People often refer to the entire abdominal region as “the stomach.” Actually, your stomach is an organ located in the upper left part of your abdomen. It’s the first intra-abdominal part of your digestive tract.
Your stomach contains several muscles. It can change shape as you eat or change posture. It also plays an instrumental role in digestion.
Your stomach’s role in digestion
When you swallow, food travels down your esophagus, passes the lower esophageal sphincter, and enters your stomach. Your stomach has three jobs:
temporary storage of food and liquids
production of digestive juices
emptying the mixture into your small intestine
How long this process takes depends on the foods you eat and how well your stomach muscles function. Certain foods, like carbohydrates, pass through quickly, while proteins remain longer. Fats take the most time to process.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Reflux occurs when stomach contents such as food, acid, or bile moves back into your esophagus. When this happens twice a week or more, it’s called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This chronic condition can cause heartburn and irritate your esophagus lining.
Risk factors for GERD include:
obesity
smoking
pregnancy
asthma
diabetes
hiatal hernia
delay in stomach emptying
scleroderma
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
Treatment involves over-the-counter remedies and dietary changes. Severe cases require prescription medication or surgery.
Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation of your stomach lining. Acute gastritis may come on suddenly. Chronic gastritis happens slowly. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 8 in 1,000 people have acute gastritis and 2 of every 10,000 develop chronic gastritis.
Symptoms of gastritis include:
hiccups
nausea
vomiting
indigestion
bloating
appetite loss
black stool due to bleeding in your stomach
Causes include:
stress
bile reflux from your small intestine
excess alcohol consumption
chronic vomiting
use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
bacterial or viral infections
pernicious anemia
autoimmune diseases
Medications can reduce acid and inflammation. You should avoid foods and beverages that cause symptoms.
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Peptic ulcer
If the lining of your stomach breaks down you may have a peptic ulcer. Most are located in the first layer of the inner lining. An ulcer that goes all the way through your stomach lining is called a perforation and requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms include:
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
inability to drink fluids
feeling hungry soon after eating
fatigue
weight loss
black or tarry stool
chest pain
Risk factors include:
Helicobacter pylori bacteria
excessive alcohol consumption
overuse of aspirin or NSAIDs
tobacco
radiation treatments
using a breathing machine
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
Treatment depends on the cause. It may involve medications or surgery to stop the bleeding.
Viral gastroenteritis
Viral gastroenteritis occurs when a virus causes your stomach and intestines to become inflamed. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. You may also have cramping, headache, and fever.
Most people recover within a few days. Very young children, older adults, and people with other diseases are at increased risk for dehydration.
Viral gastroenteritis is spread through close contact or contaminated food or drink. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, outbreaks are more likely to occur in closed environments such as schools and nursing homes.
Hiatal hernia
The hiatus is the gap in the muscle wall that separates your chest from your abdomen. If your stomach slides up into your chest through this gap, you have a hiatal hernia.
If part of your stomach pushes through and stays in your chest next to your esophagus, it’s called a paraesophageal hernia. This less common type of hernia can cut off your stomach’s blood supply.
Symptoms of hiatal hernia include:
bloating
belching
pain
bitter taste in your throat
The cause isn’t always known but can be due to injury or strain.
Your risk factor is higher if you’re:
overweight
over age 50
a smoker
Treatment involves medications to treat pain and heartburn. Severe cases may require surgery. Your doctor may recommend that you:
maintain a healthy weight
limit fatty and acidic foods
elevate the head of your bed
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a condition in which your stomach takes too long to empty.
Symptoms include:
nausea
vomiting
weight loss
bloating
heartburn
Causes include:
diabetes
medications that affect your intestines
stomach or vagus nerve surgery
anorexia nervosa
postviral syndromes
muscle, nervous system, or metabolic disorders
Treatment may include medication and dietary changes. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Stomach cancer
Stomach cancer generally grows slowly over the course of many years. In most cases, it begins in the innermost layer of your stomach lining.
Untreated, stomach cancer can spread to other organs or into your lymph nodes or bloodstream. The earlier stomach cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the outlook.
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