The worst headaches are stomach aches. You can be completely fine one second and then find yourself immobile on the couch, curled up. You might be searching for a quick fix for a stomach ache due to common symptoms including bloating, gas, and nausea. While it may seem like there are universal treatments for abdominal pain, what you actually need to get rid of it depends on what is causing it in the first place.
For informational purposes, stomach aches can happen whenever the stomach lining is irritated, according to Henry Herrera, MD, a gastroenterologist at DHR Health Gastroenterology in Texas. There are several factors that could contribute to abdominal discomforts, like overindulging in sweets (hello, Girl Scout cookies), drinking too many cocktails during happy hour, or indulging in too many spicy foods.
You should be aware that some of the online cures you found might not work and might even make you feel worse before searching for the closest treatment you could discover. For instance, ginger ale’s bubbles and sugar can help the germs that are making you sick, so try ginger tea instead. You should also stop drinking lemon water.
How long is a stomach ache likely to last?
Usually, stomach pain only lasts for one to two hours. Additionally, they usually go away on their own. However, according to Leila Kia, MD, a gastroenterologist at Northwestern Medicine, how long it lasts is not necessarily a good sign of whether it is benign or something more problematic.
She adds that additional criteria must be taken into account, including the type, location, and intensity of the pain as well as any accompanying symptoms. In determining the reasonableness of a stomach ache, it’s vital to consider the timing of the discomfort, its relationship to meals or specific foods, a patient’s medication history, and other health issues.
Check with your doctor immediately if the pain does not go away after using over-the-counter medications, keeps you up at night, or causes weight loss, blood in your stool, vomiting, or fevers.
Natural Remedies For Stomach Aches
Do you have a stomach ache but don’t know how to treat it properly? Try one of these cures.
1. Give it some time
If you wait a little while, mild stomach aches may go away on their own. This holds true if you have diarrhea, which may be a sign of mild food poisoning.
While this can absolutely occur at your local sushi bar, it also happens a lot when people visit abroad. This is due to the fact that your body must become used to the new germs in the food and water you are consuming while you are away from home.
The best course of action in these circumstances is to exercise patience. According to Amit Bhan, MD, a gastroenterologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, “you need to let your body flush itself.”
2. If you experience cramps, take ibuprofen
You might anticipate pain when your period comes, but what about nausea, a stomach ache, and diarrhea? According to Nancy Cussler, MD, an ob-gyn and the director of system quality for obstetrics at University Hospital in Ohio, it’s actually rather common for your entire abdominal region to go berserk when you’re menstruation.
She claims that hormones cause cramps by causing the uterine muscle to spasm. Around the time of your period, stomach pains that result in an upset stomach or diarrhea are totally typical.
Ibuprofen should be taken 12 to 24 hours before the start of your period to relieve cramps, advises Dr. Cossler. After that, for three days, take the recommended dosage every three to six hours.
3. Eat yogurt
Yogurt might help keep your digestive system in good condition if you frequently have stomach problems like bloating.
Bloating is typically not a serious cause for concern, despite being uncomfortable. David C. Metz, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, advises, “Don’t worry too much.” It can be caused by anything, including menstruation and constipation.
Try consuming yogurt with “live and active cultures” (look for this word on the label), which can help regulate your digestive system, as long as you’ve ruled out lactose sensitivity.
4. Drink milk
Sometimes stomach pains can cause other symptoms, such as heartburn, an esophageal irritation that causes tightness, or a burning sensation when stomach contents are driven back up into the esophagus.
Milk is a natural cure that you already have. Dr. Jeffry A. Katz, a gastroenterologist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, says he drinks milk when he experiences heartburn. Milk balances the stomach’s acid production.
5. Avoid eating spicy foods
Acid reflux is frequently brought on by eating spicy foods right before night, eating too much or too quickly, smoking, and drinking excessively. But almost anything can give you a stomachache and a burning sensation.
As you’re lying down at night, this syndrome frequently strikes, according to Minh Nguyen, MD, a gastroenterologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Acid from the stomach moves to the esophagus and throat, resulting in heartburn, a sore throat, and coughing fits.
Prescription medication or over-the-counter antacids like Prilosec are suggested by Dr. Nguyen. Cut back on the known triggers instead if you don’t want to rely on medicines.
6. Make yourself some ginger tea
You might find a quick fix in your kitchen. A long history of beneficial use of the ginger root as a stomach problem remedy exists.
The exact reason ginger aids in digestion is unknown, however, some claim it has the ability to hasten the rate at which food enters the small intestine from the stomach.
The associate professor of gastroenterology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Charlene Prather, MD, explains that when she feels queasy after overeating food, she will drink ginger tea to settle her stomach. “I just shred fresh ginger in water, add a little honey, and it takes care of it,” the maker said.
7. Increase your fiber consumption
It’s a common misconception that having healthy bowels requires going to the bathroom three times every day. The reality? Everyone craps, but not everyone does so frequently.
However, according to Irwin Grosman, MD, the associate chairman of gastroenterology at NYP Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, constipation is fairly typical in women. He continues, “There is a belief that women take longer to digest and remove food due to hormonal differences between men and women.
The bottom line: Don’t worry if you don’t go every day. Add more fiber to your diet if you’re having bloating or gas in addition to other constipation symptoms. extra beans, nutritious grains, and fruits and veggies on your plate to jump-start your
8. Get more exercise
Constipation can occasionally result from inactivity. Try to get 30 minutes of activity every day, and stay hydrated. Try using a moderate over-the-counter fiber supplement like Metamucil if none of that works to keep things going.
9. Avoid vegetables that cause gas
Vegetables may be to blame if you have an upset stomach and green poop. “Our diet’s vegetable intake typically causes green stools.” “In this situation, avoiding big gas-producing veggies like asparagus, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts can usually relieve stomach discomfort,” Dr. Herrera explains. Reduce your intake of food till you feel better.
10. Drink water
You might get a little pinch of pain in your side when you run, or really when you exercise in any way. Usually, dehydration or eating too much right before your sweat workout causes that musculoskeletal ache.
Drink away. And the next time, Dr. Knotts advises giving yourself some time to digest before you start exercising. After a meal, give yourself at least an hour (or better yet, a few).
11. After eating, try not to fall asleep too quickly
For those who frequently experience acid reflux, this is particularly crucial. According to Dr. Herrera, lying down too rapidly might cause stomach contents to enter the esophagus, which can cause a bitter taste and unpleasant pressure or pain. According to Dr. Kia, you should have your last meal of the day at least three hours before you want to lie down or go to bed.
12. Take a warm bath
“Stress has traditionally been treated with warm water to ease the symptoms, which in many patients include stomach pain. Additionally, it eases stiff muscles that may be present after a difficult day “Dr. Herrera notes.
Even a small amount of Epsom salt may be beneficial. “Epsom salt dissolves in water when added, liberating magnesium.” According to some experts, the brain chemical serotonin, which is involved in relaxation, can be increased by magnesium, says Dr. Herrera. There are studies connecting magnesium to the reduction of stress and anxiety, while more research is still needed
