Using Alcoholic Bitters To Relieve Stomach Pain
You may raise an eyebrow, but did you know that alcoholic bitters can naturally relieve stomach pain?
Many common brands of bitters contain a mix of mint, ginger, cinnamon, and fennel, all of which are known to help ease stomach pain in one form or another. Five to six drops in a glass of club soda or ginger ale might surprise you.
Pills For Stomach Pain: Antispasmodics
Antispasmodics are used for intestinal disorders because they relax the smooth muscle of the stomach, allowing the interruption or prevention of painful and involuntary contraction . Thus, theyre useful when the pain is of a colic type.
Overall, the best-known antispasmodics are the following:
- Butylscopolamine
Types Of Stomach Ulcers
Ulcers can develop in various parts of the GI tract, including the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Contrary to popular belief, research shows that men develop duodenal ulcers more often than any other kind, including stomach ulcers. On the other hand, the opposite is true for women: They tend to develop more stomach ulcers and fewer ulcers of the duodenal.
Many doctors refer to stomach ulcers simply as peptic ulcers. A few other types of ulcers and names that ulcers sometimes go by include:
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Use A Heating Pad Or Hot Water Bottle
Heat is a simple but effective remedy for stomach pain. If youre wondering how to get rid of cramps fast, try this tip first. Grab an electric blanket, heating pad, or hot water bottle. You want something thats very warm, but not so hot it will burn you.
Get comfortable and place your heating pad over the part of your stomach that hurts. It might take 10-15 minutes to start feeling the soothing effects of the heat. Dont have a heating pad? You can easily make one with some dry rice and a pair of socks.
Find a pair of socks that dont contain any synthetic material, and pour a cup or two of dry rice into one. Tie a knot in the top and microwave it for a minute or two. Reheat your makeshift heating pad whenever it starts to cool down.
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Causes Of The Stomach Flu
The stomach flu is usually caused by any number of different viruses that can attack your gastrointestinal system. Its not caused by the influenza virus, which gives you the seasonal flu.
Less often, bacteria can cause it, typically due to contaminated water or food that was prepared inadequately or in an unhygienic environment.
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Symptoms Of Serious Stomach Issues
The symptoms of stomach problems after taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can vary from person to person. Some symptoms can be signs of something more serious like stomach bleeding or ulcers, so it important to recognise the symptoms of these serious stomach problems yourself:
- Extreme abdominal pain
- Vomiting blood or a dark substance
If you experience any of these symptoms, consult with your GP or pharmacist immediately.
Treating Chronic Abdominal Pain With Pain Medicine
Pain medicine to treat chronic abdominal or pelvic pain is usually not the first step in the process.
Trent Emerick, MD, a pain medicine doctor at UPMC, says he usually sees people after they have a diagnosis. This means theyre already getting treatment for the cause of their pain.
Abdominal pain is a challenging type of pain to treat, because oftentimes there is no cure, per se, Dr. Emerick says. Its managing symptoms and trying to reduce portions of the patients pain.
Dr. Emerick works to reduce peoples abdominal pain through a combination of different treatments. He explains that people who incorporate as many treatment options as possible see the best results. However, theres no quick fix for most chronic abdominal pain, he says.
Oftentimes it becomes about lifestyle management, which is why its so important to incorporate all of those different things, Dr. Emerick says.
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Symptoms Of Abdominal Pain In Adults
The type of pain can vary greatly. When abdominal pain occurs, it can:
- be sharp, dull, stabbing, cramp-like, twisting or fit many other descriptions
- be brief, come and go in waves, or it can be constant
- make you throw up
- make you want to stay still or make you so restless that you pace around trying to find âjust the right positionâ
- vary from a minor problem to one needing urgent surgery.
Natural Remedies For Diarrhea #8 Brat Diet
Eating high-binding and hardening foods such as overripebananas, rice, apple sauce and toast are definitely the way to goif you currently have a dose of the runs. Other foods including pasta, oatmeal,yogurt and healthy wholemealcrackers are also very good for treating diarrhea and hardening stools. Andmake sure you avoid all spicy foods and saturated fatty foods, especially friedfoods and takeaway foods. Eating these unhealthy foods will only keep sendingyou back to that dreaded thunder box!
Along with following the BRAT diet, try making yourself anice peppermint or chamomile tea as well. Chamomile and peppermint are bothvery soothing to the gastrointestinal tract and help to alleviate the build-upof intestinal gas that can sometimes accompany diarrhoea. Youcan easily buy chamomile or peppermint tea from most supermarkets or online. Forextra benefit and taste, add a slice of fresh lemon to your cup and drink 3-4times per day. For children with diarrhea, try giving them some peppermintcandy . Just be aware thatpeppermint candy can be high in sugar so be sure to go with a sugar free brand.
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How Is Abdominal Pain Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will ask you detailed questions about your pain. Theyll want to know:
- Where you feel it.
- How long youve had it.
- If it comes and goes.
- If its getting worse.
- If it stays in one place or moves.
- What makes it better or worse.
- What other symptoms you have.
