Anyone can experience stomach upset including babies, children, adults, pregnant moms, and old men and women. It may definitely cause great discomfort but the good thing about an upset stomach is that it can be treated right in the comfort of your own home employing your own self-care treatment.
A stomach upset is a result of eating unidentified foreign materials which cause irritation to the stomach that would sometimes also lead to vomiting. Vomiting is usually the stomach’s natural defense mechanism every time they encounter harmful foreign food or materials, which is very helpful in cases like food poisoning.
Symptoms of Stomach Upset
Symptoms of an upset stomach include heartburn, vomiting, and stomach pain (cramps). These symptoms may worsen when ingesting citrus fruits, coffee, onions, fatty foods, chocolate, and alcohol. In most cases, milk can help ease the pain.
Other symptoms include constipation, irregular bowel movement, difficulty and pain while moving bowel and dehydration. In case of dehydration, seek medical help immediately.
Causes of Stomach Upset
• Reflux oesophagitis
Most cases of upset stomach are caused by reflux oesophagitis. This happens when stomach acids move up to the gullet. Some causes may also include pressure exerted to the stomach area due to obesity and pregnancy. Reflux oesophagitis symptoms include heartburn, acid regurgitation, pain in the chest, trouble swallowing, and hoarseness in the morning.
Food that contribute to the increase of acid in the stomach which stimulates it to forcibly push the food upward are citrus fruits, chocolate, coffee or drinks with caffeine, mint flavoring, fatty and fried foods, spicy foods, garlic and onions, and tomato based foods like spaghetti, pizza, and more.
• Ulcers
Ulcers usually have similar symptoms as reflux oesophagitis. Its symptoms include black stools and weight loss. Most cases of ulcers are caused by bacteria which can be treated by certain medicines like antibiotics.
• Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome causes a great deal of discomfort to affected individuals. It is mostly characterized by cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. Its main origin is still uncertain but it’s mainly caused by sensitivity and over reaction of the stomach to certain food or even stress.
No particular treatment is available for curing irritable bowel syndrome but some medications are available to manage certain symptoms. Following the doctor’s orders and change in diet can help contribute to controlling the symptoms.
• Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation in the stomach lining or intestines that is caused by common viruses. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, liquid stools, headaches, chills (with or without fever), and cramping in the abdomen. Gastroenteritis can be treated at home by managing your diet and fluid replacement. In case bacteria are the cause of inflammation, antibiotics are taken to kill the bacteria.
Other causes of stomach upset include:
• Virus infection
• Certain medications
• Food poisoning
• Migraine
• Motion sickness
• Alcoholism
• Pregnancy (i.e. morning sickness)
Kinds of Stomach Upset
There are mainly two kinds of upset stomach, the chronic and temporary. Chronic or long term upset stomach is a serious type of condition which should be discussed with a doctor immediately. While temporary upset stomach is a less serious type of stomach ache which are mainly caused by the food intake.
Chronic upset stomach is mostly caused by food allergies. The immune system mistakenly treats certain food as harmful substance thus every time this type of food is eaten, the body releases anti bodies hence causing an allergic reaction.
Danger Signs
In case one or more of the following danger signs occur, it is best to consult a doctor immediately:
• Bloody or black stools are present. These suggest that bleeding is currently occurring in the digestive system.
• Stomach upset accompanied by nausea and vomiting that contains blood or ground coffee like appearance.
• Paleness or fatigue
• Sharp sudden pain
• Unintentional loss of weight
Home Remedies for Stomach Upset
• Caraway seeds – they give relief to digestion and gas. They are taken either by tea or by directly eating the seeds.
• Cinnamon tea– it helps smoothen the digestive track.
• Fennel seed – is the most prescribed herbal medicine as treatment for stomach cramps and gas.
• Ginger tea– has been a long time remedy for stomach upset. Its helps smoothen the digestive track.
• Mint tea – is known to be a remedy for indigestion and soothes troubled stomach.
• Thyme tea– helps stimulate the digestive tract and offers relief from cramping and pressure exerted by gas in the stomach.
• Baking soda – is used as an antacid which neutralize acidity in the stomach. Simply mix ½ teaspoon baking soda with ½ glass of water, and then drink it.
• Crackers – After not eating all day causing the stomach to burn or churn, eating some soda crackers first is recommended as they are believed to absorb acid in the stomach.
Most important of all, track your food intake and drinks. Some food can cause stomach upset so it is better to avoid those types of food than suffer abdominal pains and other symptoms of an upset stomach.
Upset stomach during pregnancy
Stomach upset in women during pregnancy may happen and this can vary from individual to individual. This is caused due to hormonal change in the body. Nausea a conditoni during pregnancy can also lead to this problem which is why women should avoid eating foods that have high concentration of fats or oily food. Flatulence in pregnant women is also common, caused due to wrong diet and hormonal changes. Remember an upset stomach may not be such a big issue, because it is just an aspect of morning sickness.
Remedies for upset stomach in pregnancy
- Some disorders may be temporary; others can be chronic. So keep our gynecologist informed before you take medications to treat the problem
- Eat fiber rich foods like fruits and vegetables; drinks juices and water regularly.
- Ginger tea and herbal tea are good natural remedies for upset stomach even for pregnant women.
- Fenugreek seeds are also quite effective in treating the problem
- To calm an upset stomach and treat heart burns naturally, chew a few roasted garlic gloves.
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