Medical Questions » Stomach Questions » Question No. 949
| Question: | For two months I have had bad stomach aches on and off. The pain seems to run up into my chest sometimes. I am getting worried. Please help. |
| Answer: | There are several dozen possible causes for your stomach pains, but the most likely are a peptic ulcer, regurgitation of acid from the stomach into the gullet, and a hiatus hernia.
Peptic ulcers cause severe pains at the top of the belly, that are often worse at night, and eased for a short time by food.
The stomach is full of acid, but the cells lining the stomach are covered with an acid-resistant mucus. If the mucus breaks down, a peptic ulcer results. If excess acid is produced, it may be regurgitated from the stomach, and run up into the gullet, which has no acid-protecting mucus. This results in a severe burning pain just below and behind the breast bone.
A hiatus hernia occurs when a small piece of the stomach slips up out of the belly and into the chest. The hernia itself causes little discomfort, but the stomach acid is allowed to flow freely up into the gullet to cause pain.
You will need to see a doctor to have your problem more thoroughly investigated, possibly by gastroscopy. This procedure involves swallowing a thin tube while under sedation. Through this, a doctor can examine the inside of your stomach and gullet to detect any abnormalities.
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