Cramps in the abdomen | Cramps in the intestine

Cramps in the abdomen

Bowel cramps with main localization in the right lower abdomen indicate appendicitis. The pain often begins in the region of the navel and then moves to the right pelvic region.Parts of the small intestine and rectum are also located in the lower abdomen and can be the cause of the cramps that occur. Right-sided complaints are typical of Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, is associated with left-sided pain in the lower abdomen, especially before bowel movements. Especially left-sided lower abdominal cramps and sometimes colicky pain are observed in connection with colon diverticula (bulges of the intestinal wall). Chronic intestinal cramps and abdominal pain also occur in irritable bowel syndrome. A more harmless cause of cramps in the lower abdomen is the constipation symptomatology. Other triggers include hernias and tumors.

Nocturnal intestinal cramps

Some people experience intestinal cramps, especially at night. The reason for this can be food intolerance, for example. Frequently, digestive tract symptoms occur as soon as the body is at rest.

This can be, for example, after the consumption of dairy products in the case of lactose intolerance. But also other diseases of the intestine can lead to cramps, which often occur at night. In some people this is the case, for example, with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. A doctor should therefore always be consulted for clarification.

Cramps after spicy food

Many people react to spicy food with stomach aches and cramps in the intestines. The reason for this is a certain substance called capsaicin, which appears in spicy food. This substance binds in the digestive tract, especially in the intestine, to certain components, so-called receptors, on the intestinal surface.

This can cause pain and cramps. There are some studies that have also shown that these special receptors are more common in people with irritable bowel syndrome. For this reason, the consumption of spicy food should be avoided to a large extent in such a disease.