advisable to take medications like hydrotalcite tablets, potassium citrate bismuth granules, or teprenone capsules under medical supervision to repair mucosal damage and improve the condition.

3. Gastroesophageal Reflux

Chronic gastroesophageal reflux can lead to esophageal mucosal injury and inflammation. When the esophagus is continuously exposed to gastric acid during the night, sudden stomach pain upon waking may occur, often accompanied by symptoms such as acid regurgitation and belching. It is recommended to take proton pump inhibitors such as lansoprazole enteric-coated tablets, omeprazole enteric-coated tablets, or rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets under a doctor’s guidance to suppress gastric acid reflux and relieve symptoms.

4. Cholecystitis

In cholecystitis, bile flow may be obstructed or delayed, causing bile to reflux into the stomach. During sleep, with no food intake, accumulated bile may irritate the gastric mucosa upon waking, resulting in stomach pain, along with upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Under medical advice, antibiotics such as gentamicin sulfate injection, tobramycin sulfate injection, or kanamycin sulfate injection may be used to control infection.

5. Gastric Ulcer

Gastric acid is the main digestive component in gastric juice. In the morning, gastric acid secretion may be relatively high. When gastric acid comes into contact with an ulcer site, it may exacerbate irritation and pain. It is recommended to take gastric mucosal protective agents such as hydrotalcite chewable tablets, sucralfate tablets, or potassium citrate bismuth capsules under medical guidance to reduce mucosal damage and promote healing.

Maintain regular eating habits; avoid overeating and limit consumption of greasy, spicy, stimulating, raw, cold, or hard foods. If discomfort occurs, seek medical attention promptly and follow a doctor's advice for appropriate treatment.