Why Do I Get Cramps In My Belly? 12 Possible Causes
Stabs in the belly are a sensation of pain in the abdominal region often caused by excessive food intake or poor health habits, such as not exercising enough or having a high consumption of fats and carbohydrates.
These types of habits can lead to problems in the digestive tract, giving the main symptoms constipation and diarrhea, which are closely related to abdominal pain. They can also be caused by several serious medical conditions.
Below we will try to answer the question that many people ask themselves regarding their digestion: Why do I get cramps in my belly? Let’s see its possible causes and what it is advisable to do in each case.
Why do I get cramps in my belly? 12 explanations and causes
It usually happens that we notice the stomach that bothers us, giving us the feeling that something from inside is pricking us This discomfort can be of varying severity and, as a general rule, is related to having eaten too much, especially foods rich in fats, carbohydrates, lactose or some substance that our body finds difficult to digest.
In principle, a healthy diet that contains a healthy amount of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and vitamins, such as the Mediterranean diet, should not give us any intestinal problems. However, each person has a different body and, sometimes, even if they eat healthy foods, they can feel pain in their belly.
In these cases it will be necessary go to a doctor, especially a gastroenterologist so you can study if this is due to organic, digestive, intestinal dysfunctions or inflammation.
Below we will see the main causes behind punctures in the belly, what types of treatments exist for each of them and some recommendations.
1. Intestinal gas
Gas is produced in the stomach and intestine, due to the fermentation of foods rich in carbohydrates and lactose. Among the main foods that produce flatulence we have legumes such as chickpeas and lentils, vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower and carbonated drinks.
In certain cases, intestinal gas is associated with health problems such as lactose intolerance, hypochlorhydria, irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal parasites.
If excess gases are produced and cannot be released, they can cause symptoms such as cramps in the belly, burning in the throat, chest pains and constant belching. Although they do not usually involve serious damage to health, it is true that abdominal pains can cause anxiety.
The treatment for gas is usually to eat calmly, making sure to chew your food well to make work easier for the digestive tract, in addition to consuming plenty of water.
2. Constipation
Constipation occurs when stool is passed very infrequently or when it becomes hard, requiring a lot of effort to defecate. Feces accumulate along with intestinal gases causing discomfort in the lower abdomen.
Among the factors behind constipation we include not drinking enough water, consuming little fiber and not doing enough physical activity.
The treatment for constipation is usually to change your eating habits by incorporating more foods rich in fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, drinking more fluids and leading a healthier lifestyle.
An attempt should be made to maintain regular evacuation schedules since holding back the urge to defecate can worsen the consistency of the excrement, in addition to causing a progressive loss of the reflex to evacuate.
If constipation occurs very frequently and bowel habits are not regular, you should seek help from a professional to find out what medical condition could be behind it. Laxative medications that serve to facilitate the expulsion of feces may be indicated in the treatment.
3. Urinary infection
Urinary tract infection occurs when the urinary tract becomes contaminated by pathogens, mostly bacteria like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus in addition to fungi of the genus Candida sp.
Women are more susceptible to this infection because the urethra is shorter, making it easier for microorganisms to reach the area and cause pathology.
The most common symptoms of urinary tract infection are pain in the stomach, especially when urinating, burning, and, if the infection has affected the kidneys, pain in the lower back.
The diagnosis must be made by a urologist, gynecologist or general doctor by studying the patient’s blood and urine. Treatment for this medical condition focuses on relieving pain and eliminating pathogens from the urinary tract using antibiotics
4. Food poisoning
Food poisoning occurs when spoiled food or liquids that contain some type of pathogen are consumed. This pathogen, which It can be a living being such as a bacteria or virus or a substance, such as a toxin directly attacks the organism, causing damage.
In general, the most common symptoms that occur in food poisoning, in addition to punctures in the belly, are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body pain, gas and fever.
5. Menstrual cramps
Menstrual cramps are caused by spasms of the uterus during menstruation, causing pain in the abdomen During ovulation, eggs are released to be fertilized by sperm and it is during this process that some punctures can be felt in the lower abdomen.
