Stomach cramps. Stomach pain with cramps: possible causes, diagnosis and treatment What will help with stomach cramps

Stomach cramps after eating are familiar to almost all people. They can occur for various reasons and at any age. Most often, spasmodic phenomena are physiological in nature and do not pose a threat to health. However, this manifestation should be treated carefully, because sometimes a stomach spasm signals a serious pathology in the digestive system, and such symptoms require consulting a doctor. In any case, its occurrence cannot be considered the norm, so you should understand the cause of its occurrence.

The essence of the phenomenon

Spasms in the stomach are a manifestation of discomfort and a feeling of heaviness, sometimes accompanied by pain and other unpleasant phenomena. They represent a spontaneous contraction of the smooth muscles of the gastric walls.

The stomach by nature has a developed muscular layer, which, when contracting, ensures the softening of food and its movement. During the digestion of food, muscle contraction temporarily stops to fully carry out the process, and then becomes active again to remove undigested residues into the intestines. Normally, the gastric muscles contract only when necessary, and therefore the person does not feel it.

For a number of reasons, involuntary activation of the muscle layer occurs when there is no need for it. A person already feels these contractions as a certain discomfort, because the stomach is not full, but is forced to work idle, producing gastric juice. The most common illustration of the phenomenon is hunger cramps, when on an empty stomach the muscles begin to contract, “tired of idleness.” At the first hit of food, everything returns to normal.

Stomach cramps can be physiological or organic in nature. The physiological spastic effect (functional spasms) is not associated with any pathologies, but is considered a natural reaction to a temporary disruption of metabolic processes and the functioning of the nervous system under the influence of exogenous factors. As a rule, it goes away quickly when the provoking causes are eliminated and does not recur.

Organic spasms have a pathological mechanism and are a manifestation of diseases of the gastrointestinal system.

In addition, there is a special type of stomach spasm - pylorospasm, which can occur in young children due to dysfunction of muscle tissue or a disorder of nervous regulation. Despite the temporary nature of this anomaly, it is quite dangerous for the child and requires classified assistance.

Etiology of functional spasms

Functional (physiological) stomach cramps are usually caused by a temporary disruption of metabolic processes or nervous regulation. Their appearance depends on the individual characteristics of the human body. This unpleasant phenomenon is especially often observed in overly emotional people, in particular, with frequent mood swings and a tendency to fall into depression. The problem under consideration can manifest itself in the following forms: non-ulcer dyspepsia, aerophagia, spasm of the pylorus, or pyloric spasm, vomiting.

The etiological mechanism of the appearance of spasms has not yet been thoroughly studied. However, experts identify the following factors as provoking reasons:

long-term use of certain potent medications;
exposure to chemically active substances (at work or at home);
frequent food allergic reactions;
mechanical impact;
smoking;
excessive consumption of coffee or caffeine;
not always systematic nutrition (especially fasting);
food or alcohol poisoning;
frequent and prolonged hypothermia;
mechanical impact and injury.

When physiological spasms appear in the stomach, the causes are most often associated with nervous overload, emotional outbursts, and prolonged psychological overload. Quite often, cramps appear after eating, which is facilitated by eating large quantities of difficult-to-process food or overeating. Fried, spicy, fatty foods enriched with carbohydrates can serve as a provocateur.

Organic spasms give rise to various pathologies: diseases of the digestive system (primarily peptic ulcers, gastritis), diseases of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, and blood diseases. The appearance of severe cramps in the stomach is due to exacerbation of pancreatitis or the development of pancreatic colic. In this case, the mechanism triggers excessive secretion of pancreatic juice, which is most often caused by poor diet, alcohol, or stone movement due to cholelithiasis. No less painful phenomena can cause irritable bowel syndrome, infection in the intestines and bacterial poisoning.

Stomach cramps become more frequent during pregnancy. During this period, women experience a specific reason: compression of the stomach from the uterus (especially in the 3rd trimester) and toxicosis. Spasmodic phenomena are usually accompanied by heartburn after eating and an increase in progesterone levels.

