Acute stomach upset is not a disease in its own right. Rather, it is an acute discomfort in the stomach. Caused by hard-to-digest food, fermented juices or other factors, acute stomach upset can lead to bloating, nausea, lack of appetite, abdominal cramps or stomach pain. If symptoms persist, it is probably not a harmless stomach upset.
What is an upset stomach?
An upset stomach is defined as an acute, but not morbid, state of discomfort in the stomach. The cause is usually not long ago. It is usually the understandable consequence of eating too much, inappropriate or spoiled food. The stomach therefore reports an overload or acute poisoning. It wants to be relieved and spared immediately in order to be able to fully perform its tasks again.
Causes
The causes of an upset stomach can be many and varied. An evening with a lot of alcohol and many cigarettes can trigger acute stomach upsets just as much as eating too much fat on feast days. Spoiled, hard-to-digest, incompatible or sour foods and fermented drinks are a common cause of acute stomach upsets. Those who frequently consume industrially processed foods ingest a lot of fat and a lot of sugar. This alone can promote an upset stomach with heartburn. Excessive nicotine consumption can also trigger an upset stomach, especially when combined with alcohol. This can lead to hyperacidity or mild intoxication. As a result, this can trigger stomach upset with headaches and hangover symptoms. Hasty eating or prolonged stress can also promote stomach upsets. However, it is also possible that the symptoms of an upset stomach are not recognized as harbingers of an incipient gastritis. Anyone who frequently suffers from the typical symptoms of an upset stomach should therefore consult a doctor. In addition to gastritis, an irritable stomach could also feel similar to an upset stomach. If there is increased sensitivity in the stomach, the diet should be adjusted. Foods that have been identified as intolerable must be avoided to a large extent if there is an accumulation of stomach upset. In addition, symptoms should be examined by a physician. Early symptoms of cancer are also sometimes mistaken for the typical signs of stomach upset. Because the symptoms of an upset stomach are usually thought to be harmless, they are often not taken seriously.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Typical complaints that may occur with an upset stomach include bloating, acid regurgitation, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. There may be uncomfortable heartburn and digestive sounds in the abdomen. In many cases, sufferers do not feel any appetite. Excessive air accumulation in the abdomen can even make breathing difficult and strain the heart by putting pressure upward. In most cases, the symptoms of an upset stomach that occur can be traced to a timely cause. Accidental consumption of food that has gone bad or fermented food and drink can cause acute stomach pain, cramps, diarrhea and malaise. Even if the symptoms of acute stomach upset are temporary, they should be taken seriously. Many people also experience similar symptoms after a severe cold. They experience viscous mucus running from the sinuses into the throat at night. From there, the mucus passes into the stomach. The subsequent malaise, with nausea and loss of appetite, may resemble symptoms of an upset stomach without the presence of an acute upset stomach.
Complications
Usually, acute indigestion progresses without complications. The symptoms that occur should be over within a day with rest and relief. In most cases, the symptoms end after the spoiled food or fermented beverages have been eliminated. Complications may arise if it is not indigestion but another disease or acute poisoning. The symptoms may be similar at first. However, they then develop into more dramatic courses. The stomach upset felt may turn out to be mild alcohol poisoning, meat or fish poisoning, or salmonella illness. Complications can arise at any time from diagnostic misinterpretations.As a complication of such developments, severe dehydration can result, especially in the elderly and young children. The impending electrolyte and fluid losses must be compensated promptly or they will lead to a life-threatening condition. In addition, the symptoms of an assumed stomach upset may prove to be prolonged. In this case, it could be gastritis. If left untreated, this can lead to stomach ulcers or, in the long term, stomach cancer. To rule out such complications, a doctor should be consulted if stomach complaints persist.
When should you see a doctor?
Acute stomach upset can be self-treated without any problems. It should resolve after one day if the stomach is adequately rested. If it does not, and the symptoms persist, a visit to the doctor is advised. The same applies if the initial symptoms worsen during the course of the day. If fever, frequent vomiting, liquid diarrhea and severe nausea occur, the affected person should seek medical attention. Instead of an upset stomach, this could be due to an acute illness requiring treatment. This can be indicated, for example, by a distended and hardened abdomen. A visit to the doctor is also advisable if stomach upsets occur regularly. It is possible that a serious illness is behind this. Serious and life-threatening illnesses can also initially announce themselves with mild to moderate symptoms. Cancer in the stomach does not initially cause any dramatic symptoms. Only a timely visit to the doctor allows early detection. It can therefore be life-saving. Not every stomach upset is dangerous. However, it also applies: not every indisposition in the stomach is automatically harmless.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of an upset stomach is usually first made by the person himself. He may remember eating or drinking too much. The individual may have already suspected that a particular food was no longer fit for consumption and consumed it anyway. If the symptoms improve with rest and relief of the stomach, the self-diagnosis can be left alone. However, if the symptoms are more serious or last longer, a medical diagnosis is advisable. The physician can first determine by questioning what causes the patient suspects for his stomach upset. He can determine by palpation whether there are hardenings in the abdomen or swellings of palpable organs. The physician may listen to the abdomen with a stethoscope for unusual sounds. Examination of the tongue can provide information about unusual discoloration, swelling or odors. If the findings are unremarkable, the physician will probably advise the patient to take it easy and to eat a low-stimulus diet that is as alkaline as possible. If there are diagnostic abnormalities, further diagnostic methods may be used. A sonography can narrow down or exclude organic causes. A breath test for Helicobacter pylori could confirm or rule out gastritis. If the abnormalities detected are confirmed, so that an organic cause is suspected, the physician may refer the patient to a specialist for gastroscopy or an MRI scan of the abdomen.
