Upset stomach

An acute one Upset stomach is not a disease in its own right. It is more of an acute discomfort in the stomach. Caused by food that is difficult to digest, fermented juices or other factors, the acute upset stomach can lead to bloating, nausea, poor appetite, abdominal cramps or stomach pain. If the symptoms persist, it is unlikely to be a harmless upset stomach.

What is an upset stomach?

The typical symptoms that can occur with an upset stomach include a feeling of fullness, acid belching, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. Unpleasant heartburn and digestive noises in the stomach can occur.
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An upset stomach is defined as an acute, but not pathological, state of malaise in the stomach. The cause for this is usually not long ago. An upset stomach is usually the understandable consequence of too much, unsuitable or spoiled food. The stomach therefore reports an overload or acute poisoning. He would like to be relieved and spared immediately in order to be able to fully fulfill his tasks again.

causes

The causes of an upset stomach can be many. An evening with a lot of alcohol and many cigarettes can trigger acute stomach upsets as well as fatty meals on festive days. Spoiled, difficult to digest, incompatible or soured foods and fermented drinks are a common cause of acute stomach upset.

Those who consume processed foods frequently are ingesting a lot of fat and sugar. That alone can lead to an upset stomach with heartburn. Excessive nicotine consumption can also cause an upset stomach, especially when combined with alcohol. This can lead to over-acidification or slight poisoning. As a result, stomach upset with headaches and hangover symptoms can be triggered.

Eating too quickly or prolonged stress can also lead to stomach upset. But it is also possible that the symptoms of an upset stomach are not recognized as a harbinger of an impending gastritis.Anyone who frequently suffers from the typical symptoms of an upset stomach should therefore consult a doctor. In addition to gastritis, an upset stomach could feel similar to an upset stomach. With increased sensitivity in the stomach, the diet should be adjusted.

Foods recognized as incompatible must be avoided to a large extent if there is an accumulation of stomach upset. In addition, the symptoms should be examined by a doctor. The early symptoms of cancer are also sometimes confused with the typical signs of an upset stomach. Since the symptoms of an upset stomach are usually considered harmless, they are often not taken seriously.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines against nausea and vomiting

Symptoms, ailments & signs

The typical symptoms that can occur with an upset stomach include a feeling of fullness, acid belching, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. Unpleasant heartburn and digestive noises in the stomach can occur. In many cases, those affected do not feel an appetite. Excessive accumulation of air in the abdomen can even make breathing difficult and put pressure on the heart with upward pressure.

Usually, the symptoms of an upset stomach can be traced back to a recent cause. Accidental consumption of bad food or fermented food and drinks can lead to acute stomach pain, cramps, diarrhea and malaise. Even if the symptoms of acute stomach upset are temporary, they should be taken seriously.

Many people experience similar symptoms even after having a severe cold. At night, thick mucus runs out of your sinuses into your throat. From there the mucus gets into the stomach. The subsequent malaise with nausea and loss of appetite can resemble the symptoms of an upset stomach without an acute upset stomach.

Complications

Acute stomach upsets usually go through without complications. The symptoms that occur should be over within a day through rest and relief. The symptoms usually end after the spoiled food or fermented drink has been eliminated.

Complications can arise if it is not an upset stomach, but another illness or acute poisoning. The symptoms may be similar at first. But they then develop into more dramatic courses. The perceived upset stomach may turn out to be mild alcohol poisoning, meat or fish poisoning or salmonella disease. Diagnostic misinterpretations can lead to complications at any time.

Severe dehydration can result as a complication of such developments, especially in older people and young children. The impending electrolyte and fluid losses must be compensated promptly, otherwise they will lead to a life-threatening condition.

In addition, the symptoms of an assumed stomach upset can prove to be longer lasting. In this case, it could be gastritis. If left untreated, this can lead to gastric ulcers or, in the long term, gastric cancer. In order to rule out such complications, a doctor should be consulted if stomach problems persist.

When should you go to the doctor?

An acute upset stomach can easily be treated by yourself. It should be done after a day with adequate stomach sparing. If this is not the case and the symptoms persist, a visit to a doctor is advisable. The same applies if the initial symptoms worsen over the course of the day.

If there is a fever, frequent vomiting, liquid diarrhea and severe nausea, the person affected should call a doctor. Instead of an upset stomach, there could be an acute illness requiring treatment. This can be indicated, for example, by a distended and hardened stomach. It is also advisable to see a doctor if stomach upset occurs regularly. There may be a serious illness behind it.

Even severe and life-threatening illnesses can initially announce themselves with mild to moderate symptoms. Cancer in the stomach area does not initially cause any dramatic symptoms. Early diagnosis can only be made by visiting a doctor in good time. It can therefore be lifesaving. Not every upset stomach is dangerous. But it also applies: Not every malaise in the stomach is automatically harmless.

diagnosis

The diagnosis of an upset stomach is usually first made by the person concerned. He may remember eating or drinking too much. It is possible that the person concerned already suspected that a certain food was no longer fit for human consumption and consumed it anyway. If the symptoms improve by taking care of the stomach and relieving it, the self-diagnosis can remain.

However, if the symptoms are more severe or persist for a long time, medical diagnostics are useful. The doctor can first determine by questioning what causes the patient suspects his upset stomach. He can use a tactile finding to determine whether there are indurations in the abdomen or swelling of palpable organs. The doctor can use the stethoscope to listen to the stomach for unusual noises. Examining the tongue can reveal any unusual discoloration, swelling, or odor. If the findings are normal, the doctor will probably advise the person concerned to take more rest and a low-irritant, alkaline diet as possible.