Small children may also experience stomach cramps. They may see something like this:

If there is a deficiency of lactose, which ensures the breakdown of milk, diarrhea and bloating appear along with cramps, and weight gain slows down.
In case of dysbacteriosis caused by improper nutrition of the mother or her taking medications: impurities of mucus and blood appear in the stool.
With pyloric spasm: vomiting, regurgitation.

Starting from 6–7 years old, pathological stomach spasms in children can be caused by the following pathologies: vegetative-vascular dystonia, worms, inflammation of appendicitis, biliary or pancreatic colic, irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptomatic manifestations

Symptoms of cramps in the stomach appear in a characteristic form, but depending on the causes of the anomaly, other accompanying symptoms also appear. The most pronounced symptom: stomach pain. They have different intensity and character. As a rule, the stomach hurts in the middle, slightly below the border of the sternum. Pain sensations radiate to the left and right from the main focus with intensification after eating. To check that the pain syndrome is caused by a stomach spasm, it is enough to lower the body to the knees. If the pain disappears, then we can safely talk about a spasmodic phenomenon. When the body returns to its previous position, the pain returns. The so-called “fetal position” is considered a characteristic sign of the phenomenon.

In addition to pain, stomach cramps are manifested by the following symptoms:

in case of severe pain, nausea and vomiting for 12–15 minutes;
diarrhea;
tense stomach; flatulence, bloating.

With a long course of the anomaly, signs of intoxication of the body appear: general weakness, chills, deterioration of the general condition.

When stomach cramps are pathological in nature, the following additional symptoms can be found:

With biliary colic, belching, vomiting and increased body temperature are present.
If the intestine is susceptible to colic, there is a frequent urge to defecate with pain.
An acute bacterial infection is characterized by severe pain in the epigastric region, vomiting, diarrhea, cold sweating, cramps, and pale skin.
With a stomach ulcer, a spasmodic phenomenon in acute form is recorded almost immediately after eating spicy or fatty foods, as well as food with extreme temperatures (excessively hot or too cold).

How to assess the degree of danger of the spastic effect yourself? Non-pathogenic anomalies, as a rule, are one-time and short-lived in nature, completely disappearing after the elimination of the factors that gave rise to them. Functional spasms may sometimes recur, but they are episodic in nature, and the period of their manifestations does not exceed 20–30 days, while the pain syndrome is of moderate intensity and there are no other alarming signs. In such cases, you can do it on your own and carry out symptomatic therapy with available medications or folk remedies.

When should you visit a doctor?

The need to urgently consult a doctor is dictated by the following conditions:

Pain in the abdominal area is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, change in the color of urine and feces, pale skin;
The appearance of causeless, sharp pain in the stomach that does not go away for more than 2.5–3 hours.
Intense pain syndrome in the abdominal cavity of a chronic nature.
The appearance of sharp, stabbing pain radiating to the shoulders.

Urgent hospitalization is necessary if dizziness, profuse cold sweats, delirium, tachycardia occur, and also when severe pain is accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea with heavy bleeding.

Treatment principles

When cramps appear in the stomach, what to do is the main and natural question of every person who cares about their health. When the first signs of an anomaly appear, the following measures should be taken. First of all, you need to drink neutral liquids (plain water is fine) in large quantities. During the day, you should give up heavy food and switch to a gentle diet. If nausea and vomiting are present, then food should be completely abandoned for 5–7 hours.

Drug treatment should be carried out with great caution. Most specialists for spasmodic symptoms, indigestion and heartburn recommend taking antacids or H2-blockers - Tagamet or Famotidine, which are sold without a doctor's prescription. Antispasmodics such as No-shpa and Gangleron relieve stomach cramps well. They are taken 3-4 times a day. If there is significant pain, you can use the drugs Akabel, Spazmalgon, Datiscan.

Treatment of pathological stomach spasms is carried out as prescribed by a doctor after an accurate diagnosis of the underlying disease. In the case when they are provoked by bacteria (Helicobacter), antibiotics are most often used: Amoxicillin, Erythromycin, Levofloxacin or similar agents - Clarithromycin or Azithromycin. Therapy is not complete without normalizing the gastric and intestinal microflora, for which probiotics are prescribed: Lactobacterin, Linex, Bifidumbacterin.

