Stomach Pain: What is Your Body Telling You?
Do you constantly suffer from stomach pain? Medically, this is called epigastric pain. In other words, it refers to cramps above your belly button and below your bust. Specialists don’t consider this a serious problem. However, millions of people every year come into to their doctor’s office with this complaint.
To begin with, you should get to know your body and the signals it sends you because there are many reasons you may be having stomach issues.
Don’t forget that your body absorbs everything around it, both the physical and emotional. So, when your stomach hurts, what is your body trying to tell you?
Possible causes of stomach pain
Food allergies
After eating certain foods, you might experience some discomfort, whether right away or after a few hours. For example, lactose and gluten are common ingredients that might be behind such malaise.
In these cases, the pain will stay for a long time every time you eat the food. You should identify what the food is so you can stop consuming it or find an alternative.
Stress or anger
In addition to your diet, the way your body reacts to certain emotions like rage, anger, or stress, will inevitably cause abdominal pain. Your emotions have a direct effect on your nervous and digestive systems. Thus, your body enters into a state of stress, causing diarrhea and inflammation in the intestines.
Take a look at this too: Easy Exercises to Relieve Stress and Improve Your Mood
Overeating junk food
Too much junk food (fatty foods, soft drinks, too much spicy food) trigger stomach pain, especially on the left side. The pain will remain until the food is digested. If it takes too long, it may cause nausea and possibly vomiting.
Indigestion
In medical terms, indigestion is known as dyspepsia. In this case, the pain is located in the middle part of your stomach. Also, it comes along with heartburn and gas and happens during or after eating. More importantly, an estimated 5 to 11% of people get indigestion after drinking too much or eating too fast or in excess.
Menstruation
Premenstrual syndrome is a group of physical and hormonal symptoms that affect a woman’s body. Generally, the pain happens in the lower back. However, a large percentage of people feel it in their stomach.
It may continue until the end of your period. Therefore, it’s advisable to stay active, eat healthily, and sleep enough.
Read this article, too: Natural Remedies for Menstrual Cramps and Other Menstrual Problems
Stomach infection
How can you tell if you have an infection? It may be caused by a parasite, bacteria, or virus found in food.
The symptoms depend on the kind of bacteria. They may include a burning sensation, pain, fatigue, lack of appetite, and even fever. There are natural ways to counteract the condition but, it’s important to see a doctor if the pain persists.
Constipation
A rushed, busy lifestyle that puts your body through too much stress and a diet low in fiber and fluids can cause constipation.
The answer is to shake up your sedentary lifestyle by getting active and adding grains, vegetables, and at least 8 glasses of water a day to your routine.
Also, if the problem doesn’t go away, a doctor can prescribe laxatives.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
This condition is caused by changes in your stomach acids – a reversal in direction. As they move from your stomach to your esophagus, they cause burning and a sharp pain in your stomach and throat.
How is it treated?
For mild cases, a change in your diet is all that you need. Avoid fatty foods, chocolate, spicy foods, and coffee, make your dinners light. Also, try to consume a lot of fiber.
Side effects of medication
It’s very important to know the side effects of medication you might be taking, since many of them cause abdominal pain. They may also affect your esophagus and cause inflammation.
Excess acid in your digestive tract wears down the inner lining of your stomach, leading to pain and even stomach ulcers with high doses.
Therefore, it’s essential to pay attention to the warning signs your body is sending you. There are countless reasons why your stomach hurts, and they range from a passing problem to serious ulcers.
Note: Some conditions can be helped with natural remedies or antibiotics, while others require surgical intervention. If you feel an odd pain, don’t wait. See a doctor.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Hausdorf, K. (1995). ALLTAGLICHES PRAXISSYMPTOM: MAGENBESCHWERDEN. Munchener Medizinische Wochenschrift. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/14194-002
- Schulz, M., Helmstadter, A., & Braun, R. (1994). Consultation of stomach complaints | DAS BERATUNGSGESPRACH AM BEISPIEL: MAGENBESCHWERDEN. PZ Prisma. https://doi.org/10.1038/ng830