Home
Rodale Bookshelf
The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Stomach Cramps

Chapter List

Special Limited Time Offer!
Order today and
Save an Extra 15%!
Use coupon code: LSAVE15

Stomach Cramps

Most of us have had a muscle cramp somewhere in our body at one time or another. A calf muscle may tighten up into a hard knot, a hand may "freeze." Even your little toe can cramp up if you stretch your foot the wrong way.

The point is, muscle cramps can happen anywhere you have muscles, and that includes your stomach, where a cramp may be mistaken for a "generic" bellyache, indigestion, upset stomach or side stitch.

Muscle cramps can occur when a muscle isn't getting enough oxygen-carrying blood to meet its needs. Your stomach can become the fall guy for cramping when stress, overindulgence or heavy exercise after a big meal sets the stage. Your first line of defense? Stomach-soothing over-the-counter drugs. Your best long-term strategy? Avoid tummy-knotting situations. Here's what you need to know.

Try a smooth coating. Several over-the-counter drugs are designed specifically to relieve the stomach pain that's caused by overindulgence, says Thomas Gossel, Ph.D., R.Ph., professor of pharmacology and toxicology and associate dean at Ohio Northern University College of Pharmacy in Ada.

"For first-line treatment, I'd recommend Pepto-Bismol, a liquid coating that relieves many minor stomach upsets," Dr. Gossel says. Antacids and sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer) may also help some people, he adds, especially if the cramping is compounded by heartburn.

When to See the Doctor

Pain that seems to be in your stomach can be caused by countless things, including some that don't have anything to do with your digestive tract, says John C. Johnson, M.D., director of Emergency Medical Services at Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana, and past president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

If your "stomach cramp" persists for more than 30 minutes, or if it seems to be increasing in intensity, see a doctor. You may have an obstruction, a twist in your intestines or inflammation.

Heart attacks are often mistaken, early on, for attacks of indigestion. That mistake can be fatal. If your pain includes a feeling of pressure, nausea or vomiting, sweating, chest pain or trouble breathing, don't wait to see if it goes away. Get to an emergency room fast!

Forgo feeding frenzies. Eat slowly, chew your food well, and don't guzzle down drinks. Does that sound like your mother talking? Well, she has a chorus of agreement: It's what stomach experts recommend, too. Food that's chewed well first, and mixed with saliva, is easier to digest, according to John C. Johnson, M.D., director of Emergency Medical Services at Porter Memorial Hospital in Valparaiso, Indiana, and a past president of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Need help slowing your chomper speed? Try changing your eating environment. Instead of eating over the kitchen sink, set a place at the table. Add soft music and candlelight and you can't help but slow down.

Graze, don't gorge. Stomachs are very sensitive to overstuffing. "A distended stomach can cause sharp pain and can be very uncomfortable for some people," says Dr. Johnson. If you're one whose stomach cramps up when you just dig right in, try eating smaller, more frequent meals.

Hold off on eating if you're upset. Anxiety and eating don't mix. "When you're tense, the blood supply to your digestive system is reduced, making it hard to digest food," says Steven Fahrion, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and director of the Center for Applied Psychophysiology at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. While there are many ways to relax, one of the fastest and easiest is with deep, slow, deliberate breathing, Dr. Fahrion says. As you exhale, imagine tension leaving your body.

Stick with noncaffeinated drinks. Coffee and colas make a tense stomach only worse, Dr. Johnson says. Try water, fruit juices or a tummy-taming herbal tea.

Go easy on cold fluids. Leave chugalugging for the fraternity boys. Too much of your favorite icy cold beverage, downed too fast, can send your stomach into temporary but painful spasms.

Fill up on fiber. In one study of bellyache-prone kids, two high-fiber cookies a day (providing ten grams of fiber daily) cut episodes of stomach pain in half.

"Fiber helps food move through the digestive system more quickly and so may reduce stomach and intestinal cramping," says William Feldman, M.D., head of the Division of General Pediatrics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Give your guts a time-out. Allow a half-hour or more for big meals to move through your stomach before you engage in heavy-duty activities, recommends Dr. Johnson.

"Exercise diverts blood from your digestive system to your arms and legs, increasing your chances for stomach and intestinal cramps," he explains.

Then speed things up with a little walk. If you're feeling full after a sumptuous repast, try "walking it off" before you resort to antacids. Light exercise, especially walking, helps speed the movement of digested food through your bowels. "This may reduce stomach cramps by allowing the stomach to empty faster," Dr. Johnson says.

Shop with Us: Brands A-Z; Products A-Z; Autoship; Ways to Shop; Member Discounts

Customer Service: Contact Us; Help Desk; Shipping Policy; Return Policy; Ask a question; Track Your Order

My Account: My Account; My Order History; My Shopping Cart

Health Library: Vitamin Guide; Guide to Herbs; Health Concerns; Home Remedies; Seniors Health; Women's Health

About Us: Our Blog; Our Philosophy; Corporate Discounts; Affliliate Program; Terms of Use

Featured Partners

Email Sign up: Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!

Call us M-F 9am-5pm: 1-800-439-5506

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Information about each product is taken from the labels of the products or from the manufacturer's advertising material. MotherNature is not responsible for any statements or claims that various manufacturers make about their products. We cannot be held responsible for typographical errors or product formulation changes. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.All discounts are taken from suggested retail prices. Prices are subject to change.