At home, folk remedies that have a beneficial effect on the stomach can help relieve cramps. We can recommend the following recipes:

An infusion of a mixture of nettle, St. John's wort and meadowsweet. The mixture is prepared in the following proportion: all herbs, 1 tbsp. l. for 500 ml of boiling water. The mixture is infused for 1 hour. Taken 3–5 times during the day.
Motherwort juice: 1 tsp. per 100 ml of water.
Mint tea. This remedy effectively relieves the nervous factor that provokes spasmodic phenomena.

Stomach cramps occur quite often for a number of reasons and in the vast majority of cases do not require special treatment. To eliminate them, it is enough to take simple antispasmodic medications or folk remedies. However, it should be remembered that spasms can be a symptom of serious diseases, and in such cases it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Stomach cramps are a nonspecific symptom that is caused by intense muscle contractions, which entails pain. It should be noted that stomach cramps are not always caused specifically by gastroenterological diseases: the manifestation of such a symptom on a nervous basis does occur.

In most cases, spasm in the stomach is organic in nature, that is, caused by pathological processes in the gastrointestinal tract. However, factors cannot be excluded in which the manifestation of a symptom is of a completely natural physiological nature. So, in infants, stomach cramps during pregnancy are quite normal.

The nature of the clinical signs that will appear along with this symptom depends on the underlying factor, therefore self-diagnosis and self-medication are strongly not recommended - this can lead to extremely negative consequences.

Diagnostics is based on laboratory and instrumental research methods. In most cases, stomach spasms can be relieved through conservative measures. However, one cannot exclude the possibility that surgical intervention will be required: the treatment program will depend only on the underlying cause.

The prognosis in case of timely initiation of therapeutic measures is favorable.

Etiology

Stomach spasms can be caused by both gastroenterological pathological processes and diseases that are not directly related to the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. There are factors in which a spasm in the stomach is symptomatic.

The general causes of stomach cramps are as follows:

excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
acute food poisoning;
overeating, especially before bed;
uncontrolled use of medications;
a large number of spices and marinades in food;
unbalanced diet - the menu does not contain the necessary minerals and elements;
habit of drinking food, especially carbonated drinks;
prolonged refusal of food, adherence to a diet that has no medical indications;
hypothermia;
in women - the beginning of the menstrual cycle.

The pathological reasons for stomach cramps are as follows:

vegetative-vascular dystonia;
erosive destruction of the gastric mucosa;
poisoning by chemicals or poisons;
infectious, bacterial damage to the gastrointestinal tract;
helminthic infestation;
food allergies;
benign or malignant neoplasms;
formation of polyps;
coprostasis;
diverticulitis.

Almost any gastroenterological disease is accompanied by abdominal pain and cramping.

Stomach spasms of a non-gastroenterological nature can be caused by the following pathological processes:

kidney diseases;
diabetes mellitus;
diseases of the genitourinary system;
enlarged spleen;
abdominal trauma;
psychiatric disorders, psychosomatics.

Only a doctor can determine what exactly provoked the manifestation of a symptom by carrying out the necessary diagnostic measures.

Classification

Stomach cramps are divided into the following types according to the type of manifestation:

regional - appear in the upper part of the stomach, indicating the development of a gastroenterological disease;
total - are widespread and may be a sign of pathologies that are not related to the gastrointestinal tract.

The following forms of this symptom are considered:

organic - arise only against the background of gastrointestinal pathologies;
secondary - appear against the background of other pathological processes that are not directly related to the gastrointestinal tract;
functional - the body’s reaction to certain stimuli (medicines, alcoholic drinks).

Often the nature of the spasms suggests the cause of their manifestation.

Symptoms

Severe stomach cramps in most cases are accompanied by other clinical signs, the nature of which will depend on the underlying factor.

So, if the cause is a gastroenterological disease, additional symptoms of stomach cramps are as follows:

nausea, quite often with vomiting - it should be noted that this does not always bring relief;
violation of stool frequency and consistency;
burning in the chest area;
increased flatulence;
belching with an unpleasant odor;
, rumbling;
or its complete absence;
impurities of blood and mucus may appear in the stool;
sleep disturbance, as spasms can occur even at night;
dizziness;
pale skin;
general deterioration of health.

