What Are the Causes of Stomach Pain?

Abdominal pain is a common symptom of many medical conditions. It may be mild to severe and come and go over time.

Your doctor will diagnose the cause of your abdominal pain by asking you about your symptoms and medical history. They will also do a physical exam and order tests, if needed.

1. Stress

If you've ever felt butterflies in your stomach before a presentation at work or right before climbing on the roller coaster, then you know how much stress can affect your gut. Your body's response to stress, known as the "fight-or-flight" response, can lead to abdominal discomfort, nausea, bloating and other digestive problems that aren't normal.

Your brain sends signals to your adrenal glands when you experience a stressor, which cause hormones to be released into the bloodstream, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These chemicals speed up the heart rate and the muscles, help the body prepare to fight or run away from danger and change various autonomic nervous system functions, giving you a burst of energy that's vital to your survival.

However, these hormones can be bad for your health if they remain at high levels over time. They can increase your blood pressure and raise the chances of developing a heart attack or stroke.

Chronic stress also can lead to gastrointestinal conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which may cause you to have altered bowel movements and other symptoms of abdominal pain. If you're experiencing chronic stress, it's important to talk with your doctor and find healthy ways to manage the stress.

For example, if your doctor finds that you often experience stomach pain or GI discomfort, they may refer you to a specialist in gastroenterology, a physician who treats disorders of the digestive tract. You can also talk to your primary care provider if you are experiencing digestive symptoms or warning signs of a potentially serious underlying condition that requires further evaluation and treatment, such as a stomach ulcer.

Fortunately, many stomach conditions aren't caused by stress and can be treated with healthy lifestyle changes. For example, if you have frequent stomach cramps, you can take a relaxation class or meditate. You can also speak to a counselor or therapist about how to cope with stress and anxiety.

2. Food Allergies

Food allergies are a serious health problem that can affect people of all ages. These allergies are caused by the immune system reacting to proteins in foods.

The body's immune system keeps you healthy by stomach pain ka ilaj, viruses, and other dangerous substances that could harm your health. When you have a food allergy, your immune system overreacts to proteins in certain foods, such as peanuts, milk, and eggs.

Symptoms of a food allergy can vary from mild to severe, depending on how sensitive you are to the allergen. Some people can even develop a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis that impairs breathing and causes a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Some food allergies cause immediate reactions, such as hives or vomiting, while others take longer to appear. Delayed reactions may occur up to four hours after ingesting the offending food.

Many food allergies are related to gluten, soy, or lactose, which prevent the body from properly digesting these substances. These symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Other delayed-type food allergies, such as FPIES (food protein-induced enter colitis syndrome), can also cause stomach problems. These can lead to dehydration and hypovolemic shock, which is when low blood volume counts make your heart and lungs work harder than they should.

Stomach pain is often the main symptom of these types of food allergies, but it can also be accompanied by vomiting or other digestive problems. If you have these symptoms more than two hours after eating, it's a good idea to see your doctor for a medical diagnosis.

The best way to avoid a food allergy is to learn what you're allergic to and avoid the offending foods. A dietitian can help you with this, as they'll ensure that you're getting all of the nutrients you need from your diet while avoiding foods you might be allergic to.

3. Heartburn

Heartburn is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. It happens when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, causing pain that may extend to the throat or jaw.

If you have a lot of heartburn or it doesn't go away, see your doctor. Your doctor might order an endoscopy to look at the lining of your esophagus. If the lining is damaged, it can cause inflammation in your throat or mouth, making you feel bad or even make you vomit.

You can help keep heartburn at bay by eating smaller meals, not overeating, avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms and taking over-the-counter medications for GERD. Also, avoid lying down with a full stomach. Raise the head of your bed to help prevent acid from splashing up into your esophagus at night.

A weakened lower esophageal sphincter is another common cause of heartburn. In this condition, the lower esophageal sphincter doesn't close properly when food is in your stomach, so acid leaks up into your esophagus.

This can lead to painful sour taste in your mouth and other symptoms, including chest pain and a burning sensation that worsens when you lie down or bend over. You can also have coughing or hoarseness and feel that food is stuck in your throat.

It's especially common during pregnancy, when the uterus grows and puts pressure on your stomach. If you have frequent heartburn or it's a problem, your doctor might recommend acid-reducing medicines or a surgery.

In addition, if you have extreme stomach pain ka desi ilaj, it's an indication that you have a serious medical problem like GERD, hiatal hernia or esophagitis. It can also mean that your stomach is regurgitating (returning) a large amount of food into your mouth, leading to a sour taste and a loss of appetite.

4. Food Intolerances

If you have stomach pain, your body might be reacting to foods in your diet. These reactions can be caused by a food intolerance or a food allergy.

Food intolerances occur when your digestive system can't break down certain foods properly. These reactions can cause symptoms like bloating, gas and diarrhea.

They're common in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and they can make it hard to enjoy food or avoid certain types of foods. It's important to get a proper diagnosis from your GP.

Often, your doctor will ask you to keep a food diary to help find the culprits. Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe a test to identify which foods your body is intolerant to.

One of the most common foods that causes stomach pain is lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. It can be difficult for the digestive system to process lactose, so it lingers in your intestine and ferments.

Another common intolerance is fructose, a type of sugar found in fruit. This can also cause stomach pain, bloating and diarrhea.

Your GP may recommend a blood test that tests your body's IgG antibody levels against different foods. This is much more efficient than trying to track down which foods are triggering your symptoms.

Food intolerances are very common and affect about 15-20 percent of the population, according to some estimates. But understanding and addressing these conditions can be tricky, given their non-immunological mechanisms and presentation.

5. Digestive Issues

The digestive system is a complicated system of cells, tissues and organs that work together to break down food and help your body get rid of waste. However, problems can occur that disrupt this natural process.

If you’re experiencing stomach pain that hasn’t gone away after a few days, it may be time to visit your doctor. These issues can range from minor to serious, and they can affect your overall health.

Generally, most abdominal pain is caused by a problem with the stomach or intestines. It could be a result of a virus, indigestion, gas or a blockage of the intestines.

It may also be a sign of an underlying medical condition such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, or gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease and gallstones.

Your doctor may need to do a variety of tests to determine the cause of your pain. These tests include blood, stool, urine and imaging tests such as X-rays or CT scans.

If the test results show that your pain is related to a gastrointestinal disease, your doctor will likely prescribe medication. This may be in the form of antacids, acetaminophen or another over-the-counter medicine that reduces stomach acid production and inflammation.

If your doctor suspects a more pait main dard ka ilaj, they can perform an MRI or CT scan to look inside the intestines or other parts of your body. These tests can detect conditions like ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids or a blocked fallopian tube, which might require surgery.