What Do You Take When Your Stomach Hurts

What Is The Medical Treatment For Causes Of Abdominal Pain In Adults

The patient’s treatment will depend on what the doctor thinks is causing the abdominal pain.

The patient may be given IV fluids. The doctor may ask the patient not to eat or drink anything until the cause of the pain is known. This is done to avoid worsening certain medical conditions or to prepare the patient in case they need to have surgery.

The patient may be given pain medication.

• For pain caused by bowel spasm, they may be given a shot in the hip, arm, or leg.
• If the patient is not throwing up, they may receive a drink that has antacid in it or pain medication.
• Although the patient’s pain may not go away completely, they have the right to be comfortable and should ask for pain medicine until they are made comfortable.

Symptoms Of Abdominal Pain In Adults

The type of pain can vary greatly. When abdominal pain occurs, it can:

• be sharp, dull, stabbing, cramp-like, twisting or fit many other descriptions
• be brief, come and go in waves, or it can be constant
• make you throw up
• make you want to stay still or make you so restless that you pace around trying to find just the right position
• vary from a minor problem to one needing urgent surgery.

Peppermint May Relieve Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

For some people, upset stomach is caused by irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. IBS is a chronic gut disorder that can cause stomach pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

While IBS can be difficult to manage, studies show that peppermint may help reduce these uncomfortable symptoms.

Taking peppermint oil capsules daily for at least two weeks can significantly reduce stomach pain, gas and diarrhea in adults with IBS (

19 ).

While the research is promising, additional studies need to determine whether peppermint leaf or peppermint tea have the same therapeutic effects .

Peppermint is safe for most people, but caution is advised for those with severe reflux, hiatal hernias, kidney stones or liver and gallbladder disorders, as it may worsen these conditions .

Summary Peppermint, especially when consumed as peppermint oil, may help reduce stomach pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea for those with irritable bowel syndrome.

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What Causes Abdominal Pain In Children

Common causes of abdominal pain in children include:

• gastroenteritis
• trapped wind
• lower urinary tract problems, such as cystitis

Most abdominal pain is mild and will go away without treatment after a few days. However, your child should see a doctor if the pain is severe or doesnt go away, especially when they also have other symptoms, such as a fever. In this case, you should ensure they are monitored closely and they may need further medical assessment.

Chamomile Tea To Cure Stomach Pain

Chamomile tea is known to work as an anti-inflammatory along the digestive tract.

If your stomach pain is caused by gastritis or indigestion, a cup of chamomile can offer relief. It does this by relaxing muscles along the stomach and the esophagus, easing the contractions that push food along, and lessens any cramps or spasms you are experiencing.

• Place one teaspoon of dried chamomile in one cup of boiled water.
• Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
• Strain tea and add lemon or honey for taste.
• Drink up to three cups daily

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Causes Of Recurrent Stomach Pains

• Stress or Worries. The most common cause of frequent stomach pains is stress. Over 10% of children have a “worried stomach.” These children tend to be sensitive and too serious. They often are model children. This can make them more at risk to the normal stresses of life. Examples of these events are changing schools, moving or family fights. The pain is in the pit of the stomach or near the belly button. The pain is real.
• Abdominal Migraine. Attacks of stomach pain and vomiting with sudden onset and offset. Often occur in children who later develop migraine headaches. Strongly genetic.
• Functional Abdominal Pains. Functional means the stomach pains are due to a sensitive GI tract. The GI tract is free of any disease.
• School Avoidance. Stomach pains that mainly occur in the morning on school days. They keep the child from going to school.

Gallbladder Attack Symptoms To Look Out For

Chances are you barely know what your gallbladder is, let alone the gallbladder attack symptoms to look out for. When you have really bad stomach pain, its easy to chalk it up to that double bean burrito you ate an hour ago. Or, if its abnormally painful, your mind may jump to appendicitis.

But theres another health condition that can cause bad stomach pain and probably isnt on your radar: a gallbladder attack. Keep reading to learn what the heck your gallbladder is and what it does, plus the signs of a gallbladder attack you should know about.

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Drink Prune Juice To Relieve Stomach Pain

Stomach pain from constipation tends to radiate from the lower part of your abdomen and sometimes features a periodic shifting or gurgling feeling accompanied by a temporary spike in pain.

When constipation is your cause, consider a glass of prune juice or another type of laxative. If effective, you can expect to experience sudden relief.

Tips To Prevent Pain In Burning Stomach

A burning feeling in the stomach is often paired with pain, which can be quite debilitating. Here are some tips to help you better prevent burning stomach pain.

• Dont suppress belching, as burning stomach may be alleviated through burping.
• Avoid spicy and oily foods.
• Eat more complex carbohydrates like whole grains.
• Dont smoke.