If the cause of the symptom is a disease of a non-gastroenterological nature, the clinical picture may be accompanied by the following signs:

headaches;
unstable blood pressure;
pain and cramps in the stomach appear periodically;
If there is a history of chronic diseases, their relapse is possible.

It is impossible to determine the cause of such a symptom from the clinical picture alone. Therefore, if such signs occur, you should seek medical help rather than carry out treatment at your own discretion.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures are determined on an individual basis, depending on the current clinical picture. First of all, a physical examination of the patient is performed, during which the gastroenterologist:

conducts an examination with palpation of the abdomen;
clarifies the nature of the current clinical picture;
studies personal and family history;
reviews medical history.

The following laboratory and instrumental research methods are carried out:

general clinical and biochemical blood tests;
general urinalysis;
analysis of feces for helminthic infestations and occult blood;
pH-metry;
PCR test;
X-ray examination of the esophagus with a contrast agent;
gastroscopy;
Ultrasound of the stomach;
EGDS;
CT and MRI;

Additional diagnostic methods may be prescribed, depending on the current clinical picture and the data collected during the initial examination.

Treatment

There is no single program of therapeutic measures, since everything depends on the underlying factor. In most cases, the pathological process can be eliminated through conservative measures.

Drug therapy may include the following medications:

antispasmodics;
painkillers;
antibiotics;
prokinetics;
antacids;
probiotics;
antimicrobial;
sorbents.

The course of treatment necessarily includes a diet - the specific dietary table is determined by the doctor on an individual basis.

Treatment with folk remedies is not excluded, but such measures must be coordinated with the attending physician. It is necessary to understand that it is inappropriate to consider such means as an independent method of therapy.

Prevention and prognosis

The prognosis is individual, but if treatment is started in a timely manner, it can be favorable. As for prevention, the following recommendations should be highlighted:

observe a diet - timely consumption of food in a calm environment;
the menu should be balanced;
you can’t wash down your food;
lead an active lifestyle.

If you feel unwell, you should consult a doctor and not self-medicate.

Stomach cramps are usually an independent physiological phenomenon, which is provoked by poor nutrition, stress and uncomfortable body position. However, there are also cases in which spasms are symptoms of diseases of the internal organs. Thus, when a person experiences a stomach spasm, the symptoms and causes can be very different. To accurately find out your diagnosis, you should consult a doctor as soon as painful sensations arise.

Gastroenterologist Mikhail Vasilievich:

“It is known that for the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract (ulcers, gastritis, etc.) there are special medications that are prescribed by doctors. But we will not talk about them, but about those medications that you can use yourself and at home...”

Stomach spasms: symptoms and causes

When the stomach spasms, the muscle tissue that is in its walls comes into a state of increased tone - this is a spasm. It can occur in only one part of the stomach or in several areas of this organ at once, and also affect the duodenum. At the same time, the person experiences pain and breaks out in a cold sweat.

Painful sensations are a consequence of tissue ischemia. When a spasm of the stomach muscles occurs, the vessels in them are pinched, the flow of blood and the transfer of oxygen in it is disrupted, and the spasm is felt painfully - this is how the body makes it clear that something is wrong with it. In this case, patients are usually forced to limit their movements, they bend or freeze - these are instinctive gestures, thanks to which the walls of the stomach do not stretch. At the same time, the person experiences stress.

With stomach cramps, a person not only experiences abdominal pain, but also generally feels worse. Especially in cases where the spasm lasts longer than a few minutes. The stomach wall may not return to normal for up to half an hour. Thus, the painful sensations do not go away in a few minutes, but last about thirty minutes. Prolonged spasm can be easily confused with pain caused by acute processes in the abdominal cavity, any damage or inflammation. Therefore, even if you suspect that you are dealing with prolonged stomach cramps, you should contact your doctor immediately. If the pain is especially acute and unbearable, you should immediately call an ambulance.

What nature can stomach cramps have?

There are two main types of spasms: functional and organic.

If a doctor diagnoses a functional spasm, this means that there is nothing unnecessary in the stomach, no foreign objects. Also, with functional spasms, no tissue damage is found. Functional cramps occur when nerve fibers near the stomach malfunction or become accidentally pinched. The following factors can disrupt the functioning of nerve fibers and cells and cause pinching:

poisoning;
poor nutrition;
hypothermia;
drinking too much strong coffee and tea;
smoking, especially frequently;
stress, neuroses, prolonged experiences, too much psychological stress;
taking certain medications;
eating foods to which you are allergic.

