We all have abdominal pain from time to time. Sometimes, it’s a result of eating an excessive amount of food that’s too spicy. Sometimes, it’s merely the symptom of a temporary and mild contagious disease, like stomach flu.
But for some of us, stomach aches are recurring and bothersome. We feel some degree of mild abdominal pain on a frequent basis, often many times a week. What can you do about these recurring stomach aches?
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
First, understand that stomach aches can have a multitude of root causes and they can manifest in innumerable ways. You might feel abdominal pain high up, closer to your esophagus, or down lower, closer to your intestines. You might feel it on the left side, right side, or the center of your body. It might be mild or extreme. It might be temporary or extended. It might feel sharp or dull.
This makes it incredibly difficult to pinpoint exactly what kind of stomach ache you’re feeling or how it’s affecting your body. Some people just have a sensitive stomach, and these stomach aches are nothing to worry about. But some people experience these stomach aches because they have a deeply problematic health condition that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
At the worst end of the spectrum, we have a disease like peritoneal mesothelioma. This typically occurs only in people who have consumed or been exposed to asbestos. Sudden, sharp abdominal pain could be a sign of an emergency situation, like appendicitis. But stomach aches can also be a byproduct of heartburn or indigestion, which are typically mild and treatable issues.
Talking to a Doctor
If you are in any way concerned about your stomach pain, the best approach is to talk to a doctor. If your stomach pain is severe, unexplained, or if it just feels off in some way, getting medical attention is paramount. In the next section, we’re going to cover home remedies that can frequently relieve your abdominal discomfort, but if you’re suffering from something more serious, they aren’t going to help you – and they could delay you in getting the treatment you need.
What You Can Try on Your Own
If you suspect that your recurring stomach aches are a simple or mild matter like a sensitive stomach overall or a byproduct of heartburn, these are some strategies you can try to find relief:
- Identify triggering foods. Take the time to identify and avoid triggering foods. These are foods that are known to cause stomach aches in you, specifically. Different people have varying tolerances for different types of food; for example, some people may feel pain when eating acidic foods but tolerate spicy foods perfectly well. Other people may respond negatively to spicy foods but tolerate acidic foods perfectly well. Your triggering foods are going to be unique, so experiment with various changes to your diet to see if you can figure out what’s causing your pain. Once you identify the culprit, avoid it.
- Generally, clean up your diet. Generally, cleaning up your diet can also improve your stomach issues. Reducing your portion sizes, avoiding highly acidic and spicy foods, and eating a diverse mix of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can benefit you in many ways – not just minimizing your stomach aches.
- Drink more water. Water is essential for healthy digestion, and it’s crucial for our health overall. Water should be your primary beverage of choice, and you should drink plenty of water throughout the day. Be sure to do this consistently; If you only drink water in response to a stomach ache, it’s probably not going to do much.
- Take antacid tablets. Antacids work by neutralizing your stomach acid; because excessive or particularly strong stomach acid can be a root cause of some types of abdominal pain, a single antacid tablet may be all it takes to treat your symptoms. If you don’t have any antacid tablets at home, you can accomplish something similar by consuming a spoonful of baking soda – though this isn’t exactly a fun culinary experience.
- Cut alcohol and tobacco use. Recurring stomach aches are sometimes the natural byproduct of excessive alcohol consumption or tobacco use. Consider cutting these vices out of your life temporarily to see if this provides you with meaningful improvements.
- Use natural remedies. There are a variety of natural remedies that can supposedly soothe a sore stomach. Depending on your preferences, you might try ginger, peppermint, chamomile tea, or any number of other home remedies.
In most cases, mild stomach aches are nothing to be concerned about. But because they can be uncomfortable and downright painful at times, it’s important to try and address them. With these strategies and others, you can return to a healthy life.
