Stomach Ache Many people suffer from stomach aches at one time or another. Research shows that 30%1 of Australian adults suffer stomach aches and cramps every few months or more. The key thing to remember is that pain is an important sign that something is wrong. So dealing with this pain in the most appropriate way (or consulting your doctor at the right time) is important so you avoid making the situation worse.
There are many available treatments that can be very effective in treating stomach pain. However, some more severe symptoms will indicate the need for medical intervention and you should make plans to see your doctor I these circumstances.
Do not consider self treatment if the pain is:
- Severe and getting worse
- Associated with weight loss
- Associated with bleeding from the bowel
- Associated with difficulty swallowing
- Associated with persistent vomiting
There are many conditions that can contribute to stomach pain.
Common conditions that cause stomach pain:
The pain can be caused by a range of things and can be felt at different parts of your stomach. Sometimes it might be higher up under your rib cage or at other times lower down in the lower regions of your stomach.
The location of the pain can tell you a lot about its causes.
If the pain is felt either all over your stomach area or low in your stomach:
- The pain is likely to be coming from the bowel if it is associated with constipation, bloating, diarrhoea or wind. This pain may be due to spasm in your muscles and may be relieved by antispasmodics such as Buscopan®, or Donnatab®.
- The pain may be due to gas and may be dietary related. It may be helped by gas reducers, such as Gasbusters®, or by dietary review (see an accredited practicing dietitian).
- Period pain is low down, may radiate to the back and may be dull or crampy. Anti-inflammatory medicines may be helpful for this condition.
- However, in the case of stomach cramps and spasms associated with period pain, antispasmodics can also be used.
If the pain feels like it is coming from high up in your stomach ie, high up under your rib cage:
- If it is associated with heartburn, belching; made worse or relieved by food, it may be caused by acid and may be related to reflux or an ulcer. Acid related pain is best treated with antacids or acid lowering drugs. Make sure you check with your pharmacist.
- If you feel severe pain in the middle area of your stomach going through to your back, this raises the possibility of gall stones and you should check with your doctor.
- Pain high up in your stomach which is made worse by exercise could be angina or heart pain and you should check with your doctor.
Note: If lower abdominal pain is:
- Recent in onset
- Associated with bleeding or a change of bowel habit and you are over 40…it could be a serious bowel disease, and you should check with your doctor.
Antispasmodics can be particularly useful in dealing with stomach aches and cramps. Rather than simply mask the pain, the work to relax the stomach muscles that cause aches, cramps and discomfort.
Some medications can cause stomach pain as a side effect. If you are suffering from recurring stomach pain then it may be worth consulting your pharmacist or doctor to review the medicines you are using.
Some medications can cause abdominal pain such as:
Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) are not safe to treat abdominal pain, except for period pain as they may cause or aggravate a stomach ulcer or bowel problem.
Some of these products are available in supermarkets in Australia (eg ibuprofen) and you should always check the warnings on the labels. If they cause side effects like stomach ulcers and tummy pain, it will warn you of this on the pack.