The cause of the spasms must be eliminated as quickly as possible. If this is drinking coffee or smoking, then you need to give up coffee and tobacco. If it is stressful, you should find yourself in a comfortable environment and relax as soon as possible. If you have poor nutrition, you need to completely reconsider your diet, give up everything harmful and start adhering to the principles of proper nutrition. If the cause is medications, then you need to abandon them and, with the help of a doctor, choose others that are more suitable and do not cause negative effects.

Spasms of the organic type can be considered more dangerous. They arise for several reasons. The first two are colic, which occurs in the stomach or intestines. This occurs due to constipation or indigestion. The patient may also suffer from colic if he has an ulcer or erosion of the stomach or duodenum. Ulcers and erosions cause pain when food particles come into contact with them.

Two other main causes of organic spasms are the development of gastritis and gastroduodenitis. In this case, stomach cramps are symptoms that should make the patient concerned and call a doctor. In addition, spasms, coupled with other signs, may indicate problems with the gallbladder and its ducts, the development of infectious diseases,

Symptoms of stomach cramps

Spasms can be confused with various stomach diseases, so it is important to know which symptoms arise specifically due to spasms. This will allow you to take the right measures to eliminate pain and other unpleasant sensations, as well as select the right medications.

Common symptoms of stomach cramps include:

Painful sensations that, as patients say, occur “in the pit of the stomach.” The pain does not go away, even if the patient does not move, stands or sits in a comfortable position. However, the pain may seem to “move” from one place to another - to the right or to the left. This happens because while food is being digested, it moves around in the stomach. It feels great during cramps.
If the spasm continues long enough, the patient becomes nauseous and the gag reflex is triggered. This usually happens about fifteen minutes after the spasm begins. However, if the pain is not too severe, you may not experience nausea or vomiting. Short spasms also do not cause them.
The pain of spasms is relieved if the patient bends over. Therefore, when you feel your stomach hurt, bend down and listen to yourself. If the pain becomes weaker, most likely you are dealing with a spasm. Typically, if you straighten up, the pain gets worse again.

Treatment of stomach cramps

You cannot treat spasms on your own. The doctor must examine you, make the correct diagnosis, and find out exactly why the spasms occurred. Depending on this, as well as on the individual characteristics of your body, treatment will be selected.

As a rule, doctors prescribe a special diet. With it, patients are prohibited from eating the following foods:

meat, lard, everything that contains animal fats and coarse meat fibers;
baked goods, especially fresh and rich ones;
all types of smoked meats;
fried foods;
spices (especially hot ones, even peppering food is prohibited);
coffee, cocoa, hot chocolate.

All food that is allowed to the patient should be warm - not too cold and not too hot. So ice cream is excluded from the diet. The diet should last as long as the spasms occur and for several weeks after the patient experiences the last spasm.

Medicines may be needed if the diagnosis requires it. Some medications for stomach cramps include:

No-shpa;
Akabel;
Spasmalgon;
Papaverine, etc.

Sometimes antimicrobial drugs are prescribed such as:

Amoxicillin;
Azithromycin;
Erythromycin, etc.

The doctor prescribes such drugs if tests show the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the body.

In addition, first, second, third or fourth generation probiotics, reflexology and herbal medicine may be prescribed.

Preventing stomach cramps

Compliance with the rules of a healthy diet is the basis for the prevention of all diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including stomach cramps. Proper nutrition involves not only avoiding junk food and eating a variety of foods, but also following a diet.

Also, as part of prevention, you should give up bad habits and try to avoid severe stress.

Content

A symptom of dangerous diseases is severe abdominal cramps. If they recur, consult a doctor to determine the cause of the pain. Spasmodic attacks (colic) in the stomach reduce a person’s quality of life and lead to long-term pain. Early diagnosis will prevent the risk of developing serious pathologies.

What is abdominal cramp

A sharp, involuntary and convulsive contraction of muscle fibers is called spasms. They lead to narrowing of the vascular lumens of hollow organs (stomach, intestines, esophagus).