Treatment and therapy
Self-treatment of an upset stomach can be initiated by relieving and taking it easy. Green healing clay in water can relieve heartburn. It rids the strained stomach of cleavage products and ingested toxins. Homeopathic remedies such as Okoubaka D6 or Nux Vomica D6 can usually be used successfully to treat nausea, malaise, and mild episodes of intoxication from stimulant toxins. Gastrointestinal deflating teas or Lefax chewable tablets can also be helpful for relief. Two liters of pure drinking water or herbal tea dilute excess stomach acid. For acute stomach pain, heartburn and cramps, small sips of hot water can provide quick relief. If necessary, rest and heat provide the necessary relaxation of the stomach. If none of this helps, the family doctor will prescribe a light diet, gruel and bed rest for a more severe stomach upset. He may also advise antacids, natural remedies such as Iberogast or a drug that stimulates intestinal peristalsis. The treatment of a worse stomach upset should be cause-related and gentle. If, contrary to expectations, it is not an acute stomach upset, the therapy is more complex.In the case of gastritis, the acute symptoms can initially be treated with medication. However, it also makes sense to change the diet to an alkaline diet. Reducing stress and avoiding acid-forming foods and stimulants such as alcohol, nicotine, sugary cola drinks or coffee helps to improve the condition.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis is good if it is indeed an acute stomach upset. In this case, self-treatment usually initiates improvement within a few hours. In the case of unrecognized food poisoning or mild salmonellosis, the prognosis is good only if these conditions are properly treated promptly. The threat of electrolyte and fluid loss can have dramatic consequences if misdiagnosed. These can be particularly threatening to young children, the chronically ill and the elderly. Acute gastritis also has a good prognosis if the first symptoms of gastric mucosal irritation or inflammation are taken seriously. However, if gastritis occurs regularly, the diet should be reconsidered. Also the consumption of alcohol, nicotine, coffee, sugary as well as carbonic acid-rich cola drinks can favor a gastritis. In case of repeated occurrence, there is a risk of gastritis becoming chronic. In this case, the prognosis is much worse. Chronic gastritis may develop into gastric ulcers, frequent heartburn as a sign of chronic reflux syndrome, or gastric cancer. The prognosis is also worse if gastric upset is mistakenly assumed and not treated. These may be problems with the upper intestine, gall bladder, liver or pancreas that require treatment. If these are not recognized and treated promptly, serious sequelae may result. Therefore, persistent and unexplained abdominal discomfort should never be ignored.
Prevention
Prevention of an upset stomach is certainly possible. Preparing fresh, largely alkaline foods on your own is a good basis for continued well-being. Restraint with unhealthy foods, industrially manufactured convenience foods and certain stimulants leads to continued good health for most people. A balanced lifestyle and sufficient sleep keep vitality and performance high. Despite these measures, an upset stomach can occasionally occur. Germ contamination, developing intolerances or incipient fermentation processes are not always recognized in time. However, common sense suggests that unrefrigerated food may spoil or be contaminated with germs. Special care should be taken when storing and preparing dishes containing raw eggs and raw meat. Proper kitchen hygiene is advisable to prevent stomach upset. Moderate meal portions and a balanced diet low in meat, sugar and fat promote continued good health. People who live healthy lives rarely experience an upset stomach.
Follow-up
An upset stomach does not always have to lead to special complications or to serious discomfort. It occurs relatively often and usually leads only briefly to discomfort, whereby an upset stomach usually disappears again on its own, so that special treatment is not necessary. The symptoms can also be similar to those of the flu or a cold, so that there is generally a feeling of malaise, permanent tiredness and fatigue. Usually, an upset stomach can be treated well, so follow-up care is often not necessary.
Here’s what you can do yourself
In the case of an acute stomach upset, the organism sends a signal for wrong behavior or overload consequences. Paying attention to this signal can help avoid further consequences. Going overboard now and then with diet or worldly pleasures is normal. Nevertheless, restraint with unhealthy indulgences and foods is the better choice. Cooking for yourself from fresh ingredients is a wise move. Freshly processed foods ensure adequate nutrition and lasting wellness. A healthy lifestyle also keeps the stomach healthy. Stress, disputes, financial pressures or unresolved emotional issues can all promote an upset stomach. The stomach then becomes the spokesperson for the entire organism.Noticing its warning signals and adjusting behavior can prevent further stomach upsets. It is also important to adapt the diet and the usual lifestyle to the respective age. Thanks to a changed metabolism, not all foods and stimulants are equally digestible in old age. An acute overload of the digestive organs therefore tends to make itself felt as an upset stomach. It makes sense in old age to take better care of yourself. Even on festive days, there is no reason to abandon the usual restraint in eating in favor of gluttony. Enjoyment is not based on the quantities of food eaten, but on a conscious appreciation of all the flavors, colors and textures. Slow and deliberate chewing can intensify these pleasures. This takes some of the work off the digestive system. If largely alkaline food is consumed, this is a guarantee that one will feel well in the long term. Acid-forming pleasures and foods should only make up a small part of the food consumed.