Stomach pain is a very common condition in general society. Learn to address it in the following lines, both with drugs and home remedies.
Acute abdominal pain (AAP) accounts for 10% of emergency room visits in the United States. According to population studies, the average age of presentation of this annoying clinical sign is 49 years, and the five main causes of its appearance are the following: nonspecific pain (NSAP), renal colic, cholecystitis, diverticulitis and appendicitis. Interestingly, up to 31% of patients do not have a specific cause that explains the discomfort.
“Abdominal pain” is any pain between the chest and groin, regardless of its nature and duration. The aorta, kidneys, spleen, pancreas and virtually all sections of the digestive tract are located in this part of the trunk, so what we believe is “stomach pain” sometimes corresponds to affectations in other areas that have little to do with it.
For this reason and many others, today we present 8 remedies for stomach pain from a multifactorial point of view: we will not only take into account the upset stomach, but those pains that can be confused with a stomach when they really are not. Thus, we maximize the chances that you will find the right treatment. Don’t miss it!
- We recommend you read: “The 15 best foods to combat heartburn”
What are the best treatments for stomach pain?
Although natural solutions can be of great help at certain times, sometimes they are not enough to alleviate a clinical picture. Therefore, we combine a series of pharmacological treatments with homemade approaches, depending on the disease to be addressed. Let’s get to it.
1. Antibiotics forHelicobacter pylori
Peptic ulcers are gastroduodenal entities that are characterized by an open sore form in the lining of the stomach or intestine. They affect almost 100 out of every 1000 people, so we are not exaggerating to say thatit is probably one of the main causes of chronic stomach pain.
The pain of a peptic ulcer occurs mainly in the abdominal area, in the morning and when the stomach is empty. Interestingly, havingH. pyloribacteria in the gastrointestinal tract dramatically increases the chances of suffering an ulcer, as it generates prolonged tissue damage. Therefore, to prevent the progression of the disease, in many cases treatments with more than one antibiotic are necessary simultaneously to kill these microorganisms.
2. Antiflatulent drugs
One of the most common causes of abdominal (“stomach”) pain in healthy people is flatulence. Gases are normally formed in the digestion processes of the digestive tract, but if these are not eliminated correctly, they can cause abdominal distension, cramps, inflammation and a kind of diffuse cramps.
Some compounds such as simethicone (DCI) help a lot with these symptoms. This chemical decreases the surface tension of gas bubbles, which causes larger, easier-to-expel air nuclei to form. These medications do not prevent gas from appearing, but they do facilitate their expulsion. The classic example of antiflatulent based on this premise is the Aero-red.
3. Gastroesophageal Reflux Medications (H2 Blockers)
Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when the food bolus rises from the stomach into the esophagus due to lack of functionality in the lower esophageal sphincter (it does not contract properly when it should). Heartburn (burning in the center of the abdomen) is the most common symptom, but sometimes it is also accompanied by a marked stomach pain.
H2 blockers aredrugs that block the action of histamine on stomach cells, leading to a reduction in acid production in gastric juices. These medications can be very helpful in addressing stomach pains caused by reflux-related conditions.
4. Antacids
Heartburn is common, but it can be treated with over-the-counter medications preventively after an especially heavy, spiced and/or spicy meal. To prevent stomach pain from heartburn, antacid drugs alkalize the stomach, increasing the pH of its fluids. Sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate are some of the most common antacids in today’s society.
5. Don’t eat too much at night or before you go to sleep
Not all treatments for stomach pain are pharmacological, as there are certain behavioral guidelines that can help you reduce it. Stomach heaviness is a very common cause of abdominal discomfort, especially when the patient eats only one important and copious meal a day, distributing the rest of the food in small doses due to the burden of routine.
If this is done at night, even worse. Digestion becomes excessively slow at this time and, in addition, when lying down, the symptoms of heartburn can be aggravated. Therefore, eating a lot at night before going to bed is one of the main enemies of stomach well-being and adequate rest.
6. Eat in several shots
Dyspepsia, also called indigestion or empacho, is usually idiopathic in nature and has no specific attributable cause. Dyspepsia affects 21%of people in the world at any given time or place, so we do not hesitate to say that it is the first cause of intermittent stomach pain on the planet, at least in industrialized countries.
Dyspepsia without obvious cause can be tackled with a series of care at home, while if it is caused by a specific disease, it is time to go to the doctor. Dividing meals in several doses (5 instead of 3) can help combat the feeling of fullness and discomfort, because the stomach works more steadily over time and does not have to metabolize large amounts of food in a single sitting.
7. Anti-gastritis drugs (PPIs)
Gastritis encompasses a number of different entities that have a common point: inflammation of the stomach lining. The most common symptom is pain and/or burning in the stomach mouth, nausea, unwarranted feeling of fullness and even vomiting for no apparent reason.
Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medications are an excellent option for treating gastritis. PPIs work by blocking acid production in the stomach but, unlike H2 blockers, they do not act by inhibiting histamine’s interaction with stomach cells.
In general, proton pump inhibitors are sold freely or by prescriptionunder trade names ending in “zol,” such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole and other prazoles. They are not without risk, so every patient should consult when to consume them and if it is appropriate in their specific case.
8. Medications for constipation
The prevalence of constipation in adults ranges from 16% to 35%, depending on the age, sex and condition of the patient. Therefore, it is also a very important reason for stomach and abdominal pain, especially located in the rectum and pelvic area.
Laxatives are used to tackle this annoying clinical picture, and can be natural compounds of plant nature or drugs designed to soften the stool so that they can be easily excreted. Intestinal motility stimulants are also often prescribed to promote intestinal unclogging, such as correctol, dulcolax and others.
Summary
In short, stomach pain may be due to a condition located in the stomach itself or to discomfort at the level of the intestines and / or esophagus. We have included these conditions in a single clinical entity (abdominal pain) because, for the patient, it is often impossible to elucidate what is hurting specifically without the help of a medical professional.
Anyway, we emphasize a specific idea in which we have already influenced in previous lines: if your pain is chronic and disabling, an over-the-counter antacid, not eating too much at night or eating in several doses will not help you much. Various clinical entities at the stomach level (such as intolerances, ulcers or cancers) require a proper diagnosis and a single treatment, so it is not enough to make changes in the routine.
Understanding this idea and losing your fear of diagnosis is essential to addressing a disease in time. Several informative portals offer home remedies to symptoms that should be treated in all cases by a doctor, as they may indicate an underlying pathology. If your stomach pain lasts for more than two weeks, you have blood in your stool, lose weight unintentionally or vomit regularly, do not read more tips on the internet and go to the doctor quickly.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
