Sharp pains in your stomach after you eat can be related to many different conditions that will need to be determined by your physician. Many conditions are treatable through clinical diagnosis and preventive measures. Some conditions that can cause sharp stomach pains are isolated instances, such as food poisoning. Take note of what you're eating and how it's affecting your digestive system. Your doctor will most likely want to discuss your diet and possible foods that trigger your stomach pain.
Food Journal
Before you meet with your doctor, write down everything you eat for one week. Keep track of what you, eat how much you eat and how it affects your digestive system. If you notice that similar foods cause sharp pains, stop eating them until you can be seen by your doctor. If you notice that you develop pain every time you eat, no matter what type of food it is you're consuming, you may have a chronic digestive condition. If your stomach pain progresses and gets worse, call your doctor.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a common digestive disorder that can cause sharp pains after you eat. This condition is considered an inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, that mainly affects the lower portion of the small intestines. The cause of Crohn's disease is unclear, but many believe it is hereditary. The National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse states that around 20 percent of people with this condition have a relative with a form of IBD. Crohn's causes symptoms similar to other digestive conditions and may be difficult to diagnose.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an intolerance to wheat that causes damage to the lining of your small intestines. Unlike other food intolerances, the damage caused by the reaction in the intestines is permanent and can lead to lifelong complications. When you eat gluten, your immune system reacts by attacking the villi that line your intestines. Villi are small hair-like particles that help absorb nutrients, sugar and protein into the body during digestion. Damage to villi can cause malnourishment and excessive weight loss. This digestive condition will cause stomach pain only after you eat products that contain gluten.
Food Poisoning
If you eat or drink something that is contaminated with an infectious organism, you can develop food poisoning. Food poisoning causes sharp pains in your stomach four to 36 hours after you ingest the food or beverage that's contaminated. Food poisoning symptoms will progress quickly, causing vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramping. Most cases of food poisoning last from one to 10 days without any further complications.