Spasmodic contractions are accompanied by discomfort in the abdominal area, severe or moderate pain.

Stomach cramps are also called gastrospasms.

How do spastic contractions develop?

Hollow organs in the human body have double smooth muscles, consisting of round-transverse and longitudinal fibers. When the stomach or intestines are at rest, the muscles are completely relaxed. When the organ operates, the fibers are activated to provide passage.

Under the influence of general or local causes, the muscles contract, which leads to a narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels.

The mobility of the spasmed organ decreases. It ceases to partially or completely perform its functions.

The narrower the lumen, the more immobile the organ is during a spastic attack.

How do stomach cramps manifest?

The course and symptoms of the condition depend on the cause of its occurrence. A feature of the clinical picture of gastrospasm is an increase in pain in the upper abdomen. It develops against the background of a deterioration in general condition and significant discomfort.

Visceral pain (in internal organs) is caused by vascular ischemia, i.e. insufficient blood circulation.

Symptoms occur with any activity, and interval attacks last from 5 to 60 minutes.

Stomach spasm provokes abdominal spasticity, so the patient is forced to pull his knees to his chin (bent posture). The main symptoms of colic:

sharp or dull periodic pain;
nausea, vomiting;
diarrhea or constipation;
increased gas formation;
belching;
burning behind the sternum;
heartburn;
lack of appetite;
dizziness;
increased sweating;
protrusion of the abdomen;
migraine.

Danger signs

There is a group of symptoms that indicate the acute nature of the spasms. Danger signs:

constant increase in pain;
a sharp increase in body temperature;
blood in vomit or feces;
pale skin;
sudden drop in blood pressure;
radiating pain to the chest and neck;
strong thirst;
periods of loss of consciousness;
breathing problems;
anuria (lack of urination) for more than 10 hours.

Why does my stomach hurt?

The causes of spasms are divided into two groups. The first is associated with an incorrect lifestyle, emotional state, and ecology. This group includes:

The second group of reasons is associated with certain diseases. They are:

intestinal obstruction;
exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis;
strangulated hernia;
disruption of hydrochloric acid production;
formation of adhesions;
gastritis;
diabetes mellitus;
stomach erosions;
intestinal dysbiosis;
stomach ulcer;
gastroduodenitis.

Causes of stomach pain depending on manifestations

Gastrospasm occurs individually in each person. The causes of the condition depend on the possible manifestations:

Cramps often appear on an empty stomach - if there is a stabbing sensation in the stomach after eating, this indicates the development of pancreatitis, ulcers or pylorospasm (contraction of the pylorus of the stomach).
Nausea is a sign of gallbladder dyskinesia and inflammation. Aching pain is observed in the right hypochondrium after eating fatty foods.
Diarrhea – indicates eating stale food or irritable bowel syndrome. After it is emptied, the colic goes away.
Belching - if it is sour, then this indicates inflammation of the duodenum and stomach walls. Spasms are localized in the epigastric and umbilical region.
Fever is a symptom of an infectious disease or severe food poisoning. The condition can be observed with hidden intestinal bleeding.
Nervous colic - appears due to stress and anxiety. The pathology is typical for people with a weak autonomic nervous system.

Cramps in the stomach during pregnancy

Women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy experience digestive problems. This is due to the increase in the size of the uterus, which puts pressure on nearby organs. They lose functionality, food stagnates, which leads to its fermentation. These processes cause nagging or cramping pain.

Periodic colic is accompanied by flatulence, bloating, nausea, and heartburn.

The increase in symptoms reaches a peak before childbirth. After them, stomach cramps stop if the pregnant woman has no history of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Types of stomach cramps

Colic is classified according to the nature of its course. Types of spasms:

regional – localized in one segment of the stomach, most often its upper section;
total - spasms cover the entire organ and occur due to disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract or nervous system.

According to the time of manifestation of colic, there are:

primary – occur in diseases of the digestive system;
secondary - appear in pathologies of other organs (intestines, liver).

Types of stomach cramps due to their occurrence:

organic – occur due to gastrointestinal pathologies;
functional - are a reaction to a specific stimulus (medicine, food).