From your answers, your healthcare provider will try to determine if you need emergency treatment. Sometimes your healthcare provider will be able to tell right away that your pain is temporary and not serious. Sometimes they may suspect a more serious condition and may want to run some tests. And sometimes they wont be able to solve the mystery on the first visit. Your pain may subside, or you may have to return for further investigation.
Taking Care Of Yourself At Home
Most abdominal pain goes away without special treatment. Be guided by your doctor, but there are some things you can do to help ease the pain, including:
- Place a hot water bottle or heated wheat bag on your abdomen.
- Soak in a warm bath. Take care not to scald yourself.
- Drink plenty of clear fluids such as water.
- Reduce your intake of coffee, tea and alcohol as these can make the pain worse.
- When you are allowed to eat again, start with clear liquids, then progress to bland foods such as crackers, rice, bananas or toast. Your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Try over-the-counter antacids, to help reduce some types of pain.
- Take mild painkillers such as paracetamol. Please check the packet for the right dose. Avoid aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs unless advised to take them by a doctor. These drugs can make some types of abdominal pain worse.
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Where Is The Pain
Doctors and other health professionals will first ask you where you feel the pain. Pain above the umbilicus but below the ribcage on the right may be gallstone pain. Gallstone pain may spread to the right shoulder or the back.
Pain from kidney stones is felt in the right side or left side, more in the back than the front of the abdomen, and tends to radiate downwards into the groin on the same side.
Pain in the very centre of the abdomen is more likely to be coming from the intestines, however in males, testicular pain is also felt in the centre of the abdomen.
Who Shouldnt Take Anti
Donât try to treat your diarrhea at home if you have signs of an infection. Talk to your doctor first if you have a fever or thereâs blood in your poop. You may need an antibiotic or other medicine to get rid of bacteria or parasites.
Donât take bismuth subsalicylate if youâre allergic to aspirin. Teenagers or kids with chickenpox or flu-like symptoms shouldnât take it either. It raises their chances of Reyeâs syndrome. Thatâs a rare condition that can hurt their brain and liver.
Donât give anti-diarrheal drugs to babies or young kids. Ingredients like bismuth, magnesium, and aluminum can build up in their little bodies. The doctor can tell you which drugs are safe for children under 12.
Donât take bismuth salicylate or other anti-diarrheal drugs if youâre pregnant without talking to your doctor first.
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What Is A Stomach Ulcer
A stomach ulcer, also called a gastric ulcer, is an open sore that develops in your stomach lining. You can also get one in your duodenum, the first part of the small intestine that your stomach feeds into. Duodenal ulcers and stomach ulcers are both types of peptic ulcers. Theyre named for pepsin, one of the digestive juices that are found in the stomach and that sometimes leak into the duodenum. These juices are a contributing factor in peptic ulcer disease.
Peptic ulcers occur when the protective mucous lining in your stomach and duodenum has been eroded, allowing gastric acids and digestive enzymes to eat away at your stomach and duodenal walls. This eventually results in open sores that are continually irritated by the acid. If left untreated, they can begin to cause serious complications, such as internal bleeding. Over time, they can even wear a hole all the way through. This is a medical emergency.
Sudden Stomach Cramps With Diarrhoea
If your stomach cramps have started recently and you also have diarrhoea, the cause may be a tummy bug . This means you have a viral or bacterial infection of the stomach and bowel. It should get better without treatment after a few days.
Gastroenteritis may be caused by:
- coming into close contact with someone whoâs infected
- eating contaminated food
If you have repeated bouts of stomach cramps and diarrhoea, you may have a long-term condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome .
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Ulcer Medication Over The Counter
Many non-prescription medications are available that help relieve pain and quicken the healing process. This article discusses various over-the-counter peptic ulcer and mouth ulcer medications.
Many non-prescription medications are available that help relieve pain and quicken the healing process. This article discusses various over-the-counter peptic ulcer and mouth ulcer medications.
Peptic ulcers are open sores which occur on the lining of stomach, esophagus, or duodenum. Many people believe that peptic ulcers are caused by spicy food or stress. However, peptic ulcers are caused due to a specific type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. Stress and spicy foods can worsen peptic ulcer, though. NSAIDs, which are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, like ibuprofen can also cause peptic ulcers.
If you are experiencing symptoms like abdominal pain with a burning sensation, pain after few hours of eating, pain becoming worse on an empty stomach, heartburn, belching, nausea, indigestion, vomiting, weight loss, or poor appetite, then these all point to peptic ulcer. To treat peptic ulcers, the doctor will prescribe you certain ulcer medications. Over-the-counter drugs and many lifestyle changes will also be advised.
Home Remedies For An Upset Stomach
An upset stomach is a nonmedical term describing a range of gastrointestinal symptoms like gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea.
Next time youre feeling any of these symptoms, try these home remedies from Nebraska Medicine gastroenterologist Sarah Malik, MBBS, to feel better.
