Why does my stomach burn when it is empty?
Burning that eases with food and returns hours later is the classic rhythm of stomach acid meeting an irritated lining, gastritis, or sometimes an ulcer. A common hidden cause is H. pylori, a treatable bacterial infection, and another is regular painkiller use.
Alcohol, smoking and stress all pour fuel on it.
This pattern deserves testing rather than guessing: an H. pylori test is simple, and curing it heals most ulcers for good. Black stools, vomiting blood, or weight loss make it urgent.
Source: NHS, indigestion
See a doctor promptly if
- Food sticking or difficulty swallowing, or pain on swallowing
- Unintentional weight loss with indigestion or bloating
- Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Black tarry stools, or a new diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia
- Persistent vomiting, or a mass felt in the upper abdomen
- New persistent bloating on most days for three weeks or more, especially in women over 50
Try the symptom diary10 seconds a day, free, nothing to installGut symptoms travel with food, stress and timing, and nobody reconstructs that from memory.
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
Unglamorous and well proven
Daily psyllium helps constipation, modestly lowers cholesterol, and steadies blood sugar after meals. Start small and drink water with it.
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