Diagnostics

The purpose of making a diagnosis is to establish the causes of the uncomfortable condition and prevent the development of pathologies. Diagnostic methods:

Studying the patient's medical history and medical history. His questioning, visual examination, palpation of the abdominal cavity.
Laboratory tests - biochemical and general analysis of blood, urine, coprogram (stool analysis), breath test for microorganisms.
Instrumental procedures - gastroscopic examination with a probe, ultrasound of the kidneys and abdominal cavity, endoscopic examination, CT, radiography with a contrast agent, MRI.
Consultations with an endocrinologist, gynecologist, nephrologist.

What to do if your stomach hurts

First aid

To alleviate the patient’s condition before the ambulance arrives, follow these instructions:

Measure the pressure. The norm is considered to be numbers of at least 100/60 and no more than 140/90.
Calculate your pulse – it should be up to 100 beats per minute.
It is good to measure the temperature if it is not higher than 37.3 °C.
If the indicators correspond to the norm, give No-shpu, Almagel or Spazgan to drink. You can put a heating pad on your stomach.
If the readings are higher than normal, call an ambulance.

Treatment of stomach cramps

Therapy for discomfort is carried out using several methods. These include:

Medication - injections, capsules or tablets for stomach cramps are prescribed for serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Groups of drugs consist of antispasmodics, antimicrobials, analgesics and probiotics.
Traditional medicine – helps reduce the frequency and severity of pain.
Diet – reduces the number of attacks by eliminating foods that provoke spasms.
Reflexology – with the help of acupuncture, the doctor activates the points responsible for the normal functioning of the digestive system.
Physiotherapy – eliminates inflammation, improves secretory functions.
Surgical – used for oncology of the gastrointestinal tract, ulcers or gastric erosion.

How to eliminate spasmodic pain in the stomach using traditional methods

You can prepare a medicine for stomach cramps at home. Effective recipes:

2 tbsp. l. pour mixtures of St. John's wort, nettle and meadowsweet into a thermos and pour 500 ml of boiling water. After an hour, drink 200 ml of warm infusion. Use the remaining amount in 2 doses.
Add 100 ml of pine needle extract to a warm (36-37ºС) bath. The duration of the relaxing procedure is 15-20 minutes. 10 minutes is enough for the child.
1 tsp. Brew dry mint with a glass of boiling water. Add honey to the infusion and drink warm 2 times a day.
1.5 tbsp. l. immortelle and 1 tbsp. l. Brew chamomile with a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Drink 80 ml of decoction 3 times a day for 21 days.

Prevention

The risk of cramping can be reduced or prevented. Preventive measures:

provide complete, systematic nutrition;
avoid stress and nervous tension;
give up bad habits;
avoid fasting and overeating,
limit the consumption of fatty, spicy and salty foods and dishes;
avoid uncontrolled use of medications;
provide minimal physical activity (walking, exercise);
chew food thoroughly and slowly;
avoid hypothermia.

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Each of us has experienced severe cramps in the stomach - after too much dinner, from hunger and taking medications, from sudden stress, etc. Usually we do not react to such pain: we swallow No-shpa to relieve the cramps, and run on with our lives. And we go to the doctor only when the pain becomes constant and medications no longer help.

What do you need to know and how to act?

What are stomach cramps?

In accordance with the reasons, conventionally in medicine, stomach cramps are divided into...

Organic. These are signs of certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, gastritis or usually following it (if untreated) gastroduodenitis. Also, the reasons may be changes in the mucous membrane of the stomach or intestines. In this case, in addition to these signs, the accompanying ones are also felt.
Functional. They develop when the nerves that lead to various parts of the stomach are disrupted. The development of such spasms occurs after smoking and stress, VSD, food allergies and alcohol abuse, poisoning and neuroses, hypothermia and malnutrition.

Causes of stomach cramps

If you still think that stomach cramps are nothing and can be treated with No-shpa (or the mantra “everything will go away in the morning”), then it will be useful for you to know that they can be a symptom of one of the gastrointestinal diseases.

Which will cause a lot of problems in the future if you do not get treatment in a timely manner.

