You’d probably expect your stomach to feel sore the day after you took a core strengthening class. But if your abdominal area feels sore even if you haven’t exercised, you should look further for the cause and consider scheduling a visit to your physician. Other health issues can mimic the sore sensation you feel in your abs after exercise, so speaking with your doctor to figure out what’s going on is the best way to get treatment that will bring relief.
Heartburn or GERD Heartburn or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Pain from heartburn — also called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD — can sometimes feel a lot like the sore stomach muscles you experience from exercise. The pain from GERD is typically underneath your breastbone; it usually feels like a burning sensation in your chest area, or it can cause pain with swallowing.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629599319e7-0122-41dd-8402-eab471a552a7 Sometimes, particular foods such as chocolate or fried foods can trigger heartburn pain. Your doctor may be able to diagnose and start treating GERD solely through your description of the symptoms, or they may use other tests to confirm. You may be able to treat it through diet and lifestyle changes, or your doctor may recommend medication.
Ulcers Ulcers and Stomach Soreness An ulcer — an open sore in the lining of your stomach — also can trigger stomach discomfort that doesn’t result from exercise. For years, doctors thought ulcers stemmed only from too much acid in your stomach. While acid plays a part in the formation of some ulcers, it’s now clear that a form of bacteria called H. pylori causes the vast majority of ulcers.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295404f088-9445-4a79-8b73-63b839f6db50 Smoking, drinking alcohol, and some medications can increase the odds of developing an ulcer. Ulcers are treated with lifestyle changes, antibiotics, acid-blocking agents, and medication that strengthens the stomach lining.
Gallbladder Disease Gallbladder Disease and Pain Although the pain from gallbladder disease often feels more acute than generalized stomach soreness, you might confuse the upper right-side abdominal pain that’s common in gallbladder attacks with a muscle spasm.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298c0c90ac-b52a-4ff5-8399-00ada3c200f2 Gallstones and gallbladder disease cause intermittent pain in your upper stomach area, usually on the right side of your body. You may feel the soreness or pain increase as you breathe in. Your doctor will use blood tests, plus ultrasound or another medical imaging test to determine if you have gallbladder disease with gallstones. If you do, your physician may recommend a wait-and-see approach — in many cases, the pain will subside and you won’t need any treatment.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298a88b446-abd6-4890-b402-7ddaec8f5cee In serious cases or in cases where the gallbladder becomes inflamed or infected, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove it.
Stress Can Cause Stomach Issues Stress Can Cause Stomach Issues Stress and anxiety can cause stomach discomfort or muscle tension that feels remarkably like the soreness you’d experience from overworking your stomach muscles through exercise.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a3d4b42a-e0b2-4dcb-9362-6012404d846e Your nervous system connects your brain and your gut, and stress or anxiety — even mild cases — can cause normal digestive system processes to be interpreted as painful. Gut motility, or how fast or slow food moves through your system, can also be negatively impacted, as can the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut. If this happens to you frequently and your physician can’t find a physical cause for your stomach soreness, you might be advised to help manage symptoms by reducing stress and anxiety. Hypnosis, meditation, and psychotherapy (among other methods) have all been proven to help alleviate stress-related GI symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297cf12262-9583-49ef-9f36-23422bdafe42
The Takeaway If you’re feeling stomach muscle soreness despite a lack of physical activity, there may be a medical reason for your symptoms that’s worth discussing with your doctor. Common conditions like gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, gallbladder disease and gallstones, and even stress can all cause stomach discomfort. It’s important to figure out the underlying cause for abdominal pain by discussing it with your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist, so that it can be treated quickly and correctly.
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