Belly pain is a very common problem that can be caused by simple situations such as poor digestion, excess gas or excessive stress, for example, and can disappear without the need for treatment, and it is only advisable to rest, avoid eating fatty or sugar-rich foods. and drink lots of water.
However, pain in the belly can also be indicative of gastritis, reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, changes in the gallbladder or be indicative of cancer.
Therefore, when the pain in the stomach is very intense, lasts for more than 2 days or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, persistent vomiting and weight loss, for example, it is important that the doctor is consulted so that the cause can be identified. cause of the pain in the belly and the most appropriate treatment was initiated.
What could be the pain in the belly
To find out what could be causing your tummy ache, please answer the following questions:
This tool should only be used as a guide to try to identify the possible cause of belly pain and, therefore, should not replace a consultation with a doctor, who is the professional capable of confirming the diagnosis and recommending the most appropriate treatment.
Main causes
The main causes of belly pain are:
1. Excess gas
Excess intestinal gas is the main cause of stomach discomfort, especially in people who suffer from constipation frequently. Furthermore, they can also arise due to intestinal problems, such as irritable bowel or lactose intolerance, and can also appear after consuming some foods such as eggs, beans, milk or soft drinks, for example.
The pain in the stomach caused by excess gas is in the form of a stitch, and abdominal swelling, heartburn, pain in the chest or frequent burping may also be noted.
What to do: A great tip is to reduce the consumption of foods that can increase gas production, such as beans and soda. Furthermore, drinking lemon balm and fennel tea once a day can also help reduce the amount of gas, relieving discomfort.
2. Poor digestion
Poor digestion can also cause pain in the stomach, as well as heartburn, belching, a feeling of a full stomach and excessive tiredness. Poor digestion happens when you mix a lot of foods or when you eat a diet rich in fat, as these foods take longer to be digested, resulting in symptoms.
What to do: In addition to taking care of your diet, you can choose to drink digestive teas, such as boldo or anise tea, or some pharmacy remedies, such as gaviscon, estomazil or fruit salt, can also be used. See other options to end poor digestion.
3. Excessive stress
Psychological problems caused by excess stress, such as depression or exhaustion, can alter the functioning of the gastrointestinal system, causing abdominal discomfort that can be confused with stomach or intestinal problems.
In addition to belly pain and abdominal discomfort, in some cases there may be diarrhea or constipation, nausea, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping or muscle pain, for example.
What to do: The ideal is to try to relax to assess whether the pain decreases, doing light physical exercise, having a massage or resting in a calm room, for example. However, if symptoms continue, you should consult a doctor to identify whether there is another cause. See some natural ways to relieve excess stress.
4. Gastritis or gastric ulcer
Inflammation of the stomach lining, known as gastritis, or the presence of an ulcer can cause intense pain in the stomach, especially after eating or when eating very spicy or fatty foods, as well as frequent feelings of nausea, loss of appetite , vomiting and feeling of a bloated stomach.
What to do: When the pain is very intense, you should consult a gastroenterologist to carry out more specific tests such as endoscopy to assess the existence of an ulcer, for example. However, until the consultation you must eat an adequate diet to help alleviate the symptoms. See what the diet for gastritis and ulcers should be like.
5. Gastroesophageal reflux
Reflux occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach reach the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation of the lining of this organ. This problem is more common in people with a hiatal hernia, overweight, diabetes or smokers, but it can happen to any person or age due to other problems, such as changes in the stomach or delayed gastric emptying, for example.
In addition to pain in the stomach, gastroesophageal reflux may be accompanied by a burning sensation in the throat, frequent burping, indigestion, bad breath or a lump in the throat. These symptoms may worsen when you bend your body down or lie down right after eating.
What to do: avoid lying down right after eating, sleeping with the head of the bed slightly elevated, making changes to your diet and, in some cases, taking medications recommended by your gastroenterologist. Find out how gastroesophageal reflux is treated.
6. Lactose or gluten intolerance
Food intolerances, such as lactose or gluten, occur when the body is unable to digest these substances, causing inflammation of the entire gastrointestinal system, leading to generalized pain and discomfort after meals, especially when eating foods such as bread, pasta, cheese or milk.
The pain is usually generalized and accompanied by other signs such as a swollen belly, diarrhea, excess gas, irritability or vomiting. Furthermore, over time, weight loss and loss of muscle mass may occur.
What to do: In case of suspected intolerance, a gastroenterologist should be consulted to confirm the diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. In these cases, you should avoid all foods containing the substance to which you have an intolerance. See a list of foods with lactose or gluten that should be avoided.
7. Irritable bowel
Irritable bowel syndrome is a problem that causes inflammation of the lining of the intestine, and may not have a specific cause or be caused by excess stress or sensitivity to a food, for example.
As a result of inflammation, it is common for people to experience pain in the stomach, excess gas and periods of diarrhea interspersed with constipation.
What to do: a gastroenterologist should be consulted to confirm the diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. In cases where it is possible to identify what is causing the symptoms, that food or situation should be avoided. Understand how you can tell if you have irritable bowel.
8. Problems with the uterus or ovaries
The emergence of problems in the uterus, such as inflammation or endometriosis, as well as changes in the ovaries, such as cysts, for example, are one of the main causes of pain in the lower abdomen in women.
Belly pain due to changes in the uterus or ovaries can be constant or crampy, and moderate to severe, in addition to causing bleeding outside the menstrual period or irregular menstruation, for example.
What to do: If there is pelvic pain that may be related to the menstrual cycle, it is important to go to the gynecologist for tests, such as a pap smear or ultrasound, to identify if there is a problem and start appropriate treatment.
9. Gallbladder or pancreas problems
Some more serious problems that arise in the gallbladder and pancreas, such as stones or inflammation, can cause intense pain in the upper part of the belly that worsens over time or becomes more intense after meals. In addition to severe pain in the belly, other symptoms may appear such as fever, swelling of the belly, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or yellowish stools.
What to do: These problems must be treated quickly and, therefore, if there are suspicions of changes in the gallbladder or pancreas, you must go to the hospital to identify the problem and start appropriate treatment. See how treatment is carried out in the case of gallstones or acute or chronic pancreatitis.
10. Intestinal worms
Although intestinal worms are very common, especially in those who prefer rare foods, pain is generally a rarer symptom, appearing when the worms have been developing for some time. In addition to pain in the belly, it is also common to experience weight loss, itching in the anus, diarrhea, changes in appetite, tiredness for no apparent reason and a swollen belly.
What to do: You should consult a family doctor or a gastroenterologist to identify the worm responsible for the symptoms and thus begin treatment, which is normally done with antiparasitic medications, such as albendazole, for example. Find out what other precautions you should take to eliminate worms.
11. Bowel or stomach cancer
Belly pain is rarely a sign of cancer, however, more advanced stages of bowel or stomach cancer can cause constant pain that is difficult to describe.
If belly pain is related to cancer, it is common to notice other symptoms, such as blood in the stool or vomit, very dark stools, a constant feeling of heaviness in the stomach or anal area, frequent tiredness or weight loss without an apparent cause.
What to do: When cancer is suspected, especially in the case of a family history of cancer, it is advisable to consult a gastroenterologist. Furthermore, people over the age of 50 should have frequent endoscopy and colonoscopy, as they have a higher risk of developing cancer.
