Stomach cramps, which occur in connection with pronounced nausea, can be a first indication of a variety of underlying diseases. For this reason, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the causal problem from the symptom complex “stomach cramps and nausea” alone. Every person suffers at least once in their life from more or less pronounced stomach cramps.
In general, stomach complaints are among the most common symptoms of all. The localization of the complaints can vary depending on the causative disease. Many of the patients affected report that the stomach cramps they experience often intensify during the night and become a sleep-sapping problem.
For some of those affected, stomach cramps even represent unbearable stomach pain that can hardly be alleviated. In addition to the exact localization of the stomach cramps, their temporal occurrence plays a decisive role in the search for the cause. In addition, for every patient suffering from stomach cramps, it should be clarified whether the nausea occurs before or immediately after eating.
Furthermore, it should be checked if there are other complaints (for example diarrhea or fever) besides the stomach cramps and nausea. Stomach cramps can be caused by a variety of diseases. In most cases, the affected patients have a problem directly in the area of the stomach.
However, abdominal pain that is perceived as a stomach cramp can also be caused by other abdominal or thoracic organs. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are among the most common symptoms that occur in combination with severe stomach cramps. Stomach cramps that occur at the same time as diarrhea are mainly caused in the lower sections of the gastrointestinal tract.
Important diseases that must be excluded in this symptom complex are Crohn’s disease Celiac disease (gluten intolerance) Bacterial and viral infections (gastroenteritis) Irritable bowel syndrome In the case of stomach cramps that occur in combination with severe nausea, the causal underlying disease is usually found in the upper section of the gastrointestinal tract (for example in the duodenum or in the stomach itself). In order to get a first indication of the cause of the stomach cramps, it must be clarified whether vomiting occurs in addition to the nausea felt by the patient. In addition, the temporal relationship between food intake and the onset of symptoms should be clarified.
The most frequent causes for the occurrence of the symptom complex “stomach cramps and nausea” are
- Crohn’s disease
- Celiac disease (gluten intolerance)
- Bacterial and viral infections (gastroenteritis)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Food poisoning:Food poisoning is a disease of the gastrointestinal tract caused by the consumption of contaminated food or food that is infested with bacterial pathogens. The typical symptoms of food poisoning include severe stomach cramps, pronounced nausea and vomiting. In many cases, the affected patients also complain of thin diarrhea.
- Gastritis: Gastritis is probably the most common disease that leads to stomach cramps and nausea.
The causes for the development of such an inflammation of the gastric mucosa can be different. Bacterial inflammation of the stomach mucosa is usually caused by the pathogen “Helicobacter pylori“. In addition, prolonged stress caused by various physical dysregulations can lead to the occurrence of gastritis with stomach cramps and nausea.
Patients who have to take a large number of drugs every day are particularly at risk of developing gastritis. For this reason, for example, painkillers (analgesics) should be taken in combination with a so-called proton pump inhibitor (stomach protection).
- Gastroenteritis:The term “gastroenteritis” (gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal infection) refers to a disease caused by viruses or, in rare cases, bacteria, which leads to inflammatory processes in the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, gastroenteritis in adults is caused by noro viruses; children often develop the corresponding symptoms after a rotavirus infection.
The typical symptoms of gastroenteritis are stomach cramps, fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The severity of these symptoms can vary enormously depending on the causative pathogen.In addition, some pathogens can cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in blood or mucus deposits in the stool. Since, as already mentioned, gastroenteritis is in most cases a viral infection, treatment is usually purely symptomatic.
In case of fever, antipyretic drugs such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can be taken. Vomex, for example, can be administered to relieve nausea and vomiting. Due to the high loss of fluid, affected patients should be careful to drink a lot during the period of illness.
In case of stomach cramps with nausea, special attention should be paid to changes in symptoms after eating.
If the symptoms worsen immediately after a meal, an inflammation of the stomach lining or even an already existing ulcer in the stomach is a possible cause. This is because in this case the food hits an already damaged and irritated stomach wall, which increases the stomach cramps and nausea. Additional vomiting after eating indicates a gastric ulcer or a blockage of the stomach outlet, which is called gastric outlet stenosis.
If a short time after eating passes until the symptoms get worse, food intolerances or gallstones are likely reasons. If food intolerance is suspected, it can be observed whether the symptoms occur only after eating certain foods. An allergy test can also help to find out whether, for example, an allergy to dairy products is present in the case of so-called lactose intolerance.
If the food is very high in fat, which causes stomach cramps and nausea after eating, gallstones are an obvious cause. If stomach cramps and nausea after eating occur for the first time, food poisoning with food that has gone bad or is infected with bacteria should also be considered. This is often not dangerous; if the symptoms disappear after a few hours, no further clarification is necessary.
Another reason for stomach cramps with nausea can also be a too large meal or a meal on an empty stomach for which the body is not prepared and therefore has problems digesting the food. However, if you have stomach cramps with nausea, you may also experience improvement after eating. In this case it could be an ulcer in the duodenum.
The consumption of alcohol often leads to stomach cramps with nausea. The reason for this is that alcohol stimulates the cells of the stomach to produce more gastric acid. This aggressive acid attacks the stomach lining and thus irritates it.
This becomes noticeable in the form of cramps and nausea. On the other hand, alcohol, especially wine and sparkling wine, is in itself very acidic. This leads to a strong irritation of the stomach lining.
Another cause of nausea after alcohol consumption is that the alcohol that is absorbed into the blood is understood as a toxic substance in the body. This is noticed by the nausea center in the brain and tries to get rid of the harmful substance by triggering the nausea up to the nausea stimulus. In general, this irritation of the stomach is very dangerous in the long run, as an increased acid content in the stomach can lead to long-term damage such as inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach (so-called type C gastritis) or ulcers.
In addition, alcohol inhibits the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. On the one hand, these muscles, in the form of sphincters, are responsible for ensuring that no food pulp, for example, can flow from the stomach back into the esophagus. If this muscle is inhibited, more stomach contents will flow back.
Since this is very acidic, especially after alcohol consumption, heartburn (reflux disease) and irritation of the esophagus can cause nausea. On the other hand, the muscles that are responsible for pushing the stomach contents further are also inhibited. The food therefore remains in the stomach. This can also cause stomach cramps. and vomiting due to alcohol
