Common Causes of Stomach Pain (And How To Treat It)

By Stepy Kamei

Abdominal pain is no fun to deal with. Unfortunately, it's a health issue that affects virtually all of us at some point or another. It doesn't help to know that stomach pain can be brought on by a wide variety of causes and reasons. Therefore, it can be difficult trying to figure out how best to treat, or even prevent, stomach pain when you can't even be entirely sure what caused it in the first place. When it comes down to it, one of the best ways to combat and prevent stomach pain is to simply be knowledgeable about some of the more common causes. This way, you'll hopefully be better equipped to treat it the next time it comes around. Keep on reading to discover some of the most common reasons why you may be experiencing pain in your stomach, as well as how best to treat it.

The Common Cold or Flu

We've all experienced the common cold, as well as the flu. While it's not fun to deal with these issues, they usually resolve on their own within a week or two. If you're experiencing other symptoms in addition to stomach pain, such as fever, chills, aches and pains, a sore throat, and nausea, you may simply be dealing with a temporary sickness. Be sure to rest, drink plenty of soothing fluids, and take over the counter medication as necessary if it helps.

Food Intolerance or Allergy

If you seem to have frequent stomach pain, especially after eating and in conjunction with cramps and heartburn, it may be time to start tracking what you eat to see if you are experiencing an intolerance or allergy. Start a food diary and list everything you eat, as well as how you feel physically in the hour or two afterwards. You may start to see a link between your eating habits and stomach pain.

Infection

If you've contracted a foodborne illness such as salmonella, you may experience abdominal pain, in addition to nausea and vomiting. This usually develops shortly after eating contaminated food, and resolves on its own within a day or two.

More Immediate Health Issues

If your stomach pain comes on suddenly and severely, you may be dealing with a health issue that needs immediate medical attention. If the pain gets worse, is concentrated in one area, or is accompanied with nausea and vomiting, fever, and chills, you may be experiencing appendicitis or kidney stones. In this case, visit your nearest healthcare provider for an assessment.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cincinnati, Ohio.