Stomach pain every day around 4 or 5 in the afternoon
Feb 27, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Chao
Introduction
Stomach pain occurring around 4 or 5 p.m. every day may be due to eating too little at lunch, resulting in the food being fully digested and absorbed by the intestines at that time. Symptoms can improve with dietary adjustments. It could also be caused by gastritis irritating the gastric mucosa, for which antibiotic medications may be used under medical guidance. Another possibility is duodenal ulcer, leading to excessive gastric acid secretion, which can be treated with proton pump inhibitors.
Stomach pain occurring around 4 or 5 o'clock every afternoon may be caused by non-disease factors, or it could result from medical conditions such as gastritis or duodenal ulcer.
I. Non-disease Factors
This type of pain may occur if lunch is eaten in small amounts daily. By 4–5 PM, the food in the intestines has been digested and absorbed, and insufficient intake afterward may lead to stomach discomfort. Symptoms generally improve after adjusting eating habits.
II. Disease Factors
1. Gastritis
Gastritis may develop due to bacterial infection, where inflammatory factors irritate the gastric mucosa, causing pain. Antibiotics prescribed by a doctor—such as clarithromycin capsules, amoxicillin capsules, or azithromycin dispersible tablets—can help suppress or eliminate bacteria and prevent worsening inflammation.
2. Duodenal Ulcer
Excessive gastric acid secretion caused by a duodenal ulcer may also lead to afternoon stomach pain. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole enteric-coated tablets, rabeprazole enteric-coated tablets, or lansoprazole enteric-coated tablets, can be used under medical guidance to reduce gastric acid secretion and protect the gastric lining.
In addition, stomach cancer could also be a potential cause. It's recommended to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate medical treatment accordingly.
