Too Much Sugarless Gum
If you consume too much sorbitol, which is found in some sugar-free products, it can cause pain and diarrhea. According to a 2008 article in BMJ, a 21-year-old woman had an 11-pound weight loss, abdominal pain, and diarrhea from chewing about 16 sticks of gum a day.
A 46-year-old man had similar symptoms after chewing about 20 sticks of sugarless gum and eating sorbitol-containing sweets daily. “Sorbitol goes into your GI tract and since your body can’t absorb it, it gets to the bacteria in your colon, which eat it and produce gas and fluids that contribute to diarrhea,” explains Dr. Raymond.
To fix the problem, cut back on the amount of sugarless gum you chew.
Types Of Abdominal Pain
There are several types of abdominal pain, which are based on how quickly your pain starts and how long it lasts:
- Acute pain starts over a few hours or days and may come with other symptoms.
- Chronic pain lasts longer — from weeks to months or more — and may come and go.
- Progressive pain gets worse over time and often comes with other symptoms.
Home Remedies To Naturally Treat A Sour Stomach
If you want to lower the risk of a sour stomach and prevent yourself from having to use these natural remedies, there are a few things you can do.
The first is to do your best to eat smaller meals that feature whole food items like fruits, vegetables, legumes, leafy green, whole grains and other high-fiber items. Staying away from processed foods, greasy foods and fried foods is smart, as is eating big meals. Acidic fruit juices should be limited, same with coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol:
1. Stand upright: When you stay seated or lie down immediately following a meal, there is a much better chance youâll experience a bout of sour stomach. Stand up so the esophagus and stomach are extended, and there is plenty of space to let gravity do its thing.
2. Carrot juice: Blending up some carrots and water and sipping on the beverage can help relieve sour stomach symptoms. The carrots will help absorb acid that may have found its way into the esophagus. For a little more flavor, add some honey or mint.
3. Warm milk: If youâre not lactose intolerance, all you may need to treat a sour stomach is a glass of warm milk. Add some honey if you like and sip the beverage. As you do, it will coat your stomach and esophageal lining to ease the pain.
6. Apple cider vinegar: A great wait to naturally treat a sour stomach is by having a little bit of apple cider vinegar. Add a teaspoon to a glass of water and sip it slowly before a meal or once the sour stomach symptoms appear.
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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.
Possible Reasons Of Feeling Full Without Eating
As mentioned, numerous things can cause you to experience feelings of fullness without eating a single bite of food. Here are a list of 10 possible cause.
1. Peptic Ulcers
One cause of feelings of fullness without eating is peptic ulcers. A peptic ulcer is a lesion within ones stomach that can also cause discomfort, pain, belching, bloating, and regurgitation. These ulcers arise when the stomach acid in ones digestive system causes damage to the stomach lining. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, when taken for more than a few days, can cause an increased risk of developing a peptic ulcer. This occurrence can be prevented by avoiding certain toxins, such as cigarette smoke and excessive amounts of alcohol.
2. Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, is a condition which affects ones vagus nerve. This nerve is responsible for contracting the stomach to push food into the lower intestine, an important process within the digestive system. If the nerve sustains damage, it is unable to function correctly, meaning that it takes much longer to digest food. This can leave you feeling full without eating, as your body is still digesting the food you ate at last time. Causes of this include infections, vagus nerve surgery, certain metabolic disorders, and/or smooth muscle disorders.
3. Indigestion
9. Coeliac Disease
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Stomach Pain On The Left Side Of The Abdomen
If your child is complaining about pain on the left side of their stomach, it could be caused by something as simple as constipation to a more severe condition like pancreatitis. Dr. Mehta reminds parents not to panic just because their child is experiencing pain.
Most of the time, stomach pain on the left side is caused by something mild, like constipation. Rarely, it can be a sign of something more serious, she says. Your childs pediatrician can work with you to better understand the pain and symptoms your child experiences to ensure they receive an accurate diagnosis and more importantly, find relief.
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Sudden Stomach Cramps With Diarrhoea
If your stomach cramps have started recently and you also have diarrhoea, the cause may be a tummy bug . This means you have a viral or bacterial infection of the stomach and bowel. It should get better without treatment after a few days.
Gastroenteritis may be caused by:
- coming into close contact with someone who’s infected
- eating contaminated food
If you have repeated bouts of stomach cramps and diarrhoea, you may have a long-term condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome .
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Learn What May Be Causing Your Stomach Pain And When You Should See A Doctor
Have you ever had stomach pains, but couldnt pinpoint the cause? Fortunately, stomach pain usually isnt cause for concern.
