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The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women: Stomachaches

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Stomachaches

Stomachache

Pacify Your Cranky Tummy

You won't find "stomachache" in the medical dictionary. As a matter of fact, a stomachache is sort of a catchall term for a variety of all-too-familiar discomforts: knots, a dull ache, an acidy feeling. Maybe cramps and a little diarrhea or constipation just to make things interesting. And let's not forget nausea.

A stomachache can be all of these or just plain mid-body misery. And the possible causes are equally diverse and mysterious: gallstones, lactose intolerance, ulcers, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, stress, overeating. Or not eating enough. Or eating improperly prepared food in an unhygienic restaurant. (For more details, read about irritable bowel syndrome on page 322.)

HELP FOR PLAIN OLD STOMACH TROUBLE

If you have a stomachache, it helps to know what the problem is and, if needed, to get your doctor's advice. In general, though, there are a few things you can do that may soothe your sore tummy now.

Sip a soother. When your stomach feels a little calmer, try sipping uncaffeinated liquids such as water, peppermint or chamomile herb tea, flat ginger ale or chicken broth, says Wanda Filer, M.D., a family practice physician in York, Pennsylvania. "Try a few sips every five minutes." (Anything that includes caffeine--like coffee, regular tea and colas--irritates the stomach and digestive tract, she says.)

Eat daintily. When your stomach is irritated, it rebels against food. Whether the source of your stomachache is stress or indigestion, your body is on overload and needs to calm down. "If you feel better enough to eat a bit, stick to small, frequent, easy-to-digest foods such as cooked rice or dry crackers such as saltines or dry toast," says Dr. Filer. Digesting a heavy meal will make your stomach work too hard--not a good idea when it's already rebelling at the food that might have caused your tummy ache.

Shun lactose. Eliminate lactose-containing foods, another possible culprit, if you are sensitive to dairy products, suggests Marie L. Borum, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Be a B-R-A-T. As your stomach feels better, you'll have more of an appetite, but the best way to make sure the ache is banished for good is to stick to a BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce and dry toast) diet, says Dr. Filer. "Even on the BRAT plan, you should eat very little and add each new food gradually, so that your cranky stomach won't have to work too hard to digest it," she says.

Chew an antacid. If your pain is caused by too much acid in your stomach--a possibility if you have an ache on an empty stomach--over-the-counter antacids like Tums or Rolaids can relieve your ache, because they neutralize stomach acids, says Sheila Crowe, M.D., gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Try an acid suppressor. Modern medicines called H₂ (histamine 2) blockers, such as Tagamet or Pepcid AC, which suppress acid at its source and keep it from irritating your stomach lining, are now available over the counter. "More powerful than antacids, acid suppressors are especially effective against heartburnlike pain," says Dr. Crowe. Pepto- Bismol can also provide relief for some stomachaches, although the way this drug helps is less clear.

When To See A Doctor

Usually, stomachaches go away without any specific treatment. If they persist and don't respond to over-the-counter treatment, you should seek medical advice, says Sheila Crowe, M.D., a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Also, if over-the-counter drugs only provide temporary relief, you may need prescription-strength drugs to treat underlying conditions such as gastro-esophageal reflux or peptic ulcers. If you do have a history of peptic ulcers, you should be checked for Helicobacter pylori infection, a bacteria that is associated with ulcer disease, she says. See a doctor right away if your stomachache is particularly severe or accompanied by fevers or blood in the stool. "It could be a sign of a more serious condition such as an ulcer, gallbladder inflammation or pancreatitis," says Dr. Crowe.

If your stomachache is accompanied by nausea and vomiting that doesn't go away after a few days, see your doctor to rule out other possible causes (such as pregnancy or a virus), says Wanda Filer, M.D., a family practice physician in York, Pennsylvania.

Loosen your belt. If your stomach is distended from IBS, you can loosen your belt. If you're tightly buttoned and belted up, try switching to comfortable, loose clothing, which can ease the pressure on your aching stomach, says Dr. Borum. (It's obvious only after you think of it.)

Stop. The best thing to do for any stomachache may be nothing except resting and relaxing, says Dr. Crowe. If you calm down, you'll help your stomach calm down, too.

Or pound the pavement. Stomach in knots over a conflict or hassle? For some women, exercise is the best medicine for a stress-related stomachache, Dr. Filer says. "Get up and walk away," she says. And regular exercise--that's at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise such as walking or biking three days a week--is such a great stress reliever that you may get rid of tension stomachaches forever, Dr. Filer says.

Nix the coffee and alcohol. Coffee and alcohol also are well-known stomach irritants, says Dr. Filer. "I tell women who get stomachaches to stick to decaffeinated, nonalcoholic drinks," she says.

Kick that habit--please! Everyone has heard that smoking does a number on your lungs, but did you know that it's murder on your stomach? "Cigarettes and other tobacco products decrease the stomach lining's ability to defend itself against powerful acids that cause stomachaches," Dr. Filer says. So if you smoke, stop. And to protect yourself against chronic stomachaches, don't start again after you feel better, she says.

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