Stomach pain

Almost everyone has experienced stomach pain at some point. Stomach pain is a serious problem for serious and minor gastrointestinal diseases and disorders. Doctors will help to determine specific causes of stomach pain by the process of exclusion, or differential diagnosis. The next step is to develop a treatment plan.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Common Causes of Stomach Pain

Causes of stomach pain can be diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, namely:

• Gallstone disease
• Gastritis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome

[ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ]

Gallstone disease as a cause of stomach pain

Gallstones can form in the gallbladder. Large and small stones form when there is too much cholesterol in the bile or when the gallbladder does not empty completely. Bile is a fluid secreted by the liver to help the stomach with digestion. Over time, bile can move from the gallbladder to the liver, blocking the bile ducts.

This blockage causes severe abdominal pain, usually on the right upper side. It is worth knowing that women are more likely to develop gallstones than men. And obese patients, both men and women, are more likely to develop gallstones than patients with normal weight. Treatment becomes necessary for about 50 percent of patients. The most common treatment for gallstones may be surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Gastritis as a cause of stomach pain

Gastritis is a condition in which the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed. The inflammation can be caused by infection, injury, certain foods, alcohol, or medications. The condition is sometimes accompanied by pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The stomach pain may increase or decrease with each meal consumed.

Other symptoms of stomach pain include bloating, nausea, and a feeling of being overly full. The condition may be chronic or may occur suddenly. Treatment is determined by the cause of gastritis. If certain foods or alcohol are the cause, doctors may recommend that patients stop eating them. In addition, infection with the bacteria H.pylori is the most common cause of gastritis. To eliminate gastritis, treatment first eliminates this infection.

Ulcerative Colitis - Cause of Stomach Pain

Inflammatory bowel disease is a broad spectrum of conditions that affect the health of the large intestine and small intestine. Ulcerative colitis is one type of inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation or ulcers in the lining of the rectum and colon. Stomach pain is the most common symptom of ulcerative colitis.

Other symptoms include bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and joint pain. Patients with ulcerative colitis may also suffer from anemia. According to the National Clearinghouse, between 25 and 40 percent of patients have ulcerative colitis, and their condition is severe enough to be treated with proctocolectomy, the surgical removal of the colon and rectum. For less severe cases, drug therapy is sufficient.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Cause of Stomach Pain

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) refers to conditions that affect the lower intestine. Symptoms of stomach pain include stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. The abdominal pain may attack after eating and go away after a bowel movement. Scientists do not yet fully understand why people develop irritable bowel syndrome.

According to Medline Plus, some patients develop IBS after a stomach infection. Women are more likely to get it than men, and it can happen at any age. Doctors often recommend a complete lifestyle change to help ease and eliminate stomach pain from IBS. This includes stress reduction, vigorous exercise, and dietary changes, which can help ease symptoms.

How to differentiate between abdominal pain and stomach pain?

Abdominal pain is a symptom that can be a sign of many diseases. Most often, abdominal pain is characterized by an increase and decrease in intensity. Stomach pain is usually concentrated in the upper abdomen and also varies in intensity, ranging from a dull ache in severe form to a sharp pain that attacks abruptly, and these pains then become constant. Since other organs are also located in the upper abdomen, it is difficult to determine the cause of pain by its nature. But there are still distinctive signs. Symptoms associated with pain, such as vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, etc., are most likely to be pains of gastric origin.

Stomach pain, unlike abdominal pain, is always very painful. Leading a disorderly lifestyle, people eat unhealthy food, which has a hard effect on the digestion process, and therefore leads to acidity disorders. Gastritis also leads to abdominal pain, which is often difficult to bear and requires medical attention.

How to treat stomach pain?

1. Drink plenty of cold water. Even ice cream and cold milk are helpful in relieving stomach pain.
2. Use a heating pad on your stomach if you are experiencing stomach pain.
3. To reduce acidity and stomach pain, go for a run. Avoid spicy and fatty foods. Switch to simple foods that are easy and easily digestible. These can be porridge on water, salads, steamed vegetables.
4. Acidity is always associated with poor digestion. Eating more can increase stomach problems. Reduce your food intake if you want to reduce stomach pain.
5. Eat slowly and chew your food well. It is better to eat often, but in small quantities.
6. Stay away from sauces, caffeinated products such as coffee, avoid smoking, alcohol as they irritate the stomach lining.
7. Eat on time. A natural way to treat stomach pain is to eat on time. Avoid eating too late, especially 30-60 minutes before bedtime. It is better to eat 3-4 hours before bedtime.
8. Avoid fatty foods. This will make it much easier for your liver, kidneys, and stomach to process food.

Use these natural ways to treat stomach pain and reduce acidity and avoid stomach pain.