How alcohol affects the stomach

Alcohol can increase the amount of acid in your stomach.

This can irritate the lining of your stomach and lead to:

• gastritis
• stomach ulcers
• reflux (heartburn)
• oesophageal varices - enlarged veins in the oesophagus

Stomach problems can make you feel sick, vomit or lose your appetite.

If your stomach lining is inflamed, you might not absorb nutrients from food.

Gastritis

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining. Alcohol can cause gastritis by irritating the lining of your stomach.

Gastritis can happen suddenly while you are drinking. It can cause pain and sickness.

Gastritis can also be a long-lasting condition.

Symptoms include:

• tummy pain
• heartburn
• losing your appetite
• feeling sick (nausea)
• getting sick (vomiting)

Sometimes gastritis does not cause any symptoms.

If you do not get treatment for gastritis, it can lead to stomach ulcers.

Stomach ulcers

Stomach ulcers are painful open sores in your stomach lining. Ulcers can make you feel sick or vomit.

Ulcers can also cause:

• sweating
• pain
• loss of appetite
• bleeding in your gut - you might vomit blood or have dark or black poo

If you have an ulcer, alcohol can make it worse or slow down the healing process.

Stomach ulcers can be very serious. They can cause death.

Reflux

Acidic digestive juices in the stomach sometimes go up into the oesophagus (gullet). This is called reflux. It can happen if you drink too much.

Reflux causes an uncomfortable burning sensation known as heartburn.

Oesophageal varices

Oesophageal varices are enlarged veins that bleed. They develop in the walls of the lower parts of the oesophagus (food pipe). They're often caused by alcohol-related cirrhosis (scarring in the liver).