“An upset stomach is very common and can be related to a number of health issues,” explains Dr. Jessica McKee, gastroenterologist at Geisinger Medical Center. “Often, it goes away on its own. Still, it can sometimes be a symptom of something more serious.”
Here are some different causes for an upset stomach and when you may need to see a doctor.
Acute Vs Chronic Vs Progressive
Acute abdominal pain usually comes on suddenly and is sharp/severe. It may improve within a few hours to a few days, depending on the cause. If sudden-onset pain lasts longer than this, you should see a doctor. You should also see a doctor or go to the emergency room if the pain worsens rapidly or you begin to experience fevers, severe or worsening nausea/vomiting, or diarrhea. Examples of acute abdominal pain can include gastrointestinal infection , appendicitis , cholecystitis , or an obstruction of your colon or small intestine.
Chronic abdominal pain is recurring and can come and go away without really worsening over a period of time. Chronic pain can be present for months or years at a time. You should always mention chronic stomach pain to your doctor or a healthcare provider. It can be a symptom of an underlying condition that needs treatment, or you can get help reducing pain and improving your quality of life. Examples of medical conditions that can cause chronic pain include certain types of hernias, celiac disease , irritable bowel syndrome , constipation, pain related to the menstrual cycle, or peptic ulcer disease.
Stomach pain may also come in waves, called colicky pain. It can feel like spasms and may repeat over days, weeks, or years. This is frequently caused by kidney stones and gallstones .
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When Should I See My Doctor
In some cases, you should seek urgent medical attention or consult a doctor if you have abdominal pain.
If you have a sudden, severe, incapacitating pain in your abdomen, go immediately to your nearest emergency department or call triple zero and ask for an ambulance.
You should also seek urgent medical attention if you have pain that:
- is severe and/or getting worse
- has lasted for several hours or more
- wakes you from sleep
- is spreading to your neck, chest or shoulders
- makes it difficult to swallow
Urgent medical attention is also required if you have abdominal pain accompanied by
- unexplained weight loss
- skin that appears yellow
If you are experiencing pain high up in your abdomen that is made worse by exercise it could be angina or a heart attack. If you, or someone near you is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, call triple zero immediately and ask for an ambulance.
If you are pregnant and experiencing abdominal pain, check with your doctor or midwife. Abdominal pains are common in pregnancy, but should always be checked out.
If your abdominal pain does not match the situations above, but it is recurrent or persistent , or it started mild but is worsening, you should still consult a doctor.
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Sudden Intense Abdominal Pain
A sharp pain that doesn’t let up can indicate acute appendicitis , diverticulitis or a serious infection. The context is important, Lee says, because muscle cramps and other issues can also manifest as sharp pain. If you’re an athlete rock climbing and you get a sharp pain in your abdomen that only lasts a second, you probably just pulled a muscle, she says. If it’s something serious, she explains, usually the pain keeps escalating and doesn’t let up.
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How To Get Rid Of Stomach And Back Pain
Withstanding pains on both stomach and back can quite be challenging but knowing the cause of the pain is the easiest way of easing down the pain. A different method can be used to treat pain but only if the cause is known. Some of the methods which can be used include:
- Medications, for example, an intravenous antibiotic if had been diagnosed with pyelonephritis
- Surgery, for example, to get rid of gallstones
- Regular physical exercise
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What Can I Do At Home To Feel Better
Get plenty of rest and keep drinking lots of liquids until your symptoms pass. Drinks that have both sugar and salt help your intestine absorb fluids better and replace the lost electrolytes. Nibbling salty crackers along with ginger ale or a similar sweet drink could also help. Avoid dairy products like cows milk for one or two days milk can make diarrhea worse due to temporary lactose intolerance that often come with gastroenteritis.
To control severe diarrhea, your healthcare provider may recommend an over-the-counter medication such bismuth subsalicylate . You shouldnt use these medicines if you have a high fever or bloody diarrhea, which can be signs of deeper infection from bacteria or a parasite. Antidiarrheal medications arent safe for children to use. Instead, see your healthcare provider for treatment.
Nearly everyone gets a bout of stomach flu at some point. Its not pleasant, but it usually passes in less than a week. Give yourself time to rest and recover before you go back to your daily activities. Fortunately you can take steps to avoid the likelihood of passing it on to others or picking it up again in the future.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/26/2020.
