Stomach pain is a very common symptom, which can have several causes, such as gastritis or excess gas, often accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting or heartburn, for example. Stomach pain can also be caused by consuming too much coffee, alcohol, spicy foods, stress, anxiety, and nervousness.
When the pain persists, the gastroenterologist should be consulted as it may be necessary to take acid-inhibiting medicines such as Omeprazole or Ranitidine, antiemetic medicines such as Metoclopramide or anti-spasmodics such as Buscopan. See more in: Remedies for gastritis.
Main causes of stomach pain
Other common causes for stomach pain are:
1. Stomach pain and gas
These are an important sign of poor digestion, which can be linked to complications such as gastritis, for example. In this case when the food bolus reaches the stomach it encounters a hostile environment, which may even contain the H. pylori bacteria, making digestion difficult and therefore food can remain for hours and hours still in the stomach causing the uncomfortable belching. See how the diagnosis of H. pylori is made.
2. Stomach pain and diarrhea
They can be a symptom of gastroenteritis, and it is recommended to drink lots of liquids, such as water, homemade whey or tea, and try to stimulate the appetite with light foods such as mashed biscuit, white rice or fruit, for example. However, if other symptoms such as frequent fever, chills or vomiting occur, it is recommended to go to the emergency room.
3. Stomach pain after eating
There is a suspicion of gastritis, ulcer or reflux, which also causes the sensation of heartburn after eating or when lying down, and should consult a gastroenterologist, raise the head of the bed and avoid fatty foods such as fried foods, picanha and sausage, or which increase the acidity of the stomach, such as cow's milk, pepper, tomato and corn, for example. Check out the symptoms and the diagnosis is made on: How to identify the symptoms of gastritis.
4. Stomach pain and vomiting
It usually indicates gastritis or ulcer, but may also arise in other situations as food poisoning and therefore it is important to go to the emergency room in case of recurrent vomiting.
5. Stomach pain strong and constant
It can be a sign of problems in other organs, such as pancreatitis or cholecystitis, and therefore one should go to the ER, especially when the pain is disabling.
6. Stomach pain after endoscopy
It is normal because during the examination the doctor places a tube in the gastrointestinal tract that may bother the throat and stomach, which may cause discomfort for a few hours.
But any stomach pain that lasts for more than 48 hours should be evaluated by a gastroenterologist to start the appropriate treatment, but to relieve the symptoms, one can take antacid medicines or gastric protectors, for example.
7. Stomach pain by taking anti-inflammatory drugs
After taking anti-inflammatory medicines like Ibuprofen it is common to have stomach pain because this type of medicine compromises the protection of the stomach, leaving its walls more exposed to the action of the acids present in the digestion.
To avoid stomach pain you can take an acid production inhibitor, such as Ranitidine or Omeprazole or an antacid such as Pepsamar, to decrease pain and discomfort. These medicines should be fasted for best effect. Also, it is important not to take the anti-inflammatory on an empty stomach, it is best to take it after meals or eat a fruit or yogurt, for example.
8. Stomach pain in pregnancy
Stomach pain in pregnancy is a very frequent symptom in pregnancy caused by the presence of stomach gases and in this case it is recommended that the pregnant woman avoid using too tight clothes or eating too much in the meals. To relieve stomach pain in pregnancy, a good tip is to take lemon balm tea with fennel, for example.
If the stomach pain does not pass after these care, it is important to inform the obstetrician in order to evaluate the possibility of other causes and indicate the ingestion of any medication, if necessary.
What to do to relieve stomach ache
What can be done to relieve stomach pain is:
- Loosen clothing and rest by sitting or reclining in a quiet environment;
- Take a holy thorn tea, which is a great medicinal plant to treat stomach problems;
- Eat a pear or a cooked apple;
- Eat a piece of raw potato because this is a natural antacid, with no contraindications;
- Put a bag of warm water in the stomach to relieve the pain;
- Drink small sips of cold water, to moisturize and facilitate digestion.
The treatment for stomach pain should also include a light diet, based on salads, fruits and fruit juices such as watermelon, melon or papaya, avoiding eating fatty foods and alcoholic beverages. Learn more solutions to relieve stomach pain at What to do for stomach pain and see what home remedies you can use by clicking here.
However, when stomach pain becomes persistent over the years and if pain is associated with weight loss, vomiting or bloody stools, you should seek a doctor because these symptoms may indicate stomach cancer. Learn more about this in: Cancer in the stomach.
Watch this video to find out what food should be like in cases of gastritis.
Warning signs to go to the doctor
It is advised to go to the gastroenterologist when:
- Pain in the stomach is strong and persistent;
- If you experience vomiting with blood;
- If the stools are black and have a very intense smell.
These signs may indicate bleeding within the digestive system that needs to be investigated and properly treated. Here's how you can help the doctor understand your pain: What to tell the doctor at the appointment.
