Constant belching and abdominal pain: what to know

Swallowed air can cause pressure and cramping, especially after fast meals or fizzy drinks. Acid reflux or gastritis may cause upper-abdominal discomfort with belching, nausea, burning, or a sour taste. Food poisoning and gastroenteritis more often bring sudden pain with diarrhoea, vomiting, or fever. Gallstones can cause pain under the right ribs, sometimes after a fatty meal. Coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, or diverticular disease may be considered when symptoms persist or bowel changes recur. The symptom combination does not diagnose any one condition.

Write down where the pain is, when it starts, what you ate, and whether stools, vomiting, fever, or reflux occur. Sip fluids if nauseated and choose light meals while monitoring symptoms. Avoid alcohol and foods that clearly worsen discomfort. Arrange a clinical review if the pattern keeps returning, rather than relying on over-the-counter treatment without checking the cause.

Seek urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening pain, a rigid or swollen abdomen, repeated vomiting, blood in vomit or stools, fainting, high fever, yellowing of the skin, or inability to keep fluids down. Prompt medical advice is also appropriate for persistent pain, recurring diarrhoea, or unexplained weight loss.

Does the location of my pain suggest an upper or lower digestive problem? Which symptoms should I monitor? Do I need tests for infection, inflammation, or food-related illness?