Stomach conditions refer to all diseases and illnesses that affect the stomach, and most stomach conditions cause abdominal pain and discomfort. Also, stomach ache is extremely common, so it is often brushed aside, but it can be a symptom of severe stomach conditions at times, especially if it’s chronic. Here are three common stomach conditions you should know and consult a doctor about:

Gastritis
This condition leads to sudden or gradual inflammation of the stomach lining.

The main factors that increase an individual’s risk of developing gastritis are extreme stress, frequent use of painkillers like aspirin, excessive alcohol consumption, and even chronic vomiting. Also, the elderly have a higher presence of the Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) bacteria in their bodies, which is known to be one of the causes of this stomach condition.

Peptic ulcer
This is a common condition that causes the breakdown of the stomach lining due to erosion by stomach acids or an H.pylori infection, and peptic ulcers are usually found on the mucosal lining. Having said that, the condition can be extremely serious if the ulcer reaches the inner stomach lining. This is known as perforation and requires immediate medical intervention to prevent further complications.

This condition can lead to the manifestation of several symptoms, including abdominal pain and discomfort, nausea or vomiting, and a lack of appetite, along with belching and heartburn. The person may also feel full sooner than usual, and they experience exhaustion and tiredness.

Multiple factors add to one’s risk of developing peptic ulcers, and smoking is one of the top risk factors. Along with that, excessive alcohol consumption can erode the stomach lining and increase the production of stomach acids, and eating spicy foods can also increase the risk of this stomach condition. Unmanaged stress can also make a person susceptible to this condition.

Hiatal hernia
To understand this stomach condition, let’s first understand what a hiatal means. It refers to the gap in the muscle wall between the chest and the abdomen. If the stomach pushes through the hiatal, it is a case of hiatal hernia.

This stomach condition causes symptoms like bloating of the stomach, belching, heartburn, and constant hiccups. Although the exact cause of this painful stomach condition is not known, it could mainly be due to an injury to the area or changes to the diaphragm caused by aging.

One of the major risk factors of hiatal hernia is being overweight or obese. Along with that, age plays a vital role in one being susceptible to this stomach condition, as it mostly affects people over the age of 50.