Overeating or eating too quickly. Fatty, greasy or spicy foods. Too much caffeine, alcohol, chocolate or carbonated beverages. Smoking.
Upset stomachs can be caused by infections or stomach acid, or they can be a symptom of another condition including ulcers, dyspepsia or gastroparesis. If patients wonder what to take for stomach pain, there are a wide range of over-the-counter medications available.
Persistent issues
Whether it's gas, an upset stomach, or odd bowel movements, "If you haven't had issues before, and you have discomfort for more than a few days, it's time to see your primary care physician," he says.
Get medical help immediately if: You have abdominal pain that is very sharp, severe, and sudden. You also have pain in the chest, neck, or shoulder. You're vomiting blood, have bloody diarrhea, or have black, tarry stools (melena).
Whether you've got a mild ache or serious cramps, abdominal pain can have many causes. For instance, you might have indigestion, constipation, a stomach virus, or menstrual cramps. Other causes include: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Less serious causes of abdominal pain include constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, food allergies, lactose intolerance, food poisoning, and a stomach virus. Other, more serious, causes include appendicitis, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a bowel blockage, cancer, and gastroesophageal reflux.
While an upset stomach is no fun to deal with in the short term, most cases are mild and will resolve in 24 to 48 hours by treating it with rest and plenty of fluids. Some cases are more severe, though, and may lead to severe dehydration.
Absolutely. Stress and anxiety are common causes of stomach pain and other GI symptoms.
There are many possible causes of stomach churning, including indigestion, stress and anxiety, and taking certain medications. Stomach churning often only causes temporary discomfort before resolving without treatment. However, this symptom can sometimes be a sign of an underlying health issue.
To start identifying your triggers, note the food and beverages you consume, along with the amounts of each. “Also record the symptoms you're concerned about as they occur,” says Chong. “For example, if your main symptom is bloating, then record when that occurs, how severe it is, and how long it lasts.”
Frequent discomfort, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn could be signs that your gut is having a hard time processing food and eliminating waste. You feel tired more often than not. People with chronic fatigue may have imbalances in the gut.
Common stress-related gut symptoms and conditions include:
diarrhea. constipation. loss of appetite. unnatural hunger.
Gastrointestinal function is particularly influenced by stress. Common gastrointestinal symptoms due to stress are heartburn, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and associated lower abdominal pain. These symptoms and the alterations in intestinal function that cause them are becoming understood.
When you have it, you may feel: Cramping, churning, tightness, or knots in the stomach. “Butterflies” in the stomach feeling. Shivering, shaking, or twitching of muscles.
But typically symptoms don't last longer than a few days. However, in some cases, the effects linger for weeks or months — even after a person is no longer vomiting or having severe symptoms after a bad bout with a virus or food poisoning.
Yoghurt is rich in probiotics or good bacteria and yeasts that help maintain good gut health. Having a little yoghurt during a stomach upset may help relieve diarrhoea.
Treatments for an upset stomach
Drink plenty of liquids, but do so in small amounts; water is a good choice. Sports drinks and coconut water help replenish electrolytes, which can help if you experience vomiting. Try clear, carbonated, and caffeine-free beverages such as tonic water, club soda, or ginger ale.
Gnawing or burning ache or pain (indigestion) in your upper abdomen that may become either worse or better with eating. Nausea. Vomiting.
Fatty foods, such as chips, burgers and fried foods, are harder to digest and can cause stomach pain and heartburn. Cut back on greasy fried foods to ease your stomach's workload. Try to eat more lean meat and fish, drink skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, and grill rather than fry foods.
4 Bananas are also a part of the BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, which are all easy to digest and can help you hold down food when your stomach is upset.