Abdominal pain is often the result of stress, because our digestive tract has its own nervous system that works with the brain. Experts do not recommend classic painkillers because they can irritate the stomach and intestines, even leading to peptic ulcer disease, damage to the mucosa and serious bleeding. We can alleviate these ailments more safely with the use of diastolic medications.
How and why abdominal cramps arise and how can we eliminate these ailments – explains Dr. Karolina Radwan, gastroenterologist.
Medonet: Is abdominal pain a common condition?
Dr. Karolina Radwan: Abdominal pain is one of the most common ailments in both adults and children. Probably everyone in his life has experienced them more than once. It is estimated that abdominal pain can affect up to 60% of people in a year. people, in a lifetime this percentage would probably reach 100 percent.
Pain from a biological point of view can be a beneficial phenomenon because they constitute a kind of alarm signaling a disturbance of the balance in our body. Their appearance usually forces us to look for the cause, i.e. the underlying disease or abnormality.
Why can stress and nervousness cause stomach ache?
The digestive tract is equipped with a nervous system that works closely with the brain. The intestinal microflora also exerts a huge influence on their operation. Stress can interfere with the transmission of regulatory signals from the brain to the gut and from the gut to the brain. Chronic exposure to stress promotes the development of chronic abdominal pain in the mechanism of the so-called visceral hypersensitivity, i.e. excessive sensitivity to stimuli that are not normally perceived as pain.
There is also a growing body of data showing the detrimental effect of stress on the composition of the gut microbiome. As a consequence, disturbed microflora may also contribute to the development of abdominal pain. Stress, therefore, should be treated as a kind of “toxin” impairing the function of our intestinal visceral brain.
What are functional abdominal pain?
Very common causes of abdominal pain are the so-called functional disorders, i.e. those resulting from the abnormal contraction and transport function of the gastrointestinal tract, and not from its direct damage. It is usually associated with abnormalities in communication between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract.
The central nervous system improperly stimulates the digestive system and, as a consequence, excessive, uncoordinated contractions of the stomach or intestines occur, which are felt as pain, sometimes of very high intensity, even though the disease or organ damage is not objectively identified and the diagnostic test results are normal .
It is estimated that functional abdominal pain may occur in up to 20-30% of patients. people in the world. They are therefore very common. They are not life threatening or lead to serious complications, but they significantly disturb and impair the quality of everyday life. The role of the doctor is meticulous diagnosis and determination of the underlying problem. The prognosis and the procedure depend on it.
How can I help myself with stress-induced abdominal pain?
In disorders of the gastrointestinal tract of a psychological basis, the cooperation of the patient with the doctor is important. Being able to talk and explain the nature of your discomfort can alleviate it. The exclusion of other diseases as the cause of abdominal pain often brings many of the patient’s fears off by itself.
Lifestyle modification also plays a significant role. Regular consumption of light, small-volume meals, and taking care of easy eating without haste are an equally important element of the therapy. Some combinations of herbs based on chamomile, lemon balm, milk thistle and others are helpful. In many situations, reliable psychotherapy, e.g. behavioral and cognitive psychotherapy, brings good results.
In relieving such abdominal pain, drugs are used to relax and regulate the motility of the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes it is necessary to implement drugs modulating the nervous system and reducing visceral hypersensitivity.
We most often associate contractions with calves, because that’s where they catch us most often. Why do we also feel abdominal pain as a twist, spasm, squeezing?
Unlike the striated muscles, whose contractions are dependent on our will, e.g. the muscles of the lower limbs, the work of the abdominal smooth muscles takes place beyond our consciousness and regardless of the will.
The contraction or stretching of the smooth muscles or the bags surrounding internal organs can irritate special receptors – “sensors” in the gut, bladder, bile ducts and uterus. As a consequence, it leads to the feeling of recurring pains, sometimes referred to as colic.
How do the diastolic drugs work? How are they different from painkillers? When should you use them?
