What causes stomach pain when hungry?

The term "stomach" may refer to the abdomen. Generally speaking, stomach pain occurring during hunger could be caused by excessive gastric acid secretion, gastric muscle contraction, duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, bile reflux gastritis, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive appropriate treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Increased gastric acid secretion: When in a state of hunger, the stomach lacks sufficient food for digestion, which often leads to increased gastric acid secretion. Excess acid may irritate the gastric mucosa, causing stomach pain. This is relatively common and can usually be relieved by eating small amounts of soda crackers or millet porridge.

2. Gastric muscle contraction: During hunger, the stomach muscles may contract due to lack of food, resulting in discomfort or pain. This condition is typically not serious and symptoms usually subside after consuming a small meal. It is advisable for patients to maintain regular eating habits and avoid spicy foods such as chili peppers and ginger to help reduce the occurrence of this symptom.

3. Duodenal ulcer: This may be associated with factors such as Helicobacter pylori infection or high levels of psychological stress. On an empty stomach, gastric acid directly affects the ulcerated area, potentially causing stomach pain, along with symptoms such as acid reflux and nausea. Patients are advised to follow medical instructions and take medications such as esomeprazole magnesium enteric-coated tablets, rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets, or lansoprazole tablets.

4. Gastric ulcer: Irregular eating habits or medication-induced irritation may trigger gastric ulcers. This condition often damages the protective lining of the gastric mucosa, allowing gastric acid to directly contact and erode the stomach wall. Patients may experience stomach pain when hungry, accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting or black stools. It is recommended that patients take medications such as cimetidine injection, belladonna tablets, or cimetidine tablets as directed by their doctor.

5. Bile reflux gastritis: This may result from factors such as cold exposure to the stomach or insufficient gastric motility. The condition often causes bile and pancreatic fluid to flow back into the stomach, damaging the gastric mucosal barrier. Patients may feel stomach pain when hungry, along with symptoms such as bitter taste or dry mouth. Patients should take medications such as hydrotalcite chewable tablets, domperidone tablets, or ursodeoxycholic acid tablets under medical supervision.

In daily life, patients are advised to drink plenty of warm water, apply warm compresses to the abdomen, and avoid overeating or eating too quickly, all of which can help alleviate gastric discomfort.