 |
Cure a Stomach Ache
From Tips and Steps
Looking for more information
Type Cure a Stomach Ache into the search box below.Loading
A stomach ache is one of the more annoying things in life, especially when you have things to do. Here are some things you can do to get rid of them.
Steps
Home Remedies
- Lie on your back and rub your stomach in a circular motion.
- Your feet must be at a higher level than the rest of your body. Try putting some pillows below your feet and the ache may go away.
- Eat an herb which aids digestion, such as ginger ale, or Aloe Vera Juice (an anti-parasitic that aids digestion). Similar herbal teas that help digestion include mint, ginger or chamomile tea.
- Place a heating pad on your abdomen to give temporary pain relief.
- Lie down for a few minutes and relax. Don't do any activities even if you feel better. Make sure you feel better for good or you'll make yourself even more sick! [Try this]
- Close your eyes.
- Place a cool moist washrag over your forehead and watch tv and just relax.
- Breathe slowly and evenly, trying to keep your mind off of the pain.
- Listen to some music if you get bored.
- Sip a glass of iced water slowly or warm/hot water.
- Eat Saltine crackers or toast. Sometimes stomach aches are caused by too much acid floating around in your stomach with nothing to do. These foods will help absorb the acid to make things a little more comfortable. Also, sipping a glass of water will help to dilute the acid in your stomach. Drinking milk can neutralize the acid in your stomach too, but be careful as too much of a thicker substance, such as milk, can cause the stomach ache to worsen. You may also just be hungry!
- Lie on your left side for 5 minutes on a comfortable couch or bed to see whether it will allow you to burp. This is because the stomach is on the left side of the body and the esophagus enters the stomach on the right. So, the bubbles of gas can rise to that entry point and make a burp possible.
- Avoid spicy foods, heavy foods, or rich desserts until your stomach feels completely better.
- Don't drink any energy drinks while dealing with a stomach ache.
- Loud noises that could start a headache will only worsen a stomach ache.
- Drinking black coffee tends to aid the digestive process.
- Try TUMS or Pepto-Bismol.
- Try carbonated beverages such as ginger ale, carbonated mineral water (mix with juice to add flavour), or tonic water (with quinine, it tastes horrible but it works!)
- Avoid drinking dairy products, though if the stomach ache is being caused by too much acid inside the stomach, it is a good idea to drink milk which is also an acid, though a weak acid.
- Place an ice cube above, on, or below your belly button and lie down. This may numb the pain temporarily.
- Use a hot water bottle pressed to your abdomen, but be careful it's not so hot that it burns you.
- Try taking a warm bath and relaxing for a little bit in the tub.
- Sit down comfortably and bring your knees up to your chest and stay like that for a minute or two. When you stretch your legs out again, do so slowly.
Over-The-Counter Medications
- Take over-the-counter medications like Gas-ex to relieve the pressure from gas build up.
- Allow yourself to pass gas, even if you are in polite company. It may be somewhat embarrassing, but you do not want to become bloated or let the cramps become more serious and painful. Also, go into another room, such as the bathroom, to pass gas if you do not want to be embarrassed.
- Take a mild laxative to encourage a bowel movement for relief.
- Try Emetrol or Imodium to relieve cramps associated with diarrhea. Pepto Bismol may help some stomach related pains, along with other over the counter products. Check labels in the drug store or ask the pharmacist for their advice.
- Do not stop taking medication prescribed by your doctor. All medications should be taken unless the doctor indicates otherwise.
Prevention
- Make note of any foods that may disagree with your digestion. Some people are not tolerant of various foods, so if you often suffer from stomach ache, keep a food diary and try to determine if there is any association with a certain food or group of foods and your stomach cramps.
- Malunggay extract can prevent cramps and stomach pain in persons who are lactose intolerant. This includes cheese, milk, yogurt, milk shakes, milk chocolate, etc. Some people have issues with cheese, but may be tolerant of milk or vice versa.
- Crush some malunggay leaves into some water.
- Eating an excessive amount of non-soluble fiber may cause cramps associated with constipation.
- Some people are sensitive to uncooked vegetables and fruits, particularly if the peels are not removed.
- Avoid consuming harsh substances such as acidic pops, juices, alcohol, and spicy foods. If something is really wrong, these could irritate it and make it worse.
- Look into the possibility you suffer from Crohn's Syndrome or Irritable Bowel Syndrome and seek medical treatment if this is the case.
- Consider stress as a possible cause of stomach pain or cramps. If the condition coincides with stressful situations, try to avoid stress as much as possible, and look at learning stress management techniques.
- Realize anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Aleve, Naprosin, etc), antibiotics, vitamins, birth control pills and many other medications can result in an upset stomach, nausea or stomach pains. Unless your doctor specifies you should take them on an empty stomach, you should always take them with food. Medications that cause you further upset should be taken on a full stomach and not just crackers or a piece of toast.
- Document your symptoms if they persist. Write down what foods you ate including snacks, beverages, other medications taken that day, vitamins and stressing events you partake in. You may then be able to determine the cause.
- Eat a peppermint or two. The mint will calm down the ache and make you relax.
- Try putting on a warm rag, or heating a sock filled with rice in a microwave for one minute then put it on your stomach and relax.
Tips
- Try to stick to the BRAT diet. BRAT is an acronym for Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast (without butter)
- Try your best not to think about your stomach, sometimes just forgetting about it will make it go away.
- Try going for a walk, if hot weather don't. When chilly out go for a nice stroll. It gets your mind off your pain.
- If you experience pain after eating a meal - try drinking only before you start eating, drinking liquids makes it easier to digest food.
- One old trick is to drink sugar salt water. To make this all you have to do is get a glass of water, and put about a teaspoon of salt and sugar in the water. It tastes nasty, but a lot of times it works wonders. If it doesn't work, it isn't your normal stomach ache.
- A clear soda pop may help you burp away some of the discomfort especially if the cause is trapped stomach gases.
- Try holding a piece of ice - it will take all of the concentration off your stomach.
- Try pushing on your stomach and if it makes a gurgling noise, it means you probably have gas.
- Try drinking peppermint tea. It coats your stomach.
- If you have a mint plant, take a leaf and chew on it... like gum. Do not swallow it if you have heartburn.
- Only lie on your stomach if you have a minor pain. do not if it is a serious pain.
- And don't squirm just lie down and take deep breaths. Lying on your stomach evens out the food so you can go on your way!
- Try bringing your knees to your chest and just stay in one spot. Once the pain goes away stretch out a little bit.
- Eat animal crackers.
Warnings
- Don't starve yourself to "make it go away", chances are it'll get worse.
- If you have bad heartburn as well, mint could irritate.
- Stomach pain may be a symptom of a serious medical condition like food poisoning or allergies. If you experience fever, severe nausea, or sweating, seek medical help. Seek medical attention if the stomach pain persists for a long time, or if it's severe, of course.
- Prolonged or frequent cramps, especially associated with loose stools or diarrhea may indicate a serious medical condition.
- Diarrhea associated with stomach cramps may cause dehydration, which can lead to shock or even death. Drink an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte, or a clear, low carbohydrate sports drink frequently if you experience diarrhea for an extended period of time.
- If you have significant pain in the lower right part of your abdomen, perhaps with nausea, loss of appetite, and/or fever, go to the hospital. It might be appendicitis.
- If the pain is severe, immediately go see a doctor.
- Having too much vitamin C will cause a stomach ache.
- If you have a stomach ache at school, go to the nurse and lay down, ask for some crackers, and drink warm water.
- Take an anticid like milk of magnesia
