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Stomach Spasms

Deeptee A
If you want to know what stomach spasms are and how to treat them, you have come to the right place. This story will throw some light on the causes, symptoms, and the treatments for stomach spasms.
Stomach spasms as the name suggests, are spasms in the stomach. These are quite painful and make the person very uncomfortable. Usually a temporary situation, stomach spasms are caused due to a number of reasons. Some of the causes are temporary and mild, while several others are severe. Sometimes, problems or diseases of the organs that are close to the stomach can cause stomach spasms and pain.

Causes

As mentioned earlier, there are several stomach ache causes. The most common causes are eating too much food, eating very oily and spicy food, drinking too much of coffee, agitation, viral fever, strenuous exercise, fatigue, dehydration, drug use, and excessive alcohol.
Major causes include gastrointestinal diseases, stomach ulcers, tapeworms, gallstones, hernia, bowel obstruction, perforation, acid reflux disease, a tumor in the digestive tract, and food poisoning.
Stomach spasms are usually the result of the mentioned conditions and food allergies. Spasms in left side of the stomach are usually caused due to stomach flu.
What causes stomach spasms after eating? Lactose intolerance, inability to digest certain foods, indigestion, abdominal adhesions, etc. can lead to cramps in the stomach. Irritable bowel syndrome is another common cause of stomach spasms. There is a medical problem called diverticulosis, where there are small pouches that form in the intestines and they are filled with stools or with bacteria. This also causes the stomach to cramp up.
In women, one of the causes of muscle spasms in stomach could be menstruation. Some of these conditions could be very serious while some may not be as serious, however, both need to be treated in time so that there are no further complications. If a person complains about spasms in the stomach, then it is necessary to seek medical assistance in order to find out the cause and severity of the problem.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Spasms in the stomach lead to abdominal pain. The pain may or may not be followed by vomiting, diarrhea, severe cramping of the stomach, fever and chills. Depending on the cause and the severity, the person may have bloody stools or vomit. In some cases, the person may suffer from constipation. Only in the most severe cases can there be hemorrhaging.
If a person shows any of these symptoms, it is necessary to go to the doctor and get all the tests done to determine the cause of the problem and to avoid further stomach problems. Only after recording the symptoms and based on the tests, will the doctor be able to diagnose the problem and can begin with the treatments.

Treatment

Now that the stomach ache causes have been identified, how to stop stomach spasms is the obvious question. Before the person starts off with any of the treatments, the first thing to do will be to drink plenty of water so that the stomach can flush out the toxic wastes from the body.
Even if the person is suffering from constipation, drinking lots of water will help in cleaning the stomach. If the cause of the stomach cramps is stress, then relaxing is the best way to get cured. Eating fruits and vegetables that are rich in fiber will help reduce the spasms, as fiber will help clean the digestive tract.
Foods like oats are also rich in fiber. The person has to avoid eating oily and spicy foods, and should also eliminate coffee and sodas from the diet for a few days. Including ginger in meals and drinking herbal teas are some of the other stomach ache remedies. Brisk walks help digest the food.
Simple exercise promotes removal of waste from the body. These were the home remedies. Depending on the severity of the problem, the doctor will prescribe medications which need to be taken regularly.
It is necessary to go to the doctor for correct diagnoses and timely treatment. Ample rest and intake of fluids will help the person to get energized and cured in time. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will ensure that you do not suffer from stomach spasms, constipation, and other such health related issues.
Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.