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How To Handle Your Upset Stomach

An upset stomach does not require medical attention in most cases. Pain or discomfort from an upset stomach is typically acute and will go away on its own, or with home treatment. However, its important to realize that many different things can cause an upset stomach or stomach pain. Be aware of these causes, find out how to treat an upset stomach, and learn when to speak to a medical professional.

When Stomach Pain Is And Is Not An Emergency

Stomach pain can have a variety of causes, some of which you can address by resting, avoiding heavy and spicy foods, taking medication, or using a heating pad. Others, however, may require urgent medical care.

While it can be hard to determine this on your own, at least with total certainty, there are some guidelines you can use to figure out if you should head to the ER, your doctor’s office, or try some at-home solutions. Regardless of how your case matches up if you feel severe, out-of-the-norm pain that you think needs immediate attention, seek it.

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Why Your Stomach Aches After Eating

There are several reasons why your stomach might hurt after eating. If you ate more than usual, it could be hurting because itâs full of too much food. On the other hand, your stomach could feel âoffâ because you ate foods that disagree with it. Spicy, starchy or especially decadent foods can cause stomach discomfort in some people because these foods often lead to bloating or gas to build up inside the stomach.

Why Does My Stomach Hurt

There are numerous reasons for abdominal pain. It can come from any of the organs in your belly gallbladder, pancreas, liver, stomach and intestines or the abdominal wall the outer shell of the body. Sometimes you feel the pain in your belly, but its actually coming from the chest, back or pelvis.

Abdominal wall pain is common and easy to miss as healthcare professionals may direct their attention to internal organs as a cause of the pain. Once the abdominal wall is considered as a suspect, it is generally easy to nail down this diagnosis. If a patient strains the ab wall muscles from exertion, he may tell his doctor that he has right sided stomach pain. Clearly, this pain is not caused by a diseased internal organ such as the gallbladder or the stomach.

Healthcare providers can often determine where pain is coming from by taking a detailed history from you. Depending upon the physicians style, you may be simply asked to relate your medical story in your own words as a narrative. Other physicians may prefer to ask a series of detailed questions. Others may utilize both techniques. This medical history is paramount, even more important than the physical examination. After the history and physical, certain diagnostic tests may be advised to make an accurate diagnosis.

What are the most common causes of abdominal pain?

Digestive issues

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Are There Any Side Effects From Taking Doxycycline

Been given doxycycline for 7 days, tried azithromycin and a shot. Was on Bactrim for 2 weeks and no help but bad side effects. Had cystoscopy and everything normal. t take doxy either it makes me extemely dizzy and nauseated. I would call your doctor and inform them and see if it is ok to take with food.

What Are The Characteristics Of Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain may include any of the following, or a combination of these characteristics:

• cramping

• bowel obstruction
• causes of heart pain

If you are experiencing abdominal pain, the exact location of the pain and any other symptoms you might have may suggest the cause.

If you feel pain right across your stomach area or low down, its probably coming from your bowel. You may also have bloating and wind. If your stomach cramps have started recently and you also have diarrhoea, the cause is probably gastroenteritis. If you are very ill for example, with chills or a fever you may have a more serious infection such as food poisoning.

If the pain is coming from higher up in your stomach, it could be caused by acid reflux or an ulcer. You might also have heartburn and belching, and the pain might be made worse, or relieved, by food.

If the pain is in the middle of your stomach and extends to your back, it could be a sign of gallstones. Pain in the lower right part of the stomach, along with fever, nausea and vomiting, could be appendicitis.

If the pain is made worse by exercise it could be heart pain. Read more in the chest pain section. If you are experiencing this type of pain, call triple and ask for an ambulance.

Some medicines, such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory and anti-dementia drugs, can cause stomach pain as a side effect.

You can find more information about the underlying causes of abdominal pain here.

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What To Expect At Your Office Visit

Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and medical history. Your specific symptoms, the location of pain and when it occurs will help your provider detect the cause.

LOCATION OF YOUR PAIN

• Where do you feel the pain?
• Is it all over or in one spot?
• Does the pain move into your back, groin, or down your legs?

TYPE AND INTENSITY OF YOUR PAIN

• Is the pain severe, sharp, or cramping?
• Do you have it all the time, or does it come and go?
• Does the pain wake you up at night?

HISTORY OF YOUR PAIN

• Have you had similar pain in the past? How long has each episode lasted?
• When does the pain occur? For example, after meals or during menstruation?
• What makes the pain worse? For example, eating, stress, or lying down?
• What makes the pain better? For example, drinking milk, having a bowel movement, or taking an antacid?
• What medicines are you taking?

OTHER MEDICAL HISTORY

• Have you had a recent injury?
• Are you pregnant?

