What To Take When You Have Stomach Pain

How Is Abdominal Pain Diagnosed

The cause of abdominal pain is diagnosed based on your symptom history, a physical examination, and testing, if needed. Your doctor is likely to ask you questions about the characteristics of your pain, and whether you have any underlying physical or mental health conditions that could be contributing to your abdominal pain.

Questions from your doctor may address the following aspects of your abdominal pain:

• Where its located
• Whether its dull, stabbing, burning, or cramping
• Whether it comes and goes
• When you experience or notice it most
• Whether it radiates outward to other areas of your body
• How long youve had it
• Whether any activities or actions seem to make it worse or better

Your doctor may also ask about your overall health history, any recent injuries, and whether you might be pregnant.

• Blood, urine, or stool tests
• X-ray of the abdomen
• Computerized tomography scan of the abdomen
• Barium enema
• Endoscopic procedures
• Electrocardiogram

Chamomile May Reduce Vomiting And Soothe Intestinal Discomfort

Chamomile, an herbal plant with small white flowers, is a traditional remedy for upset stomachs.

Chamomile can be dried and brewed into a tea or taken by mouth as a supplement.

Historically, chamomile has been used for a variety of intestinal troubles, including gas, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting .

Yet despite its widespread use, only a limited number of studies support its effectiveness for digestive complaints.

One small study found that chamomile supplements reduced the severity of vomiting after chemotherapy treatments, but its unclear whether it would have the same effects on other types of vomiting .

An animal study found that chamomile extracts relieved diarrhea in mice by reducing intestinal spasms and decreasing the amount of water secreted into the stool, but more research is needed to see if this applies to humans .

Chamomile is also commonly used in herbal supplements that relieve indigestion, gas, bloating and diarrhea, as well as colic in babies .

However, since chamomile is combined with many other herbs in these formulas, its difficult to know whether the beneficial effects are from chamomile or from a combination of the other herbs.

Although the gut-soothing effects of chamomile are widely recognized, research has not yet shown how it helps to relieve stomach upset.

Summary Chamomile is a commonly used remedy for stomach and intestinal discomfort, but more research is needed to understand how it works.

Is The Stomach Flu Worse In Some People

In general, most people recover quickly from the stomach flu. Symptoms can be worse in babies, young children, older adults or anyone of any age that is immune-compromised. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration within just a short period of time, depending on the circumstances. Signs of dehydration include:

• Extreme thirst.
• General weakness.

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Should I Give Ibuprofen To Someone With Abdominal Pain

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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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Important Information About All Medicines

How Can I Get Rid Of Stomach Flu

The most important things you can do to feel better faster are rest and staying well hydrated. Between diarrhea and vomiting, your body loses a lot of water and electrolytes. If your belly is still upset, you can take small, frequent sips of water, sports drinks, juice or broth, or chew on ice chips. It is important to know that water alone may not be enough to keep you hydrated in severe cases of diarrhea so make sure to take in electrolyte balance hydration . Eat a normal diet when you feel hungry again.

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When To Talk To Your Doctor About An Upset Stomach

An upset stomach typically goes away on its own within 48 hours. Sometimes stomach pain indicates a more serious health problem, however. Know when to speak to a healthcare professional for stomach pain.

• Speak to a medical professional if your symptoms do not go away after a day or two.
• If you have other symptoms such as fever, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or blood in vomit or stool, make an appointment with your doctor.
• Talk to your doctor if you cant keep liquids or foods down, and you notice signs of dehydration.
• Pay attention if you notice a pattern, or you have recurring stomach pain. Maybe you have stomach pain after you eat dairy, or you get an upset stomach after eating pasta with red sauce. Maybe you regularly have an upset stomach but havent noticed a pattern. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor.

Theres no threshold for contacting your primary care provider. If you are worried or uncertain about your symptoms, call your doctors office.

For Nausea And Vomiting

Last nights Chinese take-out leftovers seem like a great meal ideauntil your stomach clearly begins to disagree with you. Nausea and vomiting are one of your bodys major defenses against food poisoning, and can also arise from problems like motion sickness and overeating. While the best way to cure an upset stomach from most cases of food poisoning is to let your body rid itself of the bacteria causing your discomfort, over-the-counter antiemetics can come in handy when dealing with nausea and vomiting symptoms caused by motion sickness and certain other conditions. There are two main types of OTC medications used to treat nausea and vomiting:

• Bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in OTC medications like Kaopectate® and Pepto-Bismol, protects your stomach lining. Bismuth subsalicylate is also used to treat ulcers, upset stomach and diarrhea.
• Other medicines include cyclizine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, and meclizine. These can be found in medicines such as Dramamine, Bonine, or others, and they dull motion sickness by acting on your brain. They block messages from reaching the part of the brain that controls nausea and vomiting

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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.

Is It Acute Or Chronic Abdominal Pain

An acute illness is one that has a sudden and often severe onset. An example of acute abdominal pain would be when a patient experiences a severe case of appendicitis, where infection causes the appendix to swell and become increasingly painful.

