Stomach Cramps: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Stomach cramps are an inconvenience caused by pain or irritation over the coating of the stomach. There can be various reasons and conditions that can cause stomach cramps. That underlying cause isn’t always serious.

It could range from gas to abnormal growth, infection, menstruation, pregnancy and intestinal disorders. Sometimes infection from the throat and blood can enter the digestive tract and cause stomach cramps. The result could be diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

The common signs of stomach cramps are:

• Abdominal Pain
• Abdominal Cramps
• Bloating

Stomach cramps is an inconvenience caused by sudden pain or irritation in the stomach. Here are the various conditions when you experience stomach cramps and know how stomach cramps feel:

Whether the level of pain is mild or severe, stomach cramps can have many causes. It could be indigestion, menstruation, bloating, constipation, flu, food poisoning, etc. Some causes of stomach cramps are:

• Food poisoning
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Food allergy
• UTI
• Ulcerative colitis
• Abdominal muscle pull

Serious causes of stomach cramps are:

• Pancreatitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease Ovarian cancer or cysts
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Cholecystitis
• Appendicitis
• Bowel blockage or obstruction
• Diverticulitis

Summary: Stomach cramps are caused by strain in the abdominal muscles because of an unhealthy lifestyle or an underlying disorder. The conditions are mostly treatable at home and avoidable with a few life changes.

Stomach cramps are usually linked with the pain triggered in the abdominal area. In this, pain is generally perceived in the abdominal area including the stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, and gallbladder. The symptoms associated with stomach cramps are:

• Bacterial infection.
• Food poisoning.
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Indigestion.
• Low tolerance for lactose.
• Tumors.
• Viral infections.
• Pregnancy issues.
• Gas.

The stomach aches that are caused by muscular strains, dehydration, or gastrointestinal distress can be treated at home. However, the severe case of stomach aches and other conditions require proper medical treatment. The treatment would be similar to the following or the combination:

Medications, for example, H2 blockers are a class of medicines that work by limiting the amount of corrosion delivered by the stomach. At the point when a H2 receptor blocker consumes the active ingredients contained inside this medication, it goes to specific regions of the stomach cells.

These blockers restrain the corrosive discharging cells in the stomach from responding to histamine. H2 blockers keep peptic ulcers from showing up once more. More often than not, the H2 blockers are immediately consumed by the body to give quick alleviation to the feeble states of peptic ulcer.

In situations where the ulcer has begun to drain completing an endoscopy test can control the bleeding. For patients who don't demonstrate any positive outcomes even subsequent to taking medications or after doing endoscopy, surgery may be the only option left. These methods incorporate vagotmay (cutting of the vagus nerve) and semi gastrectomy (fractional evacuation of a piece of the stomach).

Stomach cramps generally refer to the contractions that happen in your abdominal muscles. It is subjected to the part of your body that has been affected badly. Normally, stomach cramps are harmless. You can even prevent it at home. These are some home remedial measures to curb stomach cramps:

• By using heat pads, one can prevent stomach spasms. This will relax your abdominal muscles.
• Massaging the stomach area can give you great relief.
• Chamomile tea is another best option to try. It calms down the upset stomach in a few minutes.
• Dehydration is one of the major causes associated with stomach cramps. In that case, you can give your body some boost with electrolytes.
• Antacids can help in preventing bloating and gas.
• Take some rest from your daily exercise routine.
• Go for medications only when required. Whatever medicines you are taking, consult a physician first.

The following implementations can help in relieving stomach cramps:

• Heat: Heat relaxes the stomach cramps that are particularly caused by muscular strain and period.
• Massage: Massaging the stomach relieves the pressure, moves stool, relaxes muscles, and reduces bloating. Massage is done in a circular motion with an oil.
• Electrolyte: Electrolytes are useful when the cramps are because of dehydration. Drinking electrolytes will help restore the body fluid. However, electrolytes must be taken in moderation, especially in the case of kidney failure. It may rise to a cautious level in the body.
• Chamomile: Chamomile eases the cramps caused by an upset stomach like acidity, indigestion, gas, bloating. Chamomile tea has anti-inflammatory properties that unwind the muscles and reduce cramps.
• Rest: Stomach cramps caused by exercise, muscular strains can be relieved by rest.
• Antacid: Antacids are taken for the crampons caused by gastric issues. It will provide instant relief from gas, bloating, nausea, cramps.

