What Are the Most Common Causes of Stomach Cramps?

Gastrospasm, or stomach twitch, is a strongly contracted state of the stomach. Mostly caused by neurological abnormalities, can also be caused by gastric organic diseases. Mainly manifested as upper abdominal pain and vomiting. Gastric cramps are a symptom in themselves. When gastric cramps occur, they are mainly treated symptomatically, soothing and relieving pain and vomiting. If gastric cramps often occur, we should look for the cause and treat it from the root cause.

Basic Information

English name: gastrospasm
Visiting department: Gastroenterology

Multiple groups: Long-term smoker
Common causes: Overeating, cold and spicy can cause recurrence of gastric cramps
Common symptoms: Epigastric pain, radiation pain, heavy press for relief, with nausea and vomiting

Causes of stomach cramps

Environmental factor

(1) Diet Irregular diet may increase the risk of stomach cramps. Overeating, cold and spicy foods that stimulate the stomach can often cause recurrence of gastric cramps.

(2) Smoking, such as long-term smokers, the incidence of gastric cramps is significantly higher than non-smokers.

(3) Drugs Some drugs such as aspirin can destroy the self-regulating effect of gastric acid secretion and the gastric mucosal barrier, which can cause gastric cramps.

2. Genetic factors

The occurrence of gastric cramps is closely related to genetic factors.

3. Physical and mental factors

Gastrointestinal diseases, such as ulcers, gastritis, bile reflux, long-term psychological stress or persistent high stress, are prone to stomach cramps. Some chronic diseases are prone to gastric cramps, such as: gastrinoma, basophilic leukemia, chronic obstructive emphysema, liver cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic renal failure. Gastric neurosis, autonomic nervous system dysfunction due to high-level neurological disorders. Sometimes acute allergic reactions can also cause stomach cramps

Clinical manifestations of gastric cramps

People with stomach cramps are mainly manifested as upper abdominal pain and vomiting. Gastric patients, such as gastric ulcers, cold stomachs, gastritis, etc., are very likely to cause stomach muscles to twitch.

1. Patients often flex their upper limbs or press with fists to relieve pain. The pain is often radiated to the left chest, left scapula, and back. At the same time, the rectus abdominis also had cramps. Or accompanied by nausea and vomiting, even pale faces, cold hands and feet, cold sweat, and even unconsciousness. Relieves from belching or vomiting for about several minutes or hours. After analgesia, health as usual. Onset several times a day, or once a few days and months.

2. Sudden and severe abdominal pain, such as knife and drill, acupuncture, burning, or cramping.

3. Neurohormonal effects can cause stomach cramps. Gastric smooth muscle spasms are like cramps in the stomach and legs. Abdominal pain is unbearable during an attack. In severe cases, nausea and vomiting can occur.

Stomach cramps test

1. Fiber gastroscopy.

2. Examination of gastric mucosa.

Differential diagnosis of gastric cramps

Acute stomach pain

More common acute and chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and gastric neurosis. Also seen in gastric mucosa prolapse, gastric prolapse, pancreatitis, cholecystitis and gallstone disease. Acute stomach pain has an acute onset, changes rapidly, and is in serious condition. The patient felt severe pain in the stomach, accompanied by snoring, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and chest tightness.

2. Chronic stomach pain

It is common in chronic gastritis. Chronic gastritis refers to a variety of chronic gastric mucosal inflammatory lesions caused by different causes. It is a common disease and its incidence ranks first among various gastric diseases. Since the widespread application of fiber endoscopy, the understanding of this disease has improved significantly. Chronic gastritis often has a certain degree of gastric mucosal atrophy (mucosa loss of function) and metaplasia, often involving the cardia, accompanied by loss of G cells and reduced gastrin secretion, can also involve the stomach body, accompanied by the loss of acid secreting glands, leading to Reduction of gastric acid, pepsin and endogenous factors.

3. flatulence

The gastrointestinal tract is not smooth or obstructed due to a variety of reasons. The gas in the gastrointestinal tract cannot be discharged with the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, and it gathers in the gastrointestinal tract and is called bloating. Flatulence can be functional or organic. Such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastroparesis caused by diabetes, gastrointestinal bloating to functional flatulence. Pylori obstruction and intestinal obstruction are mostly caused by organic flatulence. Often coexisted with constipation.

4. Cold stomach pain

It is the clinical manifestation of stomach cold. Stomach cold is a symptom of yin cold staying in the stomach, mostly caused by overeating cold.

5. Stomach pain

Stomach pain is a non-specific symptom, often caused by gastritis, gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, etc. In addition, upper abdominal pain is not necessarily caused by stomach diseases, but may also be caused by liver and diaphragm diseases.

6. Functional dyspepsia (upper abdominal pain syndrome)

In the Roman III diagnostic system for functional gastrointestinal diseases, functional dyspepsia is divided into "postprandial discomfort syndrome" and "upper abdominal pain syndrome". The Rome III diagnostic criteria for upper abdominal pain syndrome must include all of the following: Conditions: Upper or middle abdominal pain or burning sensation, at least once a week. intermittent pain. Not total abdominal pain, local, other abdominal or chest pain. Can not relieve after defecation or exhaust. Does not meet the diagnostic criteria for gallbladder or Oddi sphincter disease. Pre-diagnosis symptoms appeared for at least 6 months, and the above criteria were met in the last 3 months. Criteria supporting diagnosis: Pain may be burning but excluding sternum pain. Pain is usually induced or relieved by eating, but it can also occur during fasting. There may be postprandial discomfort syndrome at the same time.

Stomach cramps treatment

Mainly symptomatic treatment, antispasmodic pain and vomiting, if stomach cramps often occur, we should pay attention to find the cause and heal from the root cause.

Drug treatment

Resorcinol combined with lansoprazole is effective and safe in the treatment of gastric cramps.

2. Chinese medicine scraping treatment

Application of scraping therapy can clear the meridians, run qi and blood, and alleviate stomach pain.

3. Acupoint stimulation

Stimulate the Liangqiu acupoint with finger pressure. When pressurizing toward the thigh, the vibration is strong, and you can use your thumb to press hard.