Find out if your regularly sensitive stomach is more than just a food reaction, or if it may indicate an underlying digestive issue that needs attention.
Often, digestive discomfort after heavy or spicy meals is eliminated as usual. You may feel bloated, uncomfortable, or suddenly need to rush to the bathroom, excusing yourself because of a “sensitive stomach” that tends to be upset by eating anything heavy.
Read also: IBS vs IBD: A gastroenterologist shares the key differences between the two common bowel conditions
But it’s not just about tolerating low seasoning. Recurrent stomach upset may also indicate an underlying digestive problem beyond occasional indigestion.
We spoke to Dr Gyanranjan Rout, Consultant Medical Gastroenterologist at Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneshwar, to explain the concept of ‘sensitive stomach’. He explained that many people use this term when they feel discomfort in the abdomen or feel the need to use the bathroom immediately after eating. However, he cautioned that this should not be normalized if it occurs frequently, as persistent symptoms may indicate an underlying digestive problem and could develop into a chronic condition if left untreated.
What does a sensitive stomach look like?
A sensitive stomach can manifest itself through a range of symptoms. The gastroenterologist identified gas, bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn.
For some, discomfort appears after eating certain trigger foods, while for others, symptoms may persist throughout the day despite eating meals. But here’s the thing you may be overlooking: Occasional gastrointestinal upset is understandable, but frequent or recurring symptoms indicate something that requires close attention for adjustment or medical intervention.
When can a sensitive stomach be a medical condition?
“Sensitive stomach” may seem like a cliché, but if symptoms are recurring, it’s important to get them evaluated. In fact, if symptoms keep coming back, the gastroenterologist noted that they could indicate conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, food intolerances, or inflammatory bowel disorders.
He shared some examples: “A person who becomes ill after drinking milk has lactose intolerance because his body fails to handle the digestion of lactose. Regular bouts of heartburn indicate acid reflux disease rather than being the result of eating spicy foods.”
The role of stress and lifestyle
Dr. Gyanranjan Rout shared that stress and lifestyle habits can significantly disrupt the digestion process. Symptoms often worsen on stressful or busy days. Likewise, other factors such as irregular meals, lack of sleep, low-fiber diets, excessive caffeine, and spicy foods can make stomach problems more frequent and severe.
Warning signs
There are some warning signs that you should never ignore. The gastroenterologist mentioned that one should see a doctor when they occur:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blood in stool
- Persistent stomach pain
- Repeated vomiting
What you can do
The doctor advises monitoring physical symptoms and identifying food triggers by observing how your body reacts after eating it.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions about a medical condition.
Adrija Dey’s penchant for observation feeds her storytelling instinct. As a lifestyle journalist, she creates compelling, relatable narratives across diverse touchpoints of the human experience, including wellness, mental health, relationships, interior design, home decor, food, travel, and fashion that gently nudge readers toward living a little better. For her, stories exist in flesh and bone, carried by human vessels and shaped by everyday endeavours. It’s the little stories we live and share that make us human. After all, human beings and their traditions are the most natural and raw repositories of stories, and revealing them, for her, is like peeling an orange under the winter afternoon sun. Always up for a chat, she believes the best stories come from unfiltered chatter, where “too much information” is kind of the goal. An alumnus of Indraprastha Women’s College, Delhi University, and an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Adrija spends her spare hours sipping on herbal tea and a sultry thriller, scribbling inner monologues that she loosely calls poetic pieces, often in the presence of her succulents. On lazier days, she can be found binge-watching, for the nth time, one of her comfort shows in the holy trinity: The Office (US), Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or Modern Family. However, dancing alone to peppy playlists is a daily ritual she swears by religiously.Read more
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