Stomach pain and flatulence | Stomach pain

Stomach pain and flatulence

Flatulence can also be an explanation for the presence of stomach pain. In most cases, there is no serious illness behind it, but the resulting pain can be very severe and cause great suffering for those affected. The presence of severe flatulence can have various causes, with nutritional problems often being the main cause.

In case of disturbing, massive flatulence, a doctor should therefore be informed so that the cause can be found and eliminated. Food allergies or intolerances, an unbalanced diet as well as a so-called irritable bowel syndrome are only some possible causes of flatulence. Often flatulence occurs about 20-60 minutes after a meal, but can also cause problems hours later.

The blocked gases cause pain, which usually only improves after the gases have been released. Fighting the causes is the main focus in the treatment of flatulence, which is why a clear diagnosis is essential. If a change of diet is not successful and the flatulence causes problems for a longer period of time, a visit to a doctor is therefore recommended. Stomach pain caused by flatulence can also occur after a gastroscopy, as the stomach is filled with an air-gas mixture. However, this stomach pain usually disappears by itself.

Stomach ache after coffee

Coffee contains the chemical substance caffeine, which, in addition to its effects on increased attention and performance, is also responsible for some side effects in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to caffeine, other components of coffee, such as tannins and bittering agents, are also held responsible for the various reactions. After drinking coffee, it can be observed that digestion is stimulated in many people.

The intestinal loops move more, stomach acid is formed more strongly, and bile juices are excreted more strongly. This can have a number of different unpleasant consequences. Due to the increased movement of the intestinal loops, some people can get an unpleasant feeling in the lower abdomen and perceive this as stomach pain.

Due to an increased production of gastric acid, heartburn after drinking coffee can occur in addition to stomach ache. For this reason, it is not recommended to drink coffee on an empty stomach, as the production of gastric acid increases especially then. If stomach pain occurs after drinking coffee, it is best to avoid the drink for a while to confirm the diagnosis.

If the problems are actually caused by coffee and the substances it contains, regular consumption should be avoided. Stomach ache can be a very disturbing symptom, with many different underlying diseases.Some of the causes behind stomach pain, such as flatulence or pulled muscles, are not dangerous, while other conditions require medical attention. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs at the same time, it is especially important to supply the body with sufficient fluid.

The body loses a lot of fluid during diarrhoea because the food in the stomach binds the body’s own fluid and thus removes it from the body. If the symptoms persist, a doctor should always be consulted so that the correct diagnosis can be made, other diseases can be eliminated and the correct therapy can be started. The most common, namely the harmless stomach aches, which occur sporadically and subside after some time, can be treated well with home remedies such as chamomile tea and warmth.

Infectious diseases (rotavirus, norovirus) are also treated mainly symptomatically. The focus here should be on the supply of water and electrolytes, as the body loses water and electrolytes through vomiting and diarrhoea. However, colonization with H. pylori should be treated by antibiotic therapy in combination with proton pump inhibitors.

Proton pump inhibitors are prescribed for ulcers of the stomach and duodenum and for gastritis. Well-known active ingredients include Pantoprazole/Pantozol® and Omeprazole. They inhibit the acid formation of the stomach and thus improve the protection of the stomach through the mucus layer.

An important therapy is maternity leave – i.e. the elimination of damaging factors such as stress, smoking and alcohol. It may also be advisable to reconsider your current medication and, above all, to stop taking certain painkillers (NSAIDs) if possible if they attack the protective layer of the stomach. Antacids are often used to neutralize the acid.

MCP and Buscopan, which promote the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, are also suitable for the relief of stomach pain. Most of these drugs also help with stomach pain in combination with nausea. Ulcers of the stomach often cause an increase in pain after food intake whereas pain in ulcers of the small intestine usually subsides after food intake.

