Stomach pain, loss of appetite, and not wanting to eat—what could be the cause?

May 20, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Shen Yonghua

Introduction

Stomach pain, loss of appetite, and not wanting to eat may be caused by irregular eating habits, mental stress, functional dyspepsia, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and other factors. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention at a hospital to determine the exact cause and receive appropriate treatment. Additionally, maintain healthy lifestyle habits and avoid consuming spicy or irritating foods such as pepper, chili, garlic, etc., as they may hinder recovery.

In general, loss of appetite and stomach pain may be caused by irregular eating habits, high mental stress, functional dyspepsia, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and other factors. It is recommended to seek timely medical consultation at a hospital to identify the underlying cause and receive targeted treatment. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Irregular Eating Habits

Long-term irregular meal times, overeating, or excessive consumption of spicy, greasy, or cold foods can irritate the gastric mucosa and affect gastric emptying and digestion, leading to spasmodic stomach pain and reduced appetite. It is recommended to adjust dietary habits, maintain regular meal times, and eat smaller meals more frequently to help alleviate symptoms.

2. High Mental Stress

Prolonged states of anxiety, tension, or depression can affect the autonomic nervous system, slowing gastrointestinal motility and disrupting secretion of digestive fluids, which may result in stomach discomfort and loss of appetite. Stress can be relieved through exercise, meditation, listening to music, and other relaxation techniques.

3. Functional Dyspepsia

Functional dyspepsia, such as gastric or duodenal motility disorders, can delay gastric emptying and cause gas accumulation in the stomach, leading to the aforementioned symptoms. Patients may take medications such as mosapride tablets or ranitidine hydrochloride capsules as directed by a physician to improve symptoms.

4. Chronic Gastritis

Stomach pain, loss of appetite, and lack of desire to eat could indicate chronic gastritis, which is usually caused by long-term irregular eating habits or frequent consumption of stimulants such as strong tea or coffee, irritating and damaging the gastric mucosa. It can also result from gastrointestinal dysfunction causing food retention in the stomach. Patients may take medications such as omeprazole enteric-coated tablets, lansoprazole tablets, or pantoprazole enteric-coated tablets under medical supervision to improve symptoms.

5. Peptic Ulcer Disease

Peptic ulcer disease can also cause the above symptoms. Poor dietary habits and long-term alcohol consumption can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, leading to erosion of the gastric mucosa and ulcer formation, or slowed gastrointestinal motility. Patients may take medications such as colloidal bismuth pectin capsules, amoxicillin tablets, or metronidazole tablets as directed by a physician for treatment.

In daily life, it is important to develop healthy lifestyle habits and avoid consuming spicy or irritating foods such as pepper, chili peppers, and garlic, which may hinder recovery.

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