While most everyone experiences a stomachache at some point in their lives, abdominal pain that is chronic, persistent or severe can be a sign of a more serious condition, report doctors at Cleveland Clinic. Causes of stomachache range from indigestion, stomach flu and food poisoning to ulcers, gas and constipation. When home remedies and time fail to relieve the pain, a physician should be consulted to rule out complications such as hernia, gallstones, appendicitis or cancer.
Change Behavior
Often, changes in eating behavior can relieve the symptoms of a stomachache. Certain kinds of food and drink, such as caffeine, fried foods or spicy food, cause abdominal discomfort that can be treated best by avoiding the foods. Eating too much causes stomach distension and discomfort. Allergies such as lactose intolerance and celiac disease can cause abdominal pain, which can be prevented by avoiding dairy products or food made with wheat. Stress can cause food to develop into digestive disorders that cause abdominal pain, so relaxing and making sure there are no negative distractions can help to ease stomachaches due to stress.
Home Care
Doctors at eMedicineHealth report that when a stomachache is not accompanied by other serious symptoms, such as bleeding, chest pain or passing out, home care remedies often can help to treat the pain. A heating pad or hot water bottle may relieve the immediate pain. Pain relievers that contain acetaminophen are best to fight abdominal pain because over-the-counter remedies like ibuprofen and aspirin can aggravate sensitive stomachs. Antacids such as TUMS, Pepto-Bismol or Maalox are designed to minimize stomach discomfort by neutralizing stomach acid. Doctors at the University of Michigan Health System report that certain herbs, such as peppermint oil, can relieve stomach discomfort. When vomiting is associated with a stomachache, patients should wait about six hours before trying to eat again and resume eating small portions of mild food such as rice, applesauce or crackers.
Medical Intervention
When a medical diagnosis is discovered to cause the abdominal pain, other treatments are available, report doctors at The American College of Gastroenterology. Prescription medications to reduce swelling and inflammation often provide relief, while antibiotics are used to treat infection that's causing the abdominal discomfort. Ulcers are treated with acid-reducing medications. Surgery to remove a diseased gall bladder will put an end to the stomachaches. Stomachaches often result as a byproduct of other conditions, such as disease in the liver, spleen or blood vessels and when those conditions are repaired, the stomachache abates.
