It’s never nice to be caught completely off guard by a sudden aching sensation in the form of painful stomach cramps. The sad reality is, it can happen to anyone, anytime, and anywhere. Whether you’re at home, at the office, on the road, or even on vacation, stomach spasms and/or cramps can certainly ruin an otherwise good day and cause pain that can ruin the mood.
Here’s the (good) thing: You can soldier on even if you have stomach cramps with the help of medicine and other strategies that can target the discomfort. But first, take the time to understand the causes of stomach aches, cramps, or spasms, so you’ll know why they happen and how to resolve them quickly.
4 Possible Reasons Why You’re Dealing With Unwanted Stomach Aches
Did you know that stomach aches can be attributed to many reasons? Here are some common causes of stomach aches and spasms in adults, as well as other symptoms that can appear with them.
1. Indigestion
Filipinos love their food, but as the saying goes, too much of a good thing can be bad for you. This is especially true when you eat too much, too quickly, or choose the wrong kinds of food. Any (or all) of these may trigger indigestion. It can cause stomach cramps, alongside a mild to severe pain in your upper abdomen, located between the lower portion of the breastbone and the belly button. Common triggers of indigestion include:
- Food that’s fatty, greasy, spicy, or acidic
- Caffeinated, carbonated, or alcoholic beverages
- Smoking
- Medicines like antibiotics or pain relievers
- Mental health issues like trauma, anxiety, or depression
Aside from stomach cramps and pain, indigestion can appear with other symptoms such as stomach bloat or swelling, burning sensations in the affected area, fullness even before finishing a meal, vomiting, and/or burping.
2. Monthly menstrual cycles
Are you a woman who struggles with menstrual cramps AKA dysmenorrhea, before or during her monthly period? If yes, you’re not alone. Dysmenorrhea mainly occurs due to chemicals in the body called prostaglandins.
These chemicals peak before or during your period, triggering uterine muscles to contract and shed blood and tissue. Unfortunately, the same contractions also cause cramps and pain in the lower abdomen.
Fortunately, pain relief for menstrual cramps and/or stomach pain is possible. Doctors can recommend medicines for menstrual pain or dysmenorrhea to help women ease discomfort that arises during this time of the month.
3. Food allergies
For some people, stomach cramps that happen almost immediately after the first few bites of a meal can indicate an allergic reaction. This occurs when the body’s immune system comes into contact with substances called allergens and produces antibodies that aim to “target” the allergens. The catch? These allergens are typically harmless, yet the immune system flags them as otherwise and triggers symptoms like stomach cramps, hives or itchy skin; swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue; and breathing difficulties.
Common food allergens responsible for these flare-ups include peanuts, tree nuts like almonds and cashews, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, sesame, and wheat.
4. Constipation
If stomach cramps are accompanied by a gassy, full, and bloated stomach, it’s likely because of constipation. This health problem occurs when the small intestine absorbs too much water from feces, causing them to be drier and difficult to eliminate from the body.
Constipated people may also deal with other symptoms, such as little to no appetite, nausea, reduced weekly bowel movements, and difficulty passing stool.
Factors that can make some people more prone to constipation include dehydration, lack of fiber intake, excess consumption of dairy products like milk or cheese, stress, prolonged bowel movements, medicines, and other health problems.
How to Act on Stomach Cramps Right Away
Since stomach cramps are linked to various causes, determining what’s responsible for the discomfort is very important to ensure that the correct treatment is being done and symptoms aren’t prolonged any longer. Initial steps people can take to address stomach cramps include:
- Drinking lots of water
- Applying heat packs to the affected area or soaking in a warm bath (may be helpful for women with dysmenorrhea)
- Avoiding alcoholic beverages, coffee, and/or tea that may worsen pain
- Taking medicines that help soothe the pain, like Hyoscine-N-Butylbromide (Hyos®).
The next time you feel that unwanted yet familiar pain in your stomach, don’t let it sidetrack you and ruin your day. Let Hyoscine-N-Butylbromide (Hyos®) help relieve stomach cramps, pain, and discomfort that may be caused by monthly menstrual cycles, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other possible causes.
This contains an antispasmodic agent in the form of hyoscine-n-butylbromide that helps relax smooth muscles found in the stomach, intestines, bile duct, reproductive organs, and urinary tract. Hyoscine-n-butylbromide works on the body by preventing acetylcholine from affecting the muscles, eventually lowering your risk for muscle contractions that can trigger muscle spasms and aches.
Suggested use of Hyoscine-N-Butylbromide (Hyos®) is one (1) to two (2) tablets every four (4) to six (6) hours, for a total of three (3) to four (4) times a day, or as recommended by a doctor.
Hyoscine-N-Butylbromide (Hyos®) is available online and in leading drugstores nationwide at a suggested retail price (SRP) of Php25.96 per tablet.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
ASC Reference No. U0116P112425H
References:
Verywell Health | 13 Ways to Get Stomach Pain Relief
NHS | Stomach ache
Cleveland Clinic | Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Cramps)
Cleveland Clinic | Constipation - Causes & Treatment
Cleveland Clinic | Food Allergies – Symptoms and Causes
Cleveland Clinic | Abdominal Pain – Symptoms & Causes
Mayo Clinic | Menstrual Cramps (Dysmenorrhea): Symptoms & Causes
Mayo Clinic | Allergies: Causes & Triggers
Better Health Channel | Abdominal Pain in Adults
