Symptoms
The symptoms of stomach pain caused by stress can vary greatly from person to person and can also vary from person to person. Often there is an unspecific feeling of pressure over the stomach region. This can also be accompanied by a constant feeling of fullness or even nausea.
In some cases, those affected also complain of heartburn, which can be intensified by the consumption of nicotine or coffee. Changes in bowel movements are also conceivable, and both constipation and diarrhoea can manifest themselves. If there is already an advanced inflammation of the stomach lining or even a stomach ulcer, spontaneous bleeding in this area may occur.
These often manifest themselves as so-called tar stools. The reason for this is that the blood first comes into contact with the stomach acid and turns black. A strong, acute bleeding from a stomach ulcer can also be accompanied by bloody vomiting under certain circumstances. In this case, immediate transport to the nearest hospital should be undertaken, as the loss of blood can be potentially life-threatening.
Duration
As a rule, it can be assumed that stomach pain caused by stress will continue for the duration of the psychological strain. Acutely, a short-term improvement of the symptoms can be achieved with various means, but a long-term cure is usually only possible if the cause is eliminated at the same time.
What to do in case of stomach ache due to stress?
In the case of stomach pain caused by stress, priority should be given to reducing the level of stress in order to ensure that the body can relax sufficiently. Conscious adherence to a healthy diet is also of great importance. In addition purposeful meal breaks should be inserted, with which one concentrates exclusively on the meal.
The selection of balanced food components and the conscious chewing of food usually has a good effect on the digestive process.If the next appointment is scheduled immediately after the meal, low-fat meals with lots of vegetables should be preferred. The consumption of substances that irritate the stomach lining should also be reduced or avoided completely. These include nicotine, alcohol and coffee.
At work, stress levels can be reduced somewhat by taking specific relaxation phases or short stays in the fresh air. A long-term reduction of the stress level can be achieved with sufficient physical activity or relaxation exercises such as yoga or meditation. The editorial staff recommends How can stress be reduced?
In the acute situation, medication can also be used. For example, proton pump inhibitors lead to a reduction in the production of gastric acid, which in turn has a protective effect on the stomach lining. There are also a number of home remedies that can provide relief from stomach pain.
The use of a hot water bottle is probably the best known example. The background to this is that heat has a relaxing and antispasmodic effect. In addition, it also causes an increased blood circulation in the affected area in the short term.
Sometimes too tight clothing can also trigger the complaints, so that this should be avoided. There are also several teas that can calm the stomach lining and help with stomach pain. These include fennel and chamomile teas in particular.
And last but not least, resting and lying down naturally has a positive effect on stomach aches. In the case of stomach pain caused by stress, there are also a number of suggestions from homoeopathy experts as to which substances can be taken. For example, staphisagria is mentioned as an option for stomach ailments without an organic correlate (e.g. due to stress).
Okoubaka, chamomilla and nux vomica, which are extracted from the bark, are also said to have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. There are a number of different Schüssler salts, not all of which are suitable for stomach pain. For this clinical picture the Schüssler salts No.
3 (Ferrum phosphoricum) and No. 9 (Sodium phosphoricum) are especially recommended. They are said to activate the metabolism and balance the acid-base balance of the body.