While an acute illness typically has a quick onset, the illness or the pain may last for weeks or even months. For example, a broken leg is an acute problem, but the leg may continue to hurt for an extended period of time.

A chronic illness is one that lasts for six months or longer. Chronic abdominal pain is belly pain that has lasted for at least six months and may be expected to last even longer, possibly even for a lifetime if the cause cannot be treated or cured. Chronic pain may be caused by ongoing problems that cannot be cured, such as cirrhosis of the liver.

Chronic abdominal pain may have a known cause and a planned course of treatment, where acute abdominal pain may need to be diagnosed first in order to then be treated appropriately.

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Change In Bowel Movement Frequency

There is no magic number of bowel movements we should all be having each day. Some people go three-to-four times a day, and that is normal for them. Others only move their bowels once a day and that is their normal. However, if you or a loved one experiences a significant change in bowel movement frequency, whether more or less often, its important to discuss this change with your healthcare provider.

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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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.

How Do You Get Rid Of A Stomach Ache In 5 Minutes

Over the counter medical treatment

• For gas-related pain, OTC medication like Mylanta, Gas-X can help get rid of gas and bloating.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause stomach ache and burning sensation , an antacid or acid reducer like Pepcid AC or Zantac 75 can help.
• For constipation, a mild OTC stool softener or laxative can help relieve constipation in most cases.
• Abdominal cramps can occur due to diarrhea. Medicines like Pepto-Bismol, which contain loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate, can help reduce diarrhea and cramps.
• Pain relievers, such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, can help reduce the abdominal pain and the pain of cramps caused due to several conditions. It may be combined with anti-cramping medications.

Lifestyle and home remedies:

Anti-inflammatory foods:

Eating foods that have anti-inflammatory properties can reduce abdominal pain. These foods include blueberries, squash, cherries, capsicum, tomatoes, cold-water fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, beans, green leafy vegetables, and almonds. These foods also improve overall body health. It’s advised to incorporate these foods in the diet throughout the year, instead of just during the periods. Sugary food, fried and fatty foods, white bread or pasta, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco can increase cramps.

Herbs to reduce cramps:

Heat therapy:

Eating practices:

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How To Get Rid Of Lower Abdominal Pain

Women often experience pain in the lower abdomen due to their periods or menstruation. But abdominal pain is not just a womens issue, men also experience this problem.

Lower abdominal pain is common and often easily remedied. But if you have such pain on a regular basis, do not take it lightly.

Simple problems like swallowing excess air, eating high-fat foods that lead to delayed stomach emptying, food poisoning and even stress can cause lower abdominal pain. But certain health issues can also cause this problem.

Some of the health-related causes include constipation, lactose or gluten intolerance, gastroenteritis, colitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease , intestinal obstruction, gastroparesis, Crohns disease, diverticulitis, kidney disorders, appendicitis, hernias, gonorrhea, liver cirrhosis and irritable bowel syndrome, to name a few.

In some cases, lower abdominal pain in women can be related to the reproductive system, including pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, menstrual pain, premenstrual syndrome , ovarian cancer, ovarian cysts and pelvic inflammatory disease.

As there can be so many reasons behind lower abdominal pain, it is highly recommended to consult your doctor to find out the exact cause of the problem.

However, for mild cases, you can use some home remedies and lifestyle changes to see improvement in your condition.

Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of lower abdominal pain.

Contents

• 10. Diet

Home Remedies For Ulcer Pain

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Nsaid Drugs And Stomach Ulcers

A group of painkillers known as NSAIDs carries a risk of stomach ulcers. The two best-known NSAIDs are aspirin and ibuprofen.

The risk of ulcers increases if the drugs are taken in high doses, or regularly for a long time.

Stronger NSAIDs, such as those that need a prescription, are riskier for stomach ulcers than those that can be bought over-the-counter .

People should always check labels and talk to a pharmacist or a doctor about any concerns with using painkillers. They may recommend an alternative such as acetaminophen.

Duration Of Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can be brief or long-lasting, depending on its underlying cause. It can be ongoing or recurring, coming and going at what seem like random intervals or with certain activities or behaviors.

How long your abdominal pain lasts, or whether it comes and goes, doesnt necessarily correspond to how severe the underlying condition is.

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Causes Of Abdominal Pain And Diarrhea

Most people occasionally experience abdominal pain and diarrhea for short periods. Dietary changes, consuming too much alcohol, and indigestion may cause these symptoms.

Frequent, constant, or severe abdominal pain and diarrhea may indicate a disease or a more serious medical issue. Diarrhea that gets progressively worse and is bloody can be also be a sign of a more serious issue. Possible causes of abdominal pain and diarrhea include:

• pancreas

Diarrhea and abdominal pain that last for more than a week or that frequently reoccur may be a sign of an intestinal disease or disorder. You should talk to your doctor if youve experienced these symptoms for more than a week or on a reoccurring basis.

The above conditions and disorders can cause swelling of various parts of the digestive tract, such as the stomach and intestines. Inflammation of the digestive system can cause cramps and disrupt normal digestive processes. This usually results in abdominal pain and diarrhea.ADVERTISING