Pain in the stomach can be triggered by a variety of diseases and disorders in the body. Often they do not talk about the nature of the clinical picture. To make a diagnosis, it is imperative to determine the features and characteristics of pain, as well as take into account the accompanying symptoms.
If pains in the stomach area recur quite often, you need to visit a doctor to make a diagnosis and determine the method of therapy. Do not self-medicate.
Types of pain
When pain occurs in the stomach area, it is imperative to identify the relationship of discomfort with food intake. In particular, doctors distinguish such types of pain as:
- early;
- late;
- hungry.
Early pain occurs literally 1-2 hours after eating. They last long enough and are uniform. Discomfort disappears only after the food has passed the main stage of digestion. These types of pain can be with an ulcer, inflammation of the stomach, polyposis.
Laterpains are shown in 1, 5-3 hours after food. They grow gradually, and then appear very sharply. Cramps are possible, the stomach seems to be compressed. Pain in the stomach after eating mainly occurs with malignant tumors, duodenitis, gastritis with a high level of acidity, progressive pancreatitis, cholelithiasis.
Hunger pains, which can also occur at night, are severe. In the region of the stomach it prickles, aching. Pain in the stomach area at night ceases to disturb the patient after eating a small amount of food. In some cases, just drinking tea is enough. Such painful manifestations are more characteristic of ulcers and pre-ulcerative conditions.
It is important to consider the type of food you eat. In particular, if the pain appears after eating fatty foods, then this may be a sign of the presence of diseases with the gallbladder.
Character of pain
To make a correct diagnosis when pain occurs in the stomach area, it is important to consider the nature of the discomfort. Intense painful manifestations are characteristic of:
- gastritis;
- pancreatitis;
- ulcers.
Deaf and aching pains are mainly associated with hypertrophic disorders, as well as hypoacid inflammations. Painful manifestations of gastritis are often accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen. Ulcer pains are additionally given to the left side of the chest and back, therefore, many confuse them with heart pain. Wavy colic may indicate bowel problems.
It is worth noting that the pain is associated with the process of digestion. If athere is no reason to suspect an ulcer, gastritis or colitis, then you should not contact a gastroenterologist, but a general practitioner. The cause of severe discomfort may be diseases of the gallbladder or liver. It is also possible that pain can occur with kidney disease, pathologies of the cardiovascular system, or provoked by a nervous shock.
Causes of occurrence
Causes of pain in the stomach area can be very different, and it all depends on the localization of painful manifestations, as well as their nature. The most common causes are considered to be:
- ulcer;
- gastritis;
- presence of polyps;
- malignant neoplasms;
- abdominal trauma injury;
- mucosal damage due to food poisoning;
- strong stress;
- intolerance to certain foods;
- mucosal injury.
Painful manifestations can be due to many other reasons. These include such as cholecystitis, colitis. Often pain occurs due to gastritis. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the gastric mucosa against the background of exposure to certain irritating factors. Quite often it has an infectious nature. In the chronic course of the disease, there may be atrophy of the mucosa. Among the provoking factors, it is worth highlighting such as:
- alcohol abuse, smoking;
- consumption of spicy and fatty foods;
- infection with Helicobacter bacteria;
- uncontrolled use of certain drugs.
Symptoms of the disease can be very different, however, the main one is discomfort in the stomach. The pain syndrome can be constant or paroxysmal.
Sharp pain associated with eating may be associated with an ulcer. It mostly proceeds in a chronic form. Painful manifestations are most pronounced during the period of exacerbation. An ulcer can form due to the presence of endocrine diseases, gastritis, due to stress, as well as taking certain medications. Symptoms are almost the same as with gastritis. With an ulcer, pain in the stomach, contractions occur immediately after eating. There is a seasonal aggravation.
If there are pains in the stomach, then the reasons for this may be hidden in the presence of malignant neoplasms. The danger of this lies in the fact that for a long time the pathology may not manifest itself at all. In the later stages, the tumor can metastasize, which leads to the death of the patient.
Sharp stomach pains can be a sign of food poisoning. It is characterized by the fact that it develops when eating low-quality food containing bacteria, their decay products, as well as various kinds of toxic compounds.
Pain in the epigastric region may be a sign of duodenitis. This is the most common pathology of the duodenum. Quite often, this disease is combined with gastritis and enteritis.
If there is pain in the stomach area on the left side, then this may be a sign of pancreatitis. Due to the lack of enzymes in humans, there isnausea, dyspeptic disorders, bloating. Pain may be caused by spasm of the diaphragm, which occurs when there is a lack of oxygen or poor circulation. In this case, there may be an attack of acute pain.
In case of inflammation of the gallbladder, pain periodically occurs in the region of the stomach on the right. Mostly discomfort is observed after eating. As a result, a full stomach presses on the gallbladder, causing pain.
Pregnancy pain
If there are pains in the stomach area during pregnancy, then the reason for this largely depends on the period of gestation. In the first trimester, a woman may experience toxicosis, which provokes the occurrence of painful manifestations. In the last months, there is also a squeezing pain in the stomach. This is due to the growth of the uterus, which puts pressure on the internal organs, in particular the stomach.