Peppermint oil
For centuries, peppermint oil has been used to treat gastrointestinal ailments. Peppermint oil possesses antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulating and anesthetic activities, all of which may help gut disorders. Peppermint oil can relax painful muscle contractions along your food pipe.
Eucalyptus oil, found in vapor rub
Vapor rub contains ingredients that can provide a soothing effect if rubbed on the belly. It contains eucalyptus oil, which fights against bacteria, improves your immune system and reduces inflammation. It also contains menthol, camphor oil and nutmeg oil, which have been used to relieve pain.
Ginger
Herbal medicines are also effective for nausea. People have used ginger root to soothe troubled stomachs for the past 2,000 years. Various preclinical and clinical studies also support ginger’s helpful properties. Try ginger tea with lemon for a relaxing, comforting drink.
Sports drinks and noncaffeinated sodas
Certain foods make an upset stomach worse
Some people with chronic stomach discomfort are more sensitive to certain foods:
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How Is A Peptic Ulcer Treated
Some peptic ulcers heal on their own. But if you donât treat them, the ulcers tend to come back.
They can erode the blood vessel wall in your stomach or small intestine. The ulcers also can eat a hole through the lining and get infected. Or they can cause swelling, which may block food from moving from your stomach into your small intestine.
If H. pylori is the culprit, your doctor may prescribe a mix of antibiotics to kill it. If aspirin and other NSAIDs are behind the ulcer, you may need to cut down on them, stop taking them altogether, or switch to another pain reliever.
Your doctor may also give you antacids to fight stomach acid, or prescribe medicine to lessen the acid your body makes. Prescription drugs called cytoprotective agents can help protect the lining of the stomach or small intestine so the ulcer can heal.
Other Treatments For Stomach Pain
Stomach pain, indigestion, and gastrointestinal pain can also respond to home management or self-care.
Depending on the type and cause of stomach pain, these other treatments may help.
- Sit upright after meals: If you are prone to acid reflux or burping, sitting upright for an hour after meals can help to make sure that food digests and leaves the stomach. Lying down shortly after eating may worsen acid that comes up the throat.
- Proper hydration: Without enough fluids, digestion and food transit in the GI tract may slow, leading to feelings of fullness, bloating, intestinal cramping, or reflux. Fluid recommendations vary depending on age and body weight, but generally, adults need 4-8 cups of fluid per day.
- Digestive enzymes: Digestion starts in the mouth, where enzymes start to break down food as soon as saliva touches it. If you eat too quickly or do not chew food thoroughly, the stomach can have a harder time breaking it down. Inadequate enzymes in the stomach can also result in acid reflux, bloating, cramping, and other digestive problems. Digestive enzymes contain the same enzymes that your body should have to break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Some of them also come with hydrochloric acid . Do not take hCL if you have an ulcer or ever had one.
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How To Prevent Abdominal Pain
Due to the wide variety of ailments that can cause abdominal pain, not all abdominal discomfort is preventable. To lower your chances of developing abdominal discomfort, you can do the following:
- Maintain a healthy diet of fiber-rich foods.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Exercise regularly and participate in stress reduction activities.
- Avoid over-eating and obesity.
- See your primary care physician.
- Obtain a screening colonoscopy as directed by your primary care physician.
- Limit alcohol and NSAIDs.
Types Of Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can feel completely different based upon the underlying issue. You may experience discomfort in your abdomen that feels sharp, dull, burning hot, crampy, or achy, among others.
Though there are many ways to characterize abdominal pain, it can be classified into two main types: neuropathic or nociceptive.
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How To Get Rid Of Gas Pains And Bloating
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The average adult passes gas between 13 and 21 times a day. Gasis a normal part of the digestion process. But if gas builds up in your intestines and youre unable to expel it, you may start to feel pain and discomfort.
Gas pain, bloating, and flatus frequency can be exacerbated by anything that causes diarrhea or constipation. Gas can also be caused by:
- swallowing air while you eat or drink
Make an appointment with your doctor if your gas symptoms:
- cause you distress
- change suddenly
- are accompanied with constipation, diarrhea, or weight loss
Your doctor can determine the underlying cause. If you dont already have a primary care provider, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.
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How Can I Treat Abdominal Pain
If you have abdominal pain, keeping warm and placing a heat pack or hot water bottle on your stomach may help.
If your abdominal pain does not require you to stop eating and drinking, stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of clear, non-alcoholic fluids. If you have a medical condition that restricts your fluid intake, check with your doctor about how much fluid you can have.
Eat small meals and â foods such as rice, dry toast or bananas. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine until 48 hours after the pain has gone away.
Several medicines can help if you have non-acute abdominal pain, including:
- paracetamol to ease the pain
- charcoal tablets or similar for wind pain
- medicines to ease spasms
- medicines to stop diarrhoea
Avoid aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen and naproxen since these can irritate your stomach. A pharmacist can advise you about the most appropriate medicine for your abdominal pain.
In more serious cases, the treatment recommended will depend on the cause and severity of the abdominal pain, and how long you have had it. Treatment may include following a particular diet in the long term getting more exercise taking medicines or having surgery.
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