- 1. Excess gases
- 2. Poor digestion
- 3. Excessive stress
- 4. Gastritis or gastric ulcer
- 5. Gastroesophageal reflux
- 6. Lactose or gluten intolerance
- 7. Irritable bowel
- 8. Problems in the uterus or ovaries
- 9. Problems with the gallbladder or pancreas
- 10. Intestinal worms
- 11. Cancer of the intestine or stomach
- When to go to the doctor
Belly pain is a very common problem that can be caused by simple situations like poor digestion or constipation, for example, and for that reason it can disappear without needing treatment, being only advised to rest, avoid eating fatty or sugar-rich foods and drink lots of water.
However, when the pain in the belly is very intense or lasts for more than 2 days, it is recommended to see a general practitioner or family doctor to identify the cause and start the appropriate treatment.
1. Excess gases
Excess intestinal gas is the main cause of discomfort in the belly, especially in people who are recurrently constipated. But intestinal gases can also arise when you have an intestinal problem, such as an irritable bowel or lactose intolerance, as well as when you eat a lot of foods such as eggs, beans, milk or soft drinks.
What it feels like: in addition to a stinging pain in the belly, excess gas can also cause a swollen belly, heartburn, hooked chest or frequent burping.
What to do: A great tip is to be careful with your diet and you can have a lemongrass tea with fennel once a day or take a medicine for gases, such as Luftal. Also, see how to get a massage to help expel gas faster.
2. Poor digestion
Like excess gas, poor digestion is also a very common problem, occurring when you mix foods in the wrong way or when you eat foods rich in protein or excess sugar.
What it feels like: It is common to experience other symptoms such as heartburn, frequent belching, feeling of a full stomach and excessive tiredness.
What to do: in addition to taking care of your diet, you can choose to take digestive teas, such as boldo or fennel tea, or some pharmacy remedies, such as Gaviscon, Estomazil or fruit salt, can also be used. See also other options to end bad digestion.
3. Excessive stress
Psychological problems caused by excessive stress, such as depression or exhaustion, can alter the functioning of the gastrointestinal system, causing abdominal discomfort that can be mistaken for problems in the stomach or intestine.
What it feels like: other signs such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping or muscle pain may appear.
What to do: the ideal is to try to relax to assess if the pain subsides, practicing light physical exercise, having a massage or resting in a quiet room, for example. However, if symptoms continue, a doctor should be consulted to determine if there is another cause. Here are some natural ways to relieve excess stress.
4. Gastritis or gastric ulcer
Inflammation of the lining of the stomach, known as gastritis, or the presence of an ulcer can cause severe pain in the belly, especially after eating or when eating very spicy or fatty foods.
What it feels like: in addition to intense pain over the stomach area, it is common to experience frequent nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and a bloated stomach.
What to do: When the pain is very intense, a gastroenterologist should be consulted for more specific exams such as endoscopy to assess the existence of an ulcer, for example. However, until the consultation, adequate nutrition should be provided to help relieve symptoms. See what the diet for gastritis and ulcer should be like.
5. Gastroesophageal reflux
Reflux happens when the acidic content of the stomach reaches the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation of the lining of this organ. This problem is more common in people with hiatus hernia, overweight, diabetes or smokers, but it can happen in any person or age due to other problems, such as changes in the stomach or long gastric emptying, for example.
What it feels like: the pain usually arises in the pit of the stomach and is accompanied by a burning sensation in the throat, frequent belching, indigestion, bad breath or a feeling of a ball in the throat. These symptoms can get worse when you bend your body down or when you lie down right after eating.
What to do: avoid lying down right after eating, sleeping with the headboard slightly elevated, making changes to your diet and, in some cases, taking medications recommended by the gastroenterologist. See how the treatment is done.
6. Lactose or gluten intolerance
Food intolerances, such as lactose or gluten, happen when the body cannot digest these substances, causing inflammation of the entire gastrointestinal system, leading to widespread pain and discomfort after meals, especially when food such as bread, pasta, cheese or milk.
What it feels like: the pain is usually widespread and accompanied by other signs such as a swollen belly, diarrhea, excessive gas, irritability or vomiting. In addition, weight loss and loss of muscle mass can happen over time.
What to do: in case of suspicion of intolerance, a gastroenterologist should be consulted to confirm the diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. In these cases, you should avoid all foods with the substance to which you have an intolerance. See a list of foods with lactose or gluten, which should be avoided.
7. Irritable bowel
Irritable bowel syndrome is a problem that causes inflammation of the lining of the intestine, and may not have a specific cause or be caused by excessive stress or sensitivity to some food, for example.
What it feels like: It is common to feel abdominal pain with severe cramps, excessive gas, periods of diarrhea interspersed with constipation.
What to do: a gastroenterologist should be consulted to confirm the diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. In cases where it is possible to identify what is causing the symptoms, this food or situation should be avoided. Understand how you can know if it is irritable bowel.
8. Problems in the uterus or ovaries
The appearance of problems in the uterus, such as inflammation or endometriosis, as well as changes in the ovaries, such as cysts, for example, are one of the main causes of the appearance of pain in the belly foot in women. Check out 7 other signs of uterus problems.
What it feels like: Usually, this type of pain can be constant or cramping, and moderate to severe, in addition to causing bleeding outside the menstrual period or irregular menstruation, for example.
What to do: if there is a pelvic pain that may be related to the menstrual cycle, it is important to go to the gynecologist to have tests, such as a pap smear or ultrasound, to identify if there is a problem and start the appropriate treatment.
9. Problems with the gallbladder or pancreas
Some more serious problems that arise in the gallbladder and pancreas, such as stone or inflammation, can cause severe pain in the upper belly that worsens over time or becomes more severe after meals.
What it feels like: in addition to severe pain, other symptoms may appear, such as fever, swelling of the belly, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or yellowish stools.
What to do: these problems must be treated quickly and, therefore, if there is a suspicion of changes in the gallbladder or pancreas, one should go to the hospital to identify the problem and start the appropriate treatment. See how the treatment is done in case of gallstones or acute or chronic pancreatitis.
10. Intestinal worms
Although intestinal worms are very common, especially in those who prefer rare foods, pain is usually a rarer symptom, appearing when the worms have been developing for some time.
What it feels like: the most common symptoms of intestinal worms are weight loss, itchy anus, diarrhea, changes in appetite, tiredness for no apparent reason and a swollen belly.
What to do: you should consult a family doctor or a gastroenterologist to take a medicine for worms, such as Albendazole, for example. Know what other precautions you should take to eliminate the worms.
11. Cancer of the intestine or stomach
Belly pain is rarely a sign of cancer, however, more advanced states of cancer in the intestine or stomach can cause constant and difficult to describe pain.
What it feels like: in cases of cancer, the pain is almost always accompanied by other symptoms such as blood in the stool or vomiting, very dark stools, a constant feeling of heaviness in the stomach or anal area, frequent tiredness or weight loss without an apparent cause. See what other signs can alert you to stomach or bowel cancer.
What to do: When cancer is suspected, especially in the case of a family history of cancer, it is advisable to consult a gastroenterologist. In addition, people over the age of 50 should undergo frequent endoscopy and colonoscopy, as they are at increased risk of developing cancer.
When to go to the doctor
In situations of pain in the belly it is recommended to go to the doctor when:
- The pain is very strong and prevents daily tasks; There is no improvement in symptoms after 2 days; Symptoms such as fever or persistent vomiting appear.
In these cases, it is necessary to take medication prescribed by the doctor to maintain the proper functioning of the body, avoiding dehydration.
