Definition
Cramps in the intestine manifest themselves as a stabbing, pulling or pinching sensation. The symptoms can swell and subside within a short period of time and are due to increased peristalsis of the bowel. This is the muscular activity of the intestine, which can be observed during the normal digestive process. Intolerances, infectious or inflammatory causes and stress-related factors play an important role in the pathogenesis. Intestinal colic refers to very severe, contraction-like spasms and is accompanied by vegetative symptoms such as sweating, high heart rate and circulatory problems.
Causes
The causes of intestinal cramps range from an infectious event, food intolerances, narrowing of the intestinal diameter in the context of chronic intestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, appendicitis, tumor-related complaints, an intestinal obstruction (ileus), irritable bowel syndrome and stress-related symptoms to poisoning. Cramps in the intestinal tract may not always be caused by the intestine itself. Pain radiating from the stomach, gallbladder or kidney colic and abdominal pain can be misinterpreted as intestinal cramps.
Intestinal cramps occur in many people due to stress. This is because there are many close connections between psychological stress and physical symptoms. Stress can affect the entire body and is a heavy burden for many people affected.
Very often stress leads to disorders of the digestive tract. This leads to intestinal cramps and severe abdominal pain. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation can also occur.
The intestinal cramps are also often aggravated by the fact that many people who suffer from stress have an irregular and inadequate diet. This also affects the intestines, which can react to it with cramps. Many people react to psychological stress with physical symptoms.
This often results in symptoms of the digestive tract, typically with abdominal pain and intestinal cramps. This may be due, for example, to the fact that those affected do not perceive or do not want to perceive the psychological stress. The body then seeks a kind of valve to relieve the stress.
This can cause the appearance of physical symptoms. However, the exact connections have not yet been clarified. Magnesium is an important mineral for the function of muscles.
Magnesium enables the body’s muscles to relax again after a contraction. Magnesium is also important for the muscles of the intestine. A lack of magnesium can lead to the muscles of the intestines no longer being able to relax properly. This can lead to intestinal cramps. A magnesium deficiency is often accompanied by a lack of water, which also leads to an imbalance of many minerals that are important for the intestinal muscles.