If these menstrual cramps last more than 72 hours and are very intense, you should go to the gynecologist so that they can see if it is a serious illness, such as endometriosis.
6. Ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is a rare type of pregnancy that occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes.
As the pregnancy progresses, various symptoms may occur, in addition to pain in the lower abdomen, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding and mild cramping on one side of the pelvis. The pain may begin suddenly and the pain in the belly is usually sharp and persistent
If the area around the pregnancy ruptures and bleeds, the symptoms can get worse. This is why it is very important to go to the doctor since, if not treated in time, this pregnancy can seriously damage the woman’s health and even cause her death.
7. Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a medical condition that affects the large intestine It is not known exactly what the causes of this syndrome are, although it is related to developing hypersensitivity in the intestine when ingesting different foods.
Among the symptoms that occur in this disease we have abdominal cramps, bloating, gas, changes in intestinal habits and elimination of intestinal mucus through the rectum. Constipation and/or diarrhea may also occur, with some people suffering from both symptoms alternately.
Irritable bowel syndrome It is treated by changing the diet by introducing a diet appropriately designed by a nutritionist In addition, probiotic medications are prescribed to maintain intestinal flora, antispasmodics to relieve pain, and medications such as antiflatulents to reduce bloating and gas.
So that the patient can better manage his medical problem, it is recommended that he receive psychological therapy, especially to be aware of the changes that this disease implies in his life.
8. Appendicitis
The vermiform appendix is a small, supposedly vestigial organ that projects from the colon to the lower right side of the abdomen. If it becomes inflamed, appendicitis will occur, a disease in which abdominal pain occurs, starting around the navel and then moving.
The inflammation occurs due to the obstruction of the appendix with remains of feces The pain is usually diffuse at first, but can range from mild to severe, accompanied by increased temperature, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal bloating.
Since it is a serious illness, as soon as symptoms appear you should go to the hospital urgently Failure to do so runs the risk of the appendix rupturing and contaminating the abdominal organs with infection microorganisms. If this were to happen, suppurative appendicitis would occur.
The real usefulness of the appendix has been investigated, with studies suggesting that it could have an immune or intestinal flora maintenance function. However, the scientific consensus is that it is a vestigial organ, which is why, if appendicitis occurs, the appendix is surgically removed.
The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach , in the highest part of the abdomen. When this gland becomes inflamed, pancreatitis occurs, which gives a burning sensation and pain in the upper or middle part of the stomach.
In addition to the oppressive pain, multiple episodes of vomiting are the main symptom. Other symptoms of this disease are pain when touching the abdomen, pain that worsens after eating, tachycardia, fever, and abdominal pain that extends to the back.
10. Diverticulitis
Diverticula are small bumps that form on the inner lining of the digestive system and they tend to appear most frequently in the lower part of the large intestine, that is, the colo. They generally do not cause problems, but sometimes they can become inflamed or infected.
When these protuberances become inflamed we speak of diverticulitis, which is more likely to occur in people over 50 years of age. Among the symptoms that may appear we have severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and changes in intestinal habits.
Treatment usually consists of rest, changes in diet, and antibiotics. However, in more serious cases, surgical intervention may be required.
11. Endometriosis
The endometrium is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus When this tissue grows outside the uterus we speak of endometriosis, which is one of the most common gynecological diseases and among its symptoms we find pelvic pain and, in some cases, infertility. There is no cure but there is treatment, focused on relieving pain.
12. Cholelithiasis
Cholelithiasis is a medical condition in which stones or stones form in the gallbladder This organ helps in the digestion of fats and, when it is blocked, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and stabbing pain in the abdomen occur. Gallstones occur when bile becomes overloaded with fat from the liver.
The treatment of gallstones involves surgical intervention to remove them, combined with the use of antibiotics to prevent the appearance of infections and their spread throughout the body.
recommendations
If you feel pain in your belly, what you should do is go to a doctor, preferably a gastroenterologist, who can make sure that the causes of these discomforts are not due to a serious illness, such as appendicitis, pancreatitis or endometriosis. Likewise, To avoid feeling these discomforts, the following recommendations should be followed