The side effects that are commonly associated with H2 blockers are usually mild. These are diarrhea, trouble sleeping, dryness of the mouth, constipation and headaches, ringing sensation in the ears and many more.

Severe side effects include trouble breathing, wheezing, agitation, burning skin and vision issues. Endoscopy is an otherwise safe procedure but complications may have the chance of including bleeding, infection, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and problems of the gastrointestinal tract.

Post-treatment guidelines for stomach cramps include taking your medication as prescribed by your doctor on a regular basis and on time. Keep a check if you are taking any anti-inflammatory drugs or pain killers by mistake as that may aggravate the chances of heartburn.

You need to exercise regularly but make sure to avoid exercises that are stressful. Do ensure to keep a tab on your diet. Avoid alcohol, greasy or fried foods, spicy foods, carbonated drinks, and other citrus fruits or their juices. Keep yourself hydrated at all times by drinking water and other oral hydration solutions.

Depending on the seriousness of your case the recovery period of your treatment can range from a week to 4 weeks. If your stomach cramps are mainly due to indigestion you can also get better in a day provided you take the required medicine on time.

Medications as prescribed by the doctor for treating stomach cramps can range from something as low as Rs.50 to as high as Rs. 700. The price of an endoscopy test could cost you Rs. 1500 and a biopsy test could cost you Rs. 250 - Rs. 500 on an average.

There is no treatment that will permanently cure the problem of stomach cramps. The only way to keep your stomach cramps at bay is by avoiding spicy, greasy, dairy, fried foods, and foods which are rich in sugar. Eat meals small in portion and chew them well before swallowing. Do not stay on an empty stomach for a long time.

Stomach cramps at home can be relieved by simple natural remedies such as:

• Ginger: Chewing ginger or having a ginger beverage will help with stomach cramps. Ginger alleviates stomach cramps, bloating, and stimulates the body enzyme into action.
• Peppermint: Peppermint is antispasmodic that relieves stomach cramps. It activates the anti-pain receptors and soothes pain. Peppermint can be taken in tea beverages or the form of capsules.
• Heating pad: the warmth will relax the strained abdominal muscles and relieve the pain with rest.

Besides these remedies, other methods of relieving stomach cramps are:

• Taking over-the-counter medicines
• Antibiotics for the cramps caused by bacteria
• Antispasmodic medication for IBS

If there is no relief from the remedies mentioned above and have the following symptoms, it is best to visit a doctor:

• Blood in bowel
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain along with stomach pain
• Nausea and vomiting

There are various foods that are potent in preventing stomach cramps:

• Ginger tea is a good option to avoid nausea and vomiting that usually persists in stomach cramps.
• Chamomile tea is also good for healing your upset stomach.
• Peppermint is ideal if you are facing bowel movement-related issues.
• Licorice is highly potent in curing indigestion.
• Flax seeds are known to treat constipation and stomach pain.

There are several home remedies that are readily available in the kitchen. They are:

• Potato juice: Have potato juice pre-meal thrice a day to cure your problem of stomach gas
• Charcoal: Having a charcoal tablet before and after your meals which will greatly help in reducing the issues of acidity and gas
• Turmeric: Have turmeric mixed with milk everyday to get the desired results
• Ginger: Ginger is good for treating gastric problem as well as indigestion
• Baking soda: It works as an effective antacid and gives instant relief when you have it mixed with water on an empty stomach
• Apple cider vinegar
• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Onion

• One of the greatest yoga asanas to attempt for stomach pains is bridge posture.
• Apanasana Wind Relieving Pose can also be done to get relief from pain.
• Seated or Reclined Twist is the third most important asana to try during cramps.

Summary: Generally, stomach cramps are harmless. They can last for up to a few hours to one day. Their symptoms are also normal including gas, indigestion, etc. But if your pain is unbearable and is accompanied by constipation or diarrhea then you need immediate medical help.