If there are diagnostic abnormalities, further diagnostic methods can be used. A sonography can narrow down or rule out organic causes. The Helicobacter pylori breath test could confirm or rule out gastritis. If the identified abnormalities are confirmed, so that an organic cause is suspected, the doctor can refer the patient to a specialist for a gastroscopy or an MRI examination of the abdominal cavity.

Treatment & Therapy

The self-treatment of an upset stomach can be initiated through relief and rest. Green healing clay in water can help relieve heartburn. It frees the stressed stomach from breakdown products and absorbed toxins. Homeopathic medicines such as Okoubaka 6X or Nux Vomica 6X can usually be used successfully against nausea, malaise and minor effects of poisoning caused by pleasure poisons.

Bleeding gastrointestinal teas or Lefax chewable tablets can also be helpful for relief. Two liters of pure drinking water or herbal tea dilute the excess stomach acid. For acute stomach pain, heartburn, and cramps, small sips of hot water can provide quick relief. If necessary, rest and warmth provide the necessary relaxation of the stomach. If none of this helps, the family doctor will prescribe light food, gruel and bed rest in the event of a worse upset stomach. He can also recommend antacids, natural remedies such as Iberogast® or a drug that stimulates intestinal peristalsis.

Treatment of a worse upset stomach should be causal and gentle. If, contrary to expectations, it is not an acute stomach upset, the therapy will be more complex. In the case of gastritis, the acute symptoms can first be treated with medication. However, it is also sensible to change your diet to an alkaline diet. Reducing stress and avoiding acid-forming foods and stimulants such as alcohol, nicotine, sugary cola drinks or coffee helps to improve the condition.

Outlook & forecast

The prognosis is good if it is actually an acute stomach upset. In this case, self-treatment usually leads to improvement within a few hours. In the case of undetected food poisoning or mild salmonellosis, the prognosis is only good if these diseases are treated promptly and correctly. The impending loss of electrolytes and fluids can have dramatic consequences in the event of a misdiagnosis.

These can be particularly threatening for young children, the chronically ill and the elderly. Acute gastritis also has a good prognosis if the first symptoms of gastric irritation or inflammation are taken seriously. However, if gastritis occurs regularly, diet should be reconsidered. The consumption of alcohol, nicotine, coffee, sugary and carbonated cola drinks can also promote gastritis.

With repeated occurrence, there is a risk that the gastritis will become chronic. In this case, the prognosis is significantly worse. Chronic gastritis can develop into stomach ulcers, frequent heartburn as signs of chronic reflux syndrome or stomach cancer. The prognosis is also worse if an upset stomach is wrongly assumed and not treated.

These may be problems with the upper part of the intestine, bile, liver or pancreas that require treatment. If these are not recognized and treated promptly, there is a risk of serious consequences. Therefore, persistent and inexplicable discomfort in the abdomen should never be ignored.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines against nausea and vomiting

prevention

Prevention of an upset stomach is quite possible. Preparing fresh, largely alkaline food yourself is a good basis for lasting wellbeing. Reluctance to eat unhealthy foods, industrially manufactured finished products and certain luxury foods leads to long-term good health for most people.

A balanced lifestyle and enough sleep keep you vital and productive. Despite these measures, an upset stomach can occasionally occur. Bacterial contamination, impending intolerances or the start of fermentation processes are not always recognized in time. However, common sense suggests that food that is not refrigerated may spoil or be contaminated with germs.

Particular care should be taken when storing and preparing dishes with raw eggs and raw meat. Adequate kitchen hygiene is advisable to prevent stomach upset. Moderate food portions and a balanced diet with little meat, sugar and fat promote long-term good health. Stomach upset rarely occurs in people who live healthily.

Aftercare

An upset stomach does not always have to lead to particular complications or serious complaints. It occurs relatively frequently and usually only leads to malaise for a short time, whereby an upset stomach usually disappears on its own, so that special treatment is not necessary. The symptoms can also resemble the symptoms of a flu or a cold, so that there is generally a feeling of malaise, permanent tiredness and fatigue. As a rule, an upset stomach can be treated well, so that follow-up care is often not necessary.

You can do that yourself

In the case of an acute upset stomach, the organism sends out a signal for incorrect behavior or the consequences of excessive stress. Paying attention to this signal can help avoid further consequences. It is normal to go overboard every now and then about diet or worldly pleasures. Nevertheless, reluctance to eat unhealthy luxury foods is the better choice.

Cooking yourself from fresh ingredients is a smart move. Freshly processed foods ensure an adequate supply of nutrients and lasting well-being. A healthy lifestyle also keeps the stomach healthy. Stress, quarrels, financial pressure or unresolved emotional problems can all lead to an upset stomach. The stomach then becomes the spokesman for the entire organism. Perceiving his warning signals and adapting behavior can prevent further upset stomachs.

It is also important to adapt the diet and the usual lifestyle to the respective age. Thanks to a changed metabolism, not all food and luxury foods are equally easily digestible in old age. Acute overstrain of the digestive organs is therefore more noticeable as an upset stomach. It makes sense to take better care of yourself in old age. Even on holidays there is no reason to give up the usual reluctance to eat in favor of gluttony.

The ability to enjoy is not based on the amount of food eaten, but on the conscious appreciation of all flavors, colors and textures. These pleasures can be intensified through slow and conscious chewing. This does some of the work for the digestive system. If largely basic food is consumed, this is a guarantee that you will be permanently well. Acid-forming luxury foods and foods should only make up a small part of the food consumed.