If you’ve ever felt pain due to tight abdominal muscles, it could be stomach cramps. This condition can be experienced by anyone, and can interfere with activities because of the pain it causes. However, what causes stomach cramps? How to handle it?
Abdominal cramps can occur due to contraction of the abdominal muscles caused by several things. This condition is actually not too serious, but if the symptoms do not go away, it could be a symptom of a health condition.
What Causes Stomach Cramps?
Here are several causes of abdominal cramps that usually arise from the digestive tract, namely:
1. Food poisoning
Stomach cramps can occur when a person eats food contaminated with certain germs, resulting in food poisoning. As a result, pain occurs in the abdomen followed by other symptoms such as the following:
For that, avoid foods that can cause this condition to occur and rest.
2. Viral infection or stomach flu
Stomach cramps can also be a sign of stomach flu. This condition is known as gastroenteritis. Stomach flu is not caused by the influenza virus, but Norovirus.
Stomach flu and food poisoning have similar symptoms, such as stomach cramps. But unlike food poisoning, the virus that causes stomach flu can spread easily to other people. The fix is easy, avoid eating dry food and increase fluid consumption, such as drinking lots of water or eating soupy foods.
3. Food intolerance
This condition can occur when food irritates the digestive system. Usually, food intolerances are caused by lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy foods. To treat symptoms of a food intolerance such as heartburn or stomach cramps, take an antacid immediately.
4. Menstruation
Stomach cramps can occur because you are menstruating. The uterine muscles will contract to shed the endometrial lining of the uterus during menstruation. This contraction of the uterine muscles reduces blood flow to the uterine muscles, thereby stimulating the nerve endings that cause pain.
How to get rid of stomach cramps?
Here are some tips for dealing with stomach cramps, including:
- Take a shower with warm water
- Get more rest or sleep
- Increase the consumption of lots of fluids such as water or soupy foods
- Reduce intake of coffee, tea, and alcohol because they can worsen the pain
- Avoid eating dry food
In addition, there are two methods that are equally effective in relieving stomach cramps, namely:
Acupuncture.
Acupuncture is the technique of entering very small needles via a someone’s skin at strategic points on the human body. Several studies have found that acupuncture can help relieve stomach cramps.
Acupressure.
This technique is similar to acupuncture, but acupressure does not use needles, but instead applies pressure to certain body parts with the hands, elbows, or assistive devices. This method is more effective at relieving menstrual cramps.