To somewhat reduce discomfort, you need to adhere to fractional nutrition, as well as exclude harmful foods. After eating, it is advisable to take a short walk in the fresh air. If the pain recurs very often, you need to consult a doctor regarding the specifics of the treatment.
Main symptoms
Often, painful manifestations are spastic in nature. In addition, during the course of certain diseases that provoke the occurrence of pain, additional signs may be observed, in particular, such as:
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- vomit;
- increasetemperature;
- fever.
Often, when you press on the stomach and when moving, the pain is somewhat intensified. In some cases, there may be additional signs of intoxication. When the first signs appear, you should definitely visit a doctor.
Diagnostics
Causes of pain in the stomach can be very different. However, if a person is no longer worried about anything, it means that his body is functioning normally. If there are additional signs, then it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. In particular, methods such as:
- sounding;
- ultrasound diagnostics;
- x-ray.
In addition, it may be necessary to analyze the gastric juice for the level of hydrochloric acid. To determine the cause of pain, the doctor asks questions about the time of pain, the frequency of use of medications. It is also important to determine the period of discomfort.
If colitis is suspected, a colonoscopy is indicated. A biopsy is required to rule out the possibility of a tumor.
When to call an ambulance
In some cases, an ambulance is required. In particular, you need to call an ambulance when, in addition to pain and heaviness in the abdominal cavity, spasms periodically occur, which leads to its hardening. It is also important to urgently consult a doctor in case of food poisoning, and if painful manifestationssigns of intoxication are additionally added.
If there is squeezing of the stomach after eating, then this may be in case of malnutrition. It is strictly forbidden to drink food eaten with cold water or carbonated drinks. In addition, food must be thoroughly chewed.
Features of treatment
If a person has a stomach ache, it is strictly forbidden to take pills on their own. Even an experienced doctor can not immediately prescribe treatment, since a diagnosis must first be made. In the event of an intense pain syndrome, you need to urgently call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, it is strictly forbidden to take painkillers and antispasmodics. However, to reduce discomfort, the patient needs to lie on their side and bend their knees. You can apply a cold compress to the abdomen.
Antacids can be taken for heartburn. Their effect is aimed at reducing the level of acidity. Medicines such as Almagel, Omeprazole, Maalox will help. When using them, it is important to follow the instructions and dosage. However, the problem is not always hidden in an increase in acidity, therefore, in some cases, such remedies may be powerless.
In the treatment of gastritis with high acidity, it is recommended to use drugs such as:
- "Almagel";
- Mezim;
- Omez.
Mezim helps improve digestion. This remedy helps to eliminate symptoms such as pain andheaviness in the stomach. In the presence of pain, it is recommended to take 1-2 tablets. The drug "Almagel" has enveloping qualities, and also neutralizes the effect of hydrochloric acid. This remedy is recommended for severe paroxysmal pain. If the Helicobacter pylori bacterium has been detected, antibiotics should also be additionally used, in particular, such as Metronidazole.
With pancreatitis, the treatment of pain in the stomach area is carried out with the help of antispasmodics, diuretics. You also need to apply cold on the stomach, temporary fasting and infusion therapy are indicated.
In case of purulent pancreatitis, therapy includes taking antibiotics. If vomiting is observed, then the drug "Metoclopramide" is used. With the development of necrosis and peritonitis, an operation is indicated.
The chronic form of pancreatitis implies a diet, as well as taking enzyme preparations, for example, such as Pancreatin, Panzinorm, Mezim. In case of a malignant tumor of the stomach, an operation is indicated, namely, resection of the organ or its removal. It is worth noting that in the presence of pain in the stomach area, drugs and their dosage should be prescribed only by the attending doctor. Self-medication can be very dangerous and there is a risk of complications.
Folk remedies
If your stomach hurts, what to do at home? This question is of interest to so many patients, since there are several folk recipes that can reduce painful manifestations. A good, but fairly simple remedy for the treatment of gastritis andelimination of hyperacidity is potato juice. To do this, peel the potatoes, then grate, squeeze the juice. Warm it up a little to keep it warm and then take it every morning after waking up.
To accelerate the regenerative processes in damaged tissues and normalize immunity, you need to take aloe juice mixed with honey. A decoction of dandelion will help eliminate painful manifestations and soothe the mucous membrane. To do this, pour dry leaves of the plant with boiling water, insist and strain. Take this remedy one hour before eating.
When there is a very sharp pain, mint tea will help. To prepare it, you will need pre-brewed green tea. Then brew mint in another container. When the broth is infused, it must be mixed with tea. Lemon juice and honey can be added to taste. This drink helps to normalize digestion and eliminate nausea. If the stomach hurts, what to do at home should only be recommended by the attending doctor, as some remedies may have contraindications.
Prophylaxis
As a preventive measure for the occurrence of pain in the stomach, in the presence of chronic diseases, it is imperative to follow the doctor's recommendations. In addition, it is important to follow a diet, lead an active lifestyle.
If you experience pain, be sure to immediately visit a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