Other symptoms of ulcers can include nausea and vomiting, bloating and loss of appetite and, as an important warning sign, vomiting of blood. This is most often seen as “coffee grounds vomiting”, which gets its typical dark appearance from the mixing of blood with the hydrochloric acid of the stomach. Since it is now known that NSAIDs significantly increase the risk of stomach ulcers, especially when taken over a longer period of time, another drug is usually prescribed in addition nowadays.

It belongs to the group of proton pump inhibitors, one of its best-known representatives is pantoprazole. This group of drugs inhibits – as its name suggests – an ion pump in the area of the stomach, which is essential for the synthesis of stomach acid. If it is inhibited, the result is a drastic reduction in the production of gastric acid and the stomach is thus protected from itself.

Pantoprazole and its derivatives are therefore an important partner in the prescription of painkillers. However, patients who do not suffer from a stomach ulcer but who complain of pain in the stomach area can also benefit from proton pump inhibitors. For example, stomach pain can also be triggered by inflammation of the stomach (gastritis) or by reflux disease (gastroesophageal reflux disease = GERD).

In addition to proton pump inhibitors, there are other drugs that help to control the production of stomach acid. For example, the group of antacids. Their representatives include magnesium hydroxide and magaldrate, a newer active ingredient.

They serve to neutralize stomach acid, but do not inhibit its production. Their effectiveness is therefore significantly weaker than that of proton pump inhibitors. Antihistamines that act on H2 receptors also help against an excess of stomach acid.

Among them is Ranitidine. Prostaglandins are also an opponent of the production of gastric acid. However, they do not interfere with the production of gastric acid, but increase the production of gastric mucus.

Stomach mucus is the antagonist of hydrochloric acid; it acts as a protective layer for the stomach against the corrosive acid. One of its representatives is misoprostol. However, neither prostaglandins nor antihistamines are as effective as proton pump inhibitors.

These are thus first choice for acid-related stomach complaints. With light to middle stomach pain there are most diverse household remedies, which can relieve symptoms to a large extent. In many cases the application of heat helps.

A hot water bottle or a warm grain pillow on the stomach relieves pain and helps to relieve cramps.A light stomach massage can intensify these effects. Herbal tea is another popular household remedy for stomach aches. Several cups spread over the day soothe the stomach and inhibit acid production.

Well-tried tea varieties are e.g. chamomile, fennel or ginger. In addition to stomach pain, these home remedies are also good against nausea and replace fluid loss when there is also diarrhea. In addition, one should avoid food that irritates the stomach and only eat small portions.

If heartburn is the main symptom besides stomach pain, household remedies such as Bullrich salt can be used. It neutralizes the stomach acid. However, this can lead to a feeling of fullness and overstretching of the stomach.

Household remedies can initially be used for light to moderate complaints. Without improvement, however, one should consult the family doctor. A common cause of stomach pain is ulcers caused by medication.

For prophylaxis, painkillers (Diclofenac and others) are prescribed together with proton pump inhibitors. Even in patients who have to take a lot of medication, it is beneficial to combine them with a proton pump inhibitor (stomach protection). Important for the prophylaxis of infectious gastrointestinal complaints is frequent hand washing as well as frequent hand disinfection.

To prevent food poisoning, it is important to ensure hygiene in the kitchen and to cool food to prevent the spread of germs. In the prognosis of stomach pain it comes naturally completely on the cause of the stomach pain can. Ulcers detected early can be treated well.

It is also advantageous to combat colonization with Helicobacter pylori as early as possible, as this is prognostically unfavorable for the development of lymphoma or stomach cancer. There are many different causes for the symptom “stomach pain”. Although they are mostly harmless causes, the stomach pain should be monitored and if it occurs more frequently, such as suspected blood in the stool or accompanying vomiting or diarrhoea, a doctor should be consulted.

Ulcers can be very dangerous, as they can bleed unnoticed and can lead to circulatory shock. Even if food intolerances are suspected, a visit to the doctor is recommended, as the cause must be clarified. Allergies as well as enzyme defects are possible. Another important aspect that one should not lose sight of is that stomach pain can also be atypically radiating pain, for example as a sign of a heart attack.