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Spasms in the stomach from time to time, worry more than half of the population, as often claimed by doctors. At the same time, many are engaged in self-treatment, without thinking that spastic pain in the abdomen can easily be just a sign of a more serious illness.
Causes of spasms
Abdominal cramps and pain can be symptoms not only of the gastrointestinal tract, but also of the urogenital system. But most often they occur due to food poisoning, menstrual pain, appendicitis or gas accumulation in the stomach. In addition, the cause of abdominal cramps can be stress or allergies.
Intoxication of the body, that is, poisoning, can also lead to spasms. Particularly dangerous is heavy metal poisoning.Often the cause of cramps is the use of stale products. Together with them, various bacteria enter the body and infect it. Often, spasms appear in those who overeat and chew badly. It is very poorly digested and strongly loads the intestines, which is why spasms occur.
Symptoms of abdominal cramps
Women often have difficulty with the menstrual cycle. The main symptom is pain. In this case, severe pain does not necessarily indicate a serious health problem. But a weak pain with cramps often accompanies appendicitis or cancer.
Symptoms such as flatulence, frequent bowel movements, and diarrhea may also occur. Most often they indicate irritable bowel syndrome or dysbiosis.Abdominal cramps in this case are only a sign of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, a person may experience severe nausea and a feeling of insufficient bowel movement.
Spasms in children
In children under the age of 1 year, abdominal cramps occur quite often. There are several reasons for this:
- their body does not fully produce the lactase enzyme to break milk;
- dysbacteriosis due to the intake of antibacterial drugs by the mother;
- development of pyloric stenosis.
Older children may suffer from abdominal cramps as a result of vegetative-vascular dystonia, appendicitis, worms or pancreatic colic. Self-treatment in these cases is not recommended. The child should be given those drugs that are prescribed by the doctor. Most likely, the baby will need to take probiotics to restore microflora. It will not be out of place to have a light diet, which excludes fatty, spicy foods.
Spasms in pregnant women
In the period of childbearing a woman may feel cramps in the abdomen due to the following reasons:
- toxicosis;
- squeezing the uterus;
- elevated levels of progesterone;
- stress.
It is not necessary to exclude the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, gastritis, pancreatitis or appendicitis. Also, do not confuse abdominal cramps and contraction of the uterine muscles, indicating false contractions.
Diagnostics
There are several specialists who can detect the cause of abdominal cramps. This is a neurologist, a gastroenterologist and a therapist. Diagnosis is carried out using a variety of the following studies:
- general blood test;
- Ultrasound;
- laparascopy;
- FEGDS;
- coprograms;
- bacteriological examination of feces.
What to do with bouts of abdominal cramps
Doctors recommend drinking clean water during an attack of spasms and not eating foods that are heavy for the stomach. This helps alleviate the condition. You can also lie down and apply a warm heating pad to your stomach. Be sure to measure the temperature and blood pressure. If these figures are very different from the norm, you should call an ambulance.
Then you need to find out the cause of cramps in the abdomen. Often, getting rid of spasms means getting rid of the symptom of a serious illness,which, thanks to this, is discovered too late. Therefore, it is better not to use analgesics, and replace them with antispasmodics. These drugs help the muscles to relax and eliminate pain. If the antispasmodic drugs do not work, then the cause of the appearance of spasms is much more serious. Then you should immediately consult a doctor.
Painkillers can be safely taken only after a medical examination and only on prescription. They help to improve well-being, but have many contraindications. Often, special massages, physical procedures and sedatives help to get rid of abdominal cramps. In order to adjust the work of the intestinal microflora, you should drink a course of probiotics.
- strong tea and coffee;
- alcohol;
- smoked meat;
- fried foods;
- pickled and salted foods;
- spices;
- mayonnaise;
- hot bread.
Food restrictions must be observed for at least 3 months, even if the improvement comes earlier. Portions should be small, but meals should be about 5 per day.You also need to get rid of bad habits, especially smoking, especially on an empty stomach. In the future, the amount of products harmful to the stomach is best reduced to a minimum. Therapeutic diet is to use:
- boiled meat or fish;
- vegetable soups;
- low-fat dairy products;
- boiled vegetables;
- not sour fruit.
If there are no serious reasons for the appearance of abdominal cramps, and medications give only a temporary effect, it is imperative that you change your lifestyle. And this is not only a review of the diet. You need to make your life more active and reduce the number of stressful situations. Indeed, many diseases are often caused by constant nervous tension.
Video: exercises from cramps, clamps and stiffness in the body
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