Lifestyle

Burning Stomach Pain That Eases After a Meal May Mean an Ulcer. Why Everyday Pain Relievers Raise the Risk

By Erica Coleman · October 29, 2026

A dull or burning ache in the upper belly that shows up on an empty stomach or in the middle of the night is easy to write off as indigestion. If it keeps coming back, it may be a peptic ulcer, and one of the most common causes sits in many medicine cabinets.

A peptic ulcer is a sore on the lining of your stomach or duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The institute estimates that about 1% to 6% of people in the United States have one, and it lists older adults among the people more likely to develop them.

The NIDDK says the most common causes of peptic ulcers are Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Mayo Clinic says stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, though they can make symptoms worse.

These are the signs described by the NIDDK and Mayo Clinic.

Burning or dull stomach pain. The NIDDK calls abdominal pain the most common symptom and says it may come and go over time. For some people it occurs when the stomach is empty or at night and goes away for a short time after eating. For others, eating makes it worse.

Pain between the belly button and breastbone. The NIDDK describes pain or discomfort anywhere in that upper part of the abdomen.

Feeling full too fast. The institute lists feeling full too soon during a meal or uncomfortably full afterward. Mayo Clinic lists a feeling of fullness or bloating.

Belching, heartburn and nausea. Both sources list belching and nausea, and Mayo Clinic adds heartburn. The NIDDK also includes vomiting.

No symptoms at all. Many people with ulcers have none, the NIDDK says, and some do not notice anything until a complication develops.

Bleeding is the complication to know. The NIDDK says to call or see a doctor right away for black or tarry stool, red or maroon blood mixed with stool, red blood in vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, sudden sharp or severe belly pain that doesn’t go away, dizziness or fainting, or a rapid pulse. Mayo Clinic notes that slow bleeding can also lead to anemia.

The pain reliever link matters most for older readers. Mayo Clinic says taking aspirin or NSAIDs over time can irritate or inflame the lining of the stomach and small intestine, and it notes that acetaminophen is not in that group. For people who take NSAIDs, Mayo Clinic lists being older than 60, having had an ulcer before, taking high doses or two or more NSAIDs, and combining them with steroids, blood thinners, certain antidepressants called SSRIs or some osteoporosis medicines as factors that raise the risk.

Mayo Clinic also says to see a health care professional if nonprescription antacids and acid blockers relieve the pain but it keeps returning.

Most ulcers can be treated. According to the NIDDK, taking medicines and treating the underlying cause heals most ulcers. Doctors often prescribe acid reducers such as proton pump inhibitors, treat H. pylori with a combination that usually includes two or more antibiotics, and may suggest stopping or changing an NSAID. The institute advises taking every dose exactly as prescribed, since stopping antibiotics early can leave bacteria behind.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor before stopping or changing any medicine, and get care right away for black stools, vomiting blood or severe belly pain. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.