Some reliever medications are available over the counter, others require a doctor’s prescription. These substances affect smooth muscles causing them to relax, which reduces or ceases contraction. Classic painkillers, such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, doklofenac inhibit the production of substances secreted in the focus of pain – the so-called prostaglandins.
Prostaglandins can increase the feeling of pain, they also have the effect of intensifying contractions and the development of inflammation. Unfortunately, these drugs also reduce the levels of “good” prostaglandins that protect the stomach, intestines and other organs. For this reason, they often cause adverse effects in the gastrointestinal tract and other organs, leading to damage, sometimes serious, such as gastrointestinal bleeding.
In most abdominal pain, diastolic drugs are much more effective. Their use in these indications is also supported by the safety of treatment, fewer side effects and a generally better balance of potential risk and therapy effectiveness. However, if these medications do not work, the pain gets worse, or frequently recurs for no apparent reason, medical advice should be sought.
Irritable bowel syndrome may be the cause of abdominal pain. How can you relieve these ailments?
Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain. It is estimated that every third person may suffer from abdominal pain of this origin. They are often accompanied by disturbances in the rhythm of bowel movements – diarrhea or constipation, and sometimes flatulence. Pain in this condition goes away or alleviates after passing stools. It does not occur at night when you are resting and does not wake you up from sleep.
The direct cause of this disease is unknown, but an important role is played by intestinal motility disorders, brain-intestine alleviation, intestinal hypersensitivity to stimuli, disorders of the intestinal microflora or a history of intestinal infection. Often, psychological disorders significantly affect the abnormal functioning of the digestive tract and aggravate symptoms.
In the case of abdominal pain caused by this condition, diastolic medications can also relieve these discomforts. A diet low in FODMAP foods, i.e. containing fructose (fruit, honey, sweets), lactose (dairy products), fructans (wheat, garlic, onions), galactans (legumes) and polyols (including xylitol) can also be effective. .
It is also important to develop healthy eating habits such as regular, heavy meals. Avoiding rush and eating food on the run also has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract. You should take care of the right balance between work and rest, an adequate amount of sleep and regular physical activity. The use of relaxation techniques for many people also helps to alleviate ailments.
Almost every woman experiences abdominal pain every month during her period. Can diastolic medications be helpful then?
Yes. Menstruation is a very common cause of lower abdominal pain in women. The discomfort usually starts to build up as early as 1-2 days before the bleeding occurs. It is the result of a hormonal storm in the course of the sexual cycle. The level of prostaglandins, i.e. substances that cause intense contractions and exfoliation of the uterine mucosa, increases rapidly.
They also lower the pain sensitivity threshold. It happens, however, that dysmenorrhea is the result of medical conditions, e.g. endometriosis, uterine developmental anomalies. In case of doubts and high pain intensity, a medical consultation is necessary.
What are the most common other causes of stomach pain?
Abdominal pain can also be a symptom of a number of diseases of other organs, e.g. myocardial infarction, lung diseases or rib fractures. In this way, neglected diabetes, porphyria, shingles, abdominal migraine, poisoning and blood vessel diseases can also manifest. More often, however, soreness in this localization is an expression of pathology of the digestive, urinary, genital tract and the osteoarticular system.
The most common causes are inflammatory diseases of the abdominal organs, e.g. gastroenteritis, cholecystitis, appendicitis, diverticulitis, cystitis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer disease. Conditions of intestinal obstruction or perforation (perforation) are the serious causes of abdominal pain, usually requiring surgery.
What pain requires immediate medical attention?
Abdominal pain in general should never be underestimated. It is necessary to contact a doctor in situations where the abdominal pain is very intense, appears suddenly and increases, does not disappear under the influence of standard antispasmodics, wakes up at night or is accompanied by other alarm symptoms such as vomiting, fever, gas and stool retention. , gastrointestinal bleeding (e.g. fresh blood in stools or so-called tarry stools), significant unexplained weight loss, yellowing of the skin, chest pain.
If you suspect an acute abdominal disease, such as appendicitis, you should go to the hospital immediately.