References
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Stomach Cramps With Bloating
Stomach cramps with bloating are often caused by trapped wind, or constipation. This is a very common problem that can be embarrassing, but is easily dealt with. Your pharmacist will be able to recommend a product, which can be bought over the counter to treat the problem. If problems persist, you should see your GP.
Chewing Too Much Gum Can Leave You Bloated
Just as Violet experienced with that mythical piece of blueberry-flavored bubble gum, chewing gum can leave a person feeling painfully bloated albeit not as severe. There are actually a number of different triggers responsible for creating the sensation. Nutritional therapist Naomi Mead told Cosmopolitan that chewing gum can cause a person to accidentally swallow air while they chew. This trapped air in the gut can leave you feeling like a childs balloon and can also be a major cause of painful bloating.
If youre watching what you eat, chances are youre also likely picking sugar-free gum over regular. Nutritionist Anne Mauney wrote in an article for the journal Food & Nutrition that sugar substitutes found in these gums can also be a very common cause of bloating. The issue comes from substances called sugar alcohols in the gum. While these substances taste sweet on the tongue and make you feel like youre eating actual sugar theyre actually very hard for the body to digest. Once in the intestinal tract, the sugar alcohol will meet bacteria that ferment it and release gas, which leads to bloating, cramps, pain and diarrhea, she explained.
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Why Does Your Stomach Hurt
Stomach cramps can range from mild achiness to severe, stabbing pain.
Common causes of stomach cramps include eating foods that can irritate your stomach, constipation, food poisoning, or a stomach infection. People who have anxiety may also develop stomach cramps.
Pregnant people may experience stomach cramps as the fetus grows. Menstrual cramps are also very common, though they actually take place in the uterus.
Sometimes stomach cramps are constant. In this case, a chronic digestive illness, such as irritable bowel disease, may be the cause.
Most stomach cramps go away on their own within a few hours or a couple of days. Changing what you eat and taking over-the-counter medication can help with symptoms while you recover.
Some stomach cramps may require medical attention. You should be concerned about stomach cramps if they last for a week or longer or are so severe that you cant function, or you also have symptoms like fever or blood in your vomit or stool.
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Hard Stomach During Pregnancy
Generally, you expect a hard stomach when youre pregnant. Your hard-feeling stomach is caused by the pressure of your uterus growing and putting pressure on your abdomen.
The hardness of your stomach while pregnant can be more pronounced if you eat a low-fiber diet or drink a lot of carbonated beverages.
If your experience severe pain along with your hard stomach, you should see your OB-GYN or seek immediate medical attention. Sometimes severe pain in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy is an indicator of miscarriage.
Although more common in the third trimester, in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, discomfort can come from labor contractions or Braxton-Hicks contractions. Typically Braxton-Hicks contractions pass. If the contractions dont pass and become more persistent, it might be a sign that youre going into labor.
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What Are The Chances Of Having A Gallbladder Attack
While anyone with a gallbladder can develop gallstones, there are many known risk factors for developing them. Here are some common ones, per the NIDDK:
- Being a woman: This is because estrogen can boost biles cholesterol levels and make your gallbladder contract less.
- Being over 40: As you age, the chance of developing gallstones increases.
- Losing weight too quickly: Losing a lot of weight very quickly is hazardous because it makes your liver excrete more cholesterol into your bile, raising your risk of gallstones.
- Obesity and diabetes: Obesity can increase the cholesterol in your bile, so its also a risk factor, as are type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
- Having certain health conditions: Conditions like Crohns disease that screw up your bodys absorption of nutrients can also lead to gallstone formation. Additionally, people with hemolytic anemias, which are conditions where red blood cells continuously break down , are at increased risk. Thats because of how those damaged red cells can increase bilirubin, the chemical we mentioned that can raise your risk of pigment gallstones.
- Having a family history of gallstones: If members of your immediate family have had gallstones, youre at a higher risk of having them, too.
- Being of a certain cultural descent: Indigeneous people have the highest rate of gallstones. The reason: Certain genetic factors can increase the cholesterol in this populations bile. Mexican Americans also have a high risk of developing gallstones.
Where Is The Pain
Doctors and other health professionals will first ask you where you feel the pain. Pain above the umbilicus but below the ribcage on the right may be gallstone pain. Gallstone pain may spread to the right shoulder or the back.
Pain from kidney stones is felt in the right side or left side, more in the back than the front of the abdomen, and tends to radiate downwards into the groin on the same side.
Pain in the very centre of the abdomen is more likely to be coming from the intestines, however in males, testicular pain is also felt in the centre of the abdomen.
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