Have you ever experienced unbearable stomach pain but have no idea what could be causing such horrid pain? There are many reasons why you might be feeling abdominal pain – and so many symptoms can overlap, making it hard to figure out, let alone treat. Below are some of the most likely reasons for your stomach pain and some helpful tips on how to make yourself feel better.
Food Poisoning
Probably everyone’s go-to when they first experience pain, as it’s so easy to develop. Food poisoning can develop if you’ve eaten or drunk any food or drink that’s been contaminated with specific germs. This can be caused at any stage of the food production, preparation or storage. Common symptoms include:
- Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
There’s not much you can do once you’ve got food poisoning to limit how poorly you’ll feel. It’s best to rest it out, consume some basic foods like bread or crackers after the nausea settles down and to keep as hydrated as possible.
Stomach Virus
Stomach viruses can feel very similar to food poisoning so they can often be confused with each other. They’re not actually caused by influenza, which the name would suggest. It’s actually caused by being infected by other viruses. Unlike food poisoning, a stomach virus tends to take a little bit longer to develop, symptoms often taking a day or more to develop. These symptoms include:
- Low-grade fever
- Muscle aches
- Head-ache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
You want to treat a stomach virus the same way you would food poisoning – lots of rest and keep hydrated. Try some healthy food once the nausea and vomiting have settled a bit; something you find easy on your stomach, like rice and chicken.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
If you often get cramps or pain in your abdomen, it could be a little more serious. A lot of the symptoms of other acute conditions you may experience more often, even on a daily basis. This could be a sign of something more chronic. IBS is a chronic condition, something that you will have to deal with more long-term. Some of the common symptoms are:
- Stomach cramps
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Gas
Currently there is no known cause for IBS, making it very hard to treat, and there’s no cure either. However, there are things that you can do to manage your symptoms at home.
Certain foods can be triggers, which can differ from person to person, so find what doesn’t work for you and try to avoid it. There’s some evidence out there that probiotics can be beneficial to IBS sufferers. These can be found in yogurts and some supplements. They can help to improve your gut microbiome and may reduce some of your symptoms.
Figuring out the cause of your pain can be confusing – particularly when it involves the stomach. Symptoms overlap and there are often not a lot of treatment options out there. Once you’ve worked out what the cause of your pain is, it’ll help you to manage your symptoms.
