A stomach cramp is a term used to describe pain in the abdomen. Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints heard in the emergency room, according to a 2005 study by Louis G. Graff IV, MD, from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Only between 20 to 25 percent of abdominal complaints are serious conditions requiring acute care.
Indigestion
According to Dr. Graff, most patients who go to the emergency room with abdominal pain have a mild condition like dyspepsia, also known as indigestion. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, NDDIC, explains that indigestion is a term used to describe a variety of symptoms including abdominal pain and discomfort. Indigestion can be caused by digestive diseases like reflux disease, ulcers or an abnormality of the pancreas. According to MayoClinic.com overeating, eating too quickly, eating fatty, greasy or spicy foods or chocolate can also cause indigestion.
Conditions to Consider
The MayoClinic.com Symptom Checker suggests a dozen different conditions that can cause lower abdominal pain. Digestive diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and peptic ulcer are not caused by eating, but food can worsen or trigger symptoms. Celiac disease and lactose intolerance are conditions that can cause abdominal pain if you eat certain foods containing gluten or lactose, such as bread, pasta, cookies and dairy products containing milk, cheese and ice cream.
Digestive Diseases
Because your pain occurs after eating, it's likely your physician will first consider a digestive disease. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the most common causes of abdominal pain are constipation, food poisoning or allergies, stomach flu or ulcers. Constipation means that your bowel movements are difficult or infrequent. Eating large amounts of milk or cheese, or a poor diet in general can cause constipation. Food poisoning typically occurs in raw foods such as meat, poultry, fruit or vegetables. E. coli and salmonella are some of the most common bacteria that can contaminate food and cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea and fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis, is a contagious condition you could have caught from a family member or work colleague.
Inflammatory Conditions
Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes ulcers to occur in the lining of the rectum and colon, according to the NDDIC. Because the symptoms are similar to other digestive diseases, it's often difficult to diagnose colitis. While colitis is not caused by food, eating can trigger a flare-up. The National Institutes of Health reports that diverticulitis is characterized by swelling in the intestinal wall. Lower abdominal pain is one of the top symptoms of diverticulitis.
Treating Abdominal Pain
The NIH suggests sipping clear fluids like water or tea. Avoid solid foods for the first few hours and wait six hours to eat if you've been vomiting. Because pain medications can upset your stomach, talk to your doctor about which drugs to take to treat your symptoms. If your pain persists past 24 to 48 hours, call your physician. Seek immediate medical help if you're unable to pass stool, have blood in your stool or vomit, have sudden, sharp pain in your abdomen or if your belly is rigid and tender to the touch.
