Stomach pain is a very unpleasant thing to deal with. Having stomach pain can be mild but sometimes can cause excruciatingly painful. If you are experiencing stomach pain, there are a few things you need to do. First of all, you should identify the cause of the pain. If there is no obvious reason as to why your stomach hurts, you may need to see a specialist to identify the problem. Keep in mind that we will discuss some of the most common reasons for stomach pain later on in this article. The next thing you will want to do after you have identified the source of your stomach pain is to treat and prevent it.
Sometimes, stomach pain can be easily prevented by making a slight change in diet or other activities. If you are unaware of exactly what is causing your stomach pain, there is no need to worry. There are a handful of natural remedies for an upset stomach which you can find here. So, why exactly does a stomach get upset? Like we said before, there are many different reasons why it can happen. However, it is usually caused by inflammation, distention, or blood loss to the stomach. All in all, you probably want to learn a little about stomach pain if you are having it. Read through the rest of this article to learn more about 8 common causes of stomach pain.
1. Gallstones
According to mayoclinic.org, Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in your gallbladder. While Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand, they can grow to become as large as a golf ball. When Gallstones become a serious problem, and fill up the gallbladder, people usually have to have their gallbladder removed. With that being said, those with Gallstones sometimes experience little to no symptoms and do not need any treatment.
If you find trouble sitting still because the pain is too excruciating to deal with, it is time to see a doctor. Those at a higher risk of developing Gallstones are females, those over 40, those who are pregnant, those who eat a diet containing a lot of fat, those taking medication with estrogen, and those who have liver disease. A few tips for preventing Gallstones are to eat meals regularly, not lose weight too fast, and to maintain a healthy weight. If you have Gallstones, your doctor will tell you that you either have Cholesterol gallstones or Pigment gallstones. Cholesterol gallstones are often yellow in color whereas Pigment gallstones appear more dark or brown.
2. Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is an illness which you get from eating contaminated food. If food is not cooked properly or if it is contained from not being handled correctly, those who eat it can develop food poisoning. If you have sudden abdominal pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fever, you may have food poisoning. If you have developed food poisoning from eating contained food, you may start to feel symptoms within hours of consumption. Sometimes though, it can take up to a week or two for any symptoms to occur. While food poisoning usually resolves itself and is mild, some severe cases can require a visit to the emergency room. The typical case of food poisoning will resolve itself within a day or two.
3. Parasites
Ever thought intestinal parasites could be the cause of stomach pain? At any given time, 1 out of every 3 Americans has intestinal parasites. Scary, right? While this is true, the majority of people have an immune system strong enough to fend off parasites and prevent any symptoms from appearing. There are a few different types of parasites that could infect you.
4. Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis could be another reason that your stomach is upset. Essentially, Pancreatitis occurs when there is inflammation of the Pancreas. Because the stomach is directly in front of the Pancreas, pancreatitis can cause pain to the stomach as well. Pancreatitis can occur in an acute state or a chronic state. This means some cases of Pancreatitis subside after a few days while others can linger on for longer periods of time. Typically, mild cases will resolve on their own but severe cases can be life-threatening and may need special treatment.
5. Side Effects of Medication
Sometimes, abdominal pain can be a side effect of a medication. A lot of medications have the ability to upset your stomach. Upon being prescribed a certain medication, your doctor should inform you about this possible side effect. Other times, stomach pain can be caused by over-the-counter medications. For this reason, it is also important to follow the directions on the bottle of the medication you are taking. Typically, eating food with your medication is a good way to prevent stomach pain or other side effects. However, some medications require that they are taken on an empty stomach.
6. Thyroid Issues
Thyroid Issues are another common cause of stomach pain. Your thyroid is a very important organ in your body and every single cell you have depends on your thyroid for one reason or another. The hormones produced by the thyroid are responsible for things like metabolism and digestive function. If you are experiencing stomach pain accompanied by constipation or diarrhea, it may be a direct result of thyroid issues. In order to know whether or not this is the root of your problems, your doctor should test your blood and examine the levels related to the function of the thyroid. If your levels are off, you may need to have treatment in order to fix it.
7. Stress
Believe it or not, stress is another common cause of stomach pain. Ever noticed that you get butterflies in your stomach when you are nervous about a certain situation? This is because stress and anxiety can directly affect your stomach. When you are anxious, it puts a great deal of tension on the abdomen muscles. This can cause pain and discomfort. Also, stress affects the hormones responsible for digestion. This is why some people who are having stress-related stomach pain will experience indigestion. When your body no longer digests foods properly, it can lead to something called irritable bowel syndrome. If you think that you are having stress-related stomach pain, take steps to reduce your stress levels and see if things get better.
8. Ulcers
Ulcers may be another reason that you are experiencing stomach pain. Ulcers are essentially sores that develop on the inside of the stomach lining. Stomach ulcers are usually caused by an infection of the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. Other times, ulcers can be a direct result of taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) too often or on an empty stomach. Avoid using things like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen in excess. Those suffering from ulcers will have a dull pain in their stomach accompanied by nausea or vomiting, weight loss, heartburn, and sometimes a lack of desire to eat because of the pain.
