Stomach pains after eating can come from a variety of causes, some serious and some annoying, but not medically important. The term "stomach pain" is often used to describe pain anywhere in the abdomen; stomach pain can occur from problems anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, from the esophagus to the large intestine. Most pains that occur after eating are directly related to increased activity in the intestinal tract.
Ulcers
Ulcers in the stomach, called gastric ulcers, or in the duodenum, the part of the small intestine nearest the stomach, can cause pain that may worsen after eating, although in some cases eating relieves the pain. Pain may return two to three hours after eating. Bacteria called H. pylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDS, cause the majority of stomach ulcers, according to Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Antibiotic treatment helps heal ulcers caused by H pylori; less than 10 percent of people experience a recurrence after antibiotic treatment. Stopping NSAIDS helps if they're the cause of ulcers. Ulcers can cause serious bleeding if they erode through layers of tissue to reach blood vessels.
Gallbladder
The gallbladder acts as a storage unit for bile, a substance produced in the liver that helps to break down dietary fats. After a fatty meal, the gallbladder releases bile. If gallstones form in the gallbladder and move into the bile duct, the tube that leads to the small intestine, they block normal bile flow. Chronic inflammation can occur. Spasms of the gallbladder and duct cause pain after eating, when fat enters the stomach and small intestine. Pain occurs in the upper right side of the abdomen, between the shoulder blades or under the right shoulder. Symptomatic gallstones are usually surgically removed, along with the gallbladder.
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux or GERD, occurs when the sphincter muscle or valve between the stomach and the esophagus, the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach, doesn't close tightly. Gastric juices leak upward from the stomach to the esophagus through the valve. While the stomach lining can handle high acid contents without damage or pain, the lining of the esophagus can't. The acidic stomach juices burn the esophagus, causing pain and possibly scarring and inflammation over time. Although pain from reflux, which occurs after eating, may appear to come from the stomach, it actually comes from the esophagus. Taking acid-inhibitors, avoiding certain food that aggravate reflux, not smoking and losing weight can all help to treat reflux.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance affects between 30 and 50 million Americans, with African-Americans, Asian-Americans and Native American most often affected, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center. Lactose intolerance occurs because of a genetic lack of an enzyme called lactase, which breaks down lactose, one of the sugars found in milk and other dairy products. Lactose intolerance causes gas, abdominal cramping and bloating and diarrhea that starts 30 minutes to two hours after eating. Avoiding foods containing lactose or taking lactase supplements can prevent pain from lactose intolerance.