• Kidney function

Causes Of Acute Stomach Pain

• Eating Too Much. Eating too much can cause an upset stomach and mild stomach pain.
• Hunger Pains. Younger children may complain of stomach pain when they are hungry.
• GI Virus . A GI virus can cause stomach cramps as well as vomiting and/or diarrhea.
• Food Poisoning. This causes sudden vomiting and/or diarrhea within hours after eating the bad food. It is caused by toxins from germs growing in foods left out too long. Most often, symptoms go away in less than 24 hours. It often can be treated at home without the need for medical care.
• Constipation. The need to pass a stool may cause cramps in the lower abdomen.
• Strep Throat. A strep throat infection causes 10% of new onset stomach pain with fever.
• Bladder Infection. Bladder infections usually present with painful urination, urgency and bad smelling urine. Sometimes the only symptom is pain in the lower abdomen.
• Appendicitis . Suspect appendicitis if pain is low on the right side and walks bent over. Other signs are the child won’t hop and wants to lie still.
• Intussusception . Sudden attacks of severe pain that switch back and forth with periods of calm. Caused by one segment of bowel telescoping into a lower piece of bowel. Peak age is 6 months to 2 years.

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Peppermint Tea To Relieve Stomach Pain

For more generalized pain relief, try peppermint tea, or even sucking on a candy cane if youre feeling festive. Peppermint leaves contain menthol, a natural analgesic known to help nausea and upset stomachs. Whether you get it from a candy, tea, chewing on the leaves, or sniffing some extract, peppermint can alleviate stomach pain and any accompanying nausea.

• Add one teaspoon of dried peppermint to one cup of boiling water.
• Steep for five to 10 minutes before straining.
• Add a dab of honey for taste.
• Or, chew on one fresh peppermint leaf throughout the day.

How Is The Cause Of The Abdominal Pain Diagnosed

Physical Examination

Physical examination will include a careful examination of the patient’s abdomen, heart, and lungs in order to pinpoint the source of the pain.

• The doctor will touch different parts of the abdomen to check for tenderness or other signs that indicate the source of the pain.
• The doctor may do a rectal exam to check for small amounts of blood in the stool or other problems, such as a mass or internal hemorrhoids.
• If the patient is a man, the doctor may check the penis and testicles.
• If the patient is a woman, the doctor may do a pelvic exam to check for problems in the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
• The doctor also may look at the patient’s eyes for yellow discoloration and in the mouth to be sure the patient is not dehydrated.

Laboratory Tests

Laboratory tests may or may not help to determine the cause of the abdominal pain. Combined with the information gained from the questions the patient was asked and the physical examination performed by the doctor, certain blood or urine tests may be ordered and could assist in determining the diagnosis.

Radiology Tests

Radiology studies of the patient’s abdomen can be useful, but are not always necessary or helpful.

• Occasionally, an X-ray will show air outside of the bowel, meaning that something has ruptured or perforated.
• An X-ray also can help diagnose bowel obstruction.
• Sometimes X-rays can show a kidney stone.

Ultrasound is a painless procedure useful in finding some causes of abdominal pain.

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Home Remedies For Stomach Pain May Work For You

Stomach pain is a common complaint that can range from mild stabs of pain to debilitating painful cramps.

Causes of stomach pain may be linked to an underlying health condition such as appendicitis or kidney stones, or it may be a reaction to a food product that irritates the stomach lining.

Many cases of discomfort are mild and may be alleviated by home remedies for stomach pain.

Using natural and widely available products like herbal teas and probiotic yogurt may offer fast relief without causing the additional pain sometimes triggered by the irritants in shelf medications.

Sudden and severe stomach pain may indicate a serious health condition. If it is accompanied by a fever, breathing difficulty, or bloody vomit, seek immediate medical attention.

Pectin Supplements Can Prevent Diarrhea And Dysbiosis

When a stomach bug or foodborne illness causes diarrhea, pectin supplements can help speed up recovery.

Pectin is a type of plant fiber found in high quantities in apples and citrus fruits. Its often isolated from these fruits and sold as its own food product or supplement .

Pectin is not digested by humans, so it stays within the intestinal tract where its very effective at firming stools and preventing diarrhea .

In fact, one study found that 82% of sick children taking daily pectin supplements recovered from their diarrhea within 4 days, compared to only 23% of children not taking pectin supplements .

Pectin also relieves stomach upset by promoting the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract.

Sometimes, people develop uncomfortable symptoms of gas, bloating or abdominal pain due to an imbalance of bacteria in their intestines.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, but is especially common after gut infections, after taking antibiotics or during periods of high stress (

49 ).

While pectin supplements are effective at relieving diarrhea and promoting a healthy balance of gut bacteria, its unknown whether natural foods rich in pectin would have the same benefits. More research is needed.

Summary Pectin, a type of plant fiber found in apples and citrus fruits, may help shorten the duration of diarrhea and promote healthy gut bacteria when taken as a supplement.

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