Stress and stomach pain are two sides of the same coin. When a person feels stressed, their gastrointestinal tract gets affected. Stress and anxiety are common causes of stomach aches. While it’s important to consult with a stomach pain doctor specialist to rule out other problems, stress-related stomach pain is a growing concern among the urban population nowadays. In this blog, we will take a look at stress-related stomach pain.
Why Does Stress Cause Stomach Pain?
Stress causes specific hormones and neurotransmitters to be released in the body. This impacts the way the stomach moves and squeezes waste products out. Stress also affects the delicate balance of bacteria in the gut.
Also, people who are stressed tend to suffer from indigestion. They tend to eat foods that are unhealthy and high in refined sugars which causes indigestion and gastrointestinal distress.
Under conditions of stress, a person can also drink caffeine or smoke cigarettes more frequently, which can cause a lot of negative gut reactions.
On that note, here are some lifestyle tips that can help to ease tummy-related problems.
Tip 1: Beat Stress
In some people, stress causes bloating, constipation, indigestion, and pain. In others, it can cause diarrhoea. Depending on the person, stress manifests itself in different ways. Some people also lose their appetite completely. It’s important to combat stress as it can also worsen the conditions of ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
Tip 2: Stop Smoking
Smoking weakens the muscles at the lower end of the food pipe. This can then cause the acid in the stomach to wash back up. When the acid washes back up, it creates a condition known as acid reflux. This can be quite dangerous. So, if you are stressed, don’t turn to cigarettes to calm you down.
Tip 3: Don’t Binge Drink
Feeling stressed can cause you to feel like you need instant relief. Binge drinking is something that people turn to when they feel stressed. This can be a harmful activity. Binge drinking causes acid production in the stomach to increase which can then bore holes into the delicate stomach lining. You will then need to see a stomach pain doctor specialist for ulcer treatment.
Tip 4: Lose Excess Weight
Losing weight from your stomach is a good thing to do, even if you aren’t stressed. Losing weight from your stomach can prevent heartburn and other acid-related stomach complaints.
Wrapping Up
Stress-related stomach pain is something for which you may need to see a stomach pain doctor specialist. Such a specialist will help you to distinguish between stress-related pain and the general pain that you are experiencing because of other complications.