For example…

Acute appendicitis. Among the signs in the initial period are, as a rule, spasms in the epigastric region. Then they move to the right side of the abdomen (note - sometimes to the left). Accompanying signs are a violation of the general condition and vomiting, acute pain.
Acute gastritis. Its development occurs after a nutritional disorder. The spasms are quite strong, “bending in half.” They may be accompanied by vomiting or nausea (and they do not bring relief).
Intestinal colic. Here, in addition to spasms, there is also a urge to defecate. The general condition does not suffer much, but after defecation it becomes much easier.
Irritable bowel syndrome. And in this situation, spasms are also localized in the stomach area, but not intense. Associated symptoms: bloated abdomen, diarrhea and mucous stools. In general condition there are usually no violations.
Biliary colic. As a rule, the location of pain is the right hypochondrium, but pain can also be felt “in the pit of the stomach.” The development of colic occurs after “fatty and fried foods.” Associated symptoms: pain radiating to the shoulder and/or right shoulder blade, fever, vomiting and a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, the presence of “bitter” belching, etc.
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis. The main area of localization of pain is the lower abdomen, but the stomach area also spasms. Associated symptoms: frequent urge to defecate (up to 10 times a day), mucus and blood in the stool.
Acute pancreatitis. Development occurs after a violation of the diet (diet failure, alcohol) and, as a consequence, a sharp increase in the production of pancreatic juice and clogging of the gland duct with a stone. In this case, there may be very severe pain in the stomach, which radiates to the left (usually) collarbone, back or shoulder blade, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and low-grade fever.
Stomach ulcer. In the case of a peptic ulcer, pain is noted after eating disorders (note: too cold/hot food, spicy and fried food, etc.) - it is very painful and goes away on its own after some time. Associated symptoms include sour belching and heartburn.
Poisoning (intestinal infection). In addition to acute pain in the stomach (and other areas of the abdomen), mucous green stools (note - sometimes streaked with blood), severe general condition, vomiting and fever may be present.

Spasms may also appear in the following cases:

An experience of stress or an event that has significantly disturbed a person. If a person is suspicious and emotional, then in a state of “on an empty stomach” emotions can easily result in spasms. The duration of the attack in this case (and in the absence of hunger) is up to several hours.
Last trimester of pregnancy. As you know, during this period, all the internal organs of the expectant mother are compressed by the uterus, and, in addition to cramps in the stomach, heartburn and flatulence may also be observed after eating.
First trimester of pregnancy. At this stage, pain and spasms can cause a sharp increase in progesterone levels, which, in turn, affects, in addition to the uterus and stomach, the development of toxicosis and stress.

Note:

You should not engage in self-diagnosis! The consequences of thoughtless self-treatment can be disastrous: while you treat your “found” gastritis (which “suits” your symptoms, according to information from the Internet) with potato juice and herbs, you may develop a very real stomach ulcer.

Therefore, do not select symptoms on the Internet, do not self-medicate and immediately go to a specialist. Even serious diseases can be cured as long as they are at an early stage.

What to do for stomach cramps

It is clear that it is almost impossible to see a doctor as soon as the pain begins (unless the pain is so severe that you have to call an ambulance) - you need to make an appointment, wait for your turn, etc.

What to do when the spasms are now, but the doctor is still far away?

Calm down. The more nervous you are, the more your stomach will hurt. This organ is the leader among all organs that suffer from our psychoses and hysterics, because often the causes of such pain are psychosomatic.
Ease the pain. That is, take a certain painkiller. For example, almagel, gastal, spasmalgon, etc.
Restore fluid level to relax muscle fibers that provoke spasms (by the way, ordinary valerian helps many people with spasms). It is better to drink Essentuki without gases or, in the absence of one, a salt solution (per 1 liter of water - 1 tsp of ordinary salt).
Go on a diet urgently. Not on the “buckwheat-kefir” or apple diet, but on the diet that is indicated for patients with gastritis. It’s better not to eat anything at all for now, but to drink sweet tea (maximum dry cookies). The pain that has subsided is not a reason to go back to eating fried meat, soda and a spicy salad from your grandmother’s “sunsets”: change your diet completely!

Diagnosis of stomach diseases – which doctor should I contact?

No matter how much you would like to understand the real cause of spasms, you still cannot without the help of a professional doctor. So go for a consultation to a therapist, neurologist and gastroenterologist.