Stomach Pain – Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Stomach pain is popularly known as all pain that is in the upper or lower abdomen and, in the case of women, does not originate in the uterus. Stomach pain alone is usually not an independent disease, but a symptom of a problem in the area of ​​​​the stomach and nearby organs.

However, there are times when stomach pain is a sign of mental health problems, so in these cases it is treated as a medical condition before the root problem is resolved. Stomach pain can be divided into physical and psychological forms.

causes

Stomach acid is often responsible for the symptoms and has changed its composition for a short time, or the stomach has developed a temporary sensitive area where the gastric acid causes pain.Stomach pain is a very common symptom for a wide variety of diseases and is therefore considered to be very non-specific – for the diagnosis, attention is paid to other symptoms that accompany them.

Psychologically caused stomach pains are mostly stress-related. For example, they occur just before a stressful, exciting, or important event, and sometimes even make it impossible to carry out everyday duties.

Not only physical, but also psychological stomach pain can degenerate into extreme pain, which one would rather attribute to a serious illness.

Stomach pain can also be caused by spoiled food, an infection not only in the gastrointestinal tract, taking a medication with side effects or, in the worst case, even ulcers or cancer.

When to the doctor?

Stomach pain can have organic and psychosomatic causes. In both cases, a doctor should be consulted as soon as the pain persists for several days or weeks. Stomach pain is a common sign of infection or inflammation. The germs usually trigger other symptoms such as diarrhea, fever , vomiting or nausea. A doctor should be consulted so that the viruses and bacteria cannot spread further in the organism or infect other people.

An ulcer or tumor in the stomach often causes pain. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted as soon as the pain increases in intensity or additional cramps occur. If the stomach pain occurs after eating, it is often a question of food intolerance . In cooperation with a doctor, the triggering substances can be determined.

Psychosomatic causes are often based on a level of suffering that the affected person feels exposed to. In therapy, he gets the help he needs to improve his symptoms. In addition to stress and stressful experiences, missed opportunities in life can also lead to stomach pain. Unprocessed events or deep grief trigger the pain in many people. Those affected receive the necessary help from a doctor in order to achieve an improvement in their situation and to achieve a cure for the stomach pain.

diagnosis and course

Stomach pain can manifest itself in different ways. It can be stabbing, pressing or pulling pain, but also intermittent cramps. Those affected often complain of discomfort in the upper left abdominal region. If stomach pain occurs with other accompanying symptoms, such as diarrhea , vomiting , constipation , etc., a doctor should be consulted.

Stomach pain can indicate a whole range of causes. When making the diagnosis, the doctor first tries to fathom the nature of the symptoms. The following questions might help:

• When did the symptoms first appear?

• How and where exactly does the pain manifest itself?

• How often does the pain occur?

• Are there any situations or circumstances (heavy eating, stress) that cause the stomach pain?

The doctor is also interested in whether there are previous illnesses and what medications are being taken. Questions about general living and eating habits can also provide important information.

Various medical examinations can be used for further diagnosis. In addition to a blood test , this also includes imaging procedures such as ultrasound or gastroscopy ( gastroscopy ).

complications

Stomach pain does not necessarily have to lead to a medical complication or to an aggravated course. In most cases, stomach pain is an upset stomach that only occurs for a very short time and disappears on its own within a few hours or days. However, if the stomach pain lasts longer and is very painful, a doctor must be consulted. If, in addition to the stomach pain, the patient also feels diarrhea and nausea, it is an infection in the gastrointestinal tract. This infection does not necessarily have to be treated by a doctor, but the treatment can be supported with medical preparations. Only rarely does an infection develop into an inflammation. Here the stomach should be spared and the patient must drink a lot of liquid.

Stomach pain can also indicate an intolerance, such as that of milk or fructose. A simple test can be carried out by a doctor here. If the intolerance is ignored, it can worsen, making the patent’s stomach ache unbearable. Stomach pain is common in women during pregnancy, but only in the first few weeks. If the stomach pain occurs later, it is imperative that you see a doctor, as this may be due to an infection.

treatment and therapy

Stomach pain is first treated by finding the exact cause. Drops that reduce the effects of stomach acid and ensure that it no longer attacks potentially sensitive parts of the stomach can be used to temporarily stop the symptoms.

In the long term, however, the cure consists in eliminating the underlying cause. For example, if it is cancer or an ulcer , the symptoms improve as soon as it is removed; however, this is followed by further therapy.

Infectious diseases are usually treated with antibiotics , depending on the disease also with other drugs – the stomach pain disappears when the microbes die off in the body. Depending on the trigger, you have to reckon with a gastroscopy for the treatment, since all the causes have to be clarified and you would not necessarily be able to detect them with an ultrasound.

The treatment of psychologically based problems, on the other hand, becomes more difficult. Painkillers are a short-term solution, but in the long term you need the help of a professional who also understands psychosomatics.

outlook and prognosis

It is not possible to give a general prognosis for stomach pain. The chances of recovery are closely related to the underlying disease. Bacterial or viral diseases usually heal completely within a few days or weeks. The path to recovery is further shortened with drug treatment. If an unhealthy lifestyle is the trigger for the symptoms, a cure can be achieved by changing the causes.

In the case of a tissue disease, a surgical intervention with subsequent aftercare is often necessary. Curing cancer depends on the stage of the disease. The sooner cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances of recovery. A full recovery is usually possible after an operation and follow-up treatment. The same applies to an ulcer. If a tumor is discovered very late, there is a risk that the cancer cells will have spread throughout the body and other organs will be affected.

In severe cases, there is a danger to life or a fatal course can no longer be stopped with the current medical possibilities. Psychosomatic causes of stomach pain are considered to be particularly lengthy and difficult. Since the symptoms of the complaints include the insight into the illness, it is usually only after years and many examinations that a corresponding diagnosis is made. If the affected person seeks help, there is a good chance of recovery. A full recovery is also possible.

prevention

The best way to prevent stomach pain is to watch out for spoiled food and practice effective hand hygiene. As a result, no pathogens get into the body and you can know you are protected from infectious diseases and bad food.Anyone who has a tendency to psychosomatic stomach pain should definitely seek therapy and can preventively remedy the situation by not exposing themselves to the most stressful situations if possible.

Personal problems in particular can often be solved, so that at least the incentive for the pain can disappear. This does not make the therapy unnecessary, but it effectively prevents stomach problems from occurring again and again and increases your own well-being.