Abdomen and stomach are words that are loosely used interchangeably. The abdomen is the body space between the pelvis and chest; it contains all of the digestive organs including the stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver and gallbladder.
Stomach Ache
At
some period in your life you are bound to have what is commonly referred to as
a ‘stomach ache,’ also commonly termed ‘abdominal
pain.’ It may be a mild, dull ache, a strong, sharp pain or stomach cramps—usually not serious. Numerous
problems that may cause abdominal pain—some of them serious—are:
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Stomach virus
- Menstrual cramps
- Food poisoning
- Food allergies or intolerance to specific foods
- Gas
- Lactose intolerance
- Ulcers
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Hernia
- Gallstones
- Kidney stones
- Endometriosis
- Crohn's disease
- Urinary tract infection
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Appendicitis
Symptoms of stomach pain that most likely need medical attention are:
- A fever, particularly of 104 degrees or more and specifically if the patient is elderly or a very young child
- Unable to hold food in the stomach for several days
- Unable to have a bowel movement, especially if you are also vomiting
- Painful or too frequent urination
- Abdomen is tender
- The pain continues several days
- The pain was caused by an abdominal injury
You should call and make a medical appointment immediately, if:
- You are bringing up blood
- Your stool has blood in it
- Labored breathing
- Pain while you are pregnant
Stomach Cramps
"Stomach cramps" is a rather broad term used to refer to various symptoms any place in the abdomen. Abdominal organs that could be the source of pain are the:
- Stomach
- Small Intestine
- Colon
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Gallbladder
At times other organs in the near vicinity of the abdomen, but not actually in it, may cause pain that will be felt there—lower lungs, kidneys, uterus, or ovaries.
Water Retention vs Bloating
Water retention: can
mean when the body retains an abnormal amount of fluid in the circulation
system or in the cavities and body tissue; sometimes making you appear bloated.
Serious water retention is called edema, which can be caused by several serious
diseases of the heart, kidneys, and liver, or serious allergic reactions,
varicose veins, or blood clots. Cirrhosis of the liver can cause fluid to build
up in the legs and abdomen causing a bloated appearance.
Bloating is an
unusual swelling of the abdominal area with probable pain and a feeling of
tightness; it is intestinal gas that did not pass out of the body by flatulence
(passing gas from the large intestine out through the anus). Intestinal
gas is simply air in the digestive tract accompanied by the bacterial breakdown
of foods in the large intestine. If your stomach is grumbling it may not be
that serious but—if your stomach is NOT growling it may be a serious health
problem.
Causes of Bloating
A bloated stomach
is not always a dangerous problem. It can be caused by various conditions--swallowing
air when you are nervous or have overeaten; weight gain; constipation; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS); lactose or food intolerance, or a bacterial overgrowth in the
small intestine.
The usual causes of a truly bloated stomach
include:
- Flatulence
- IBS
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Celiac disease
- Ovarian cancer
IBS
Symptoms are:
- Abdominal pain or stomach cramps
- Feeling bloated
- Flatulence
- Diarrhea or constipation—sometimes alternating bouts
- Mucus in the stool
Adults pass gas approximately 14 times
daily producing one to three pints. We all swallow a certain amount of air
every day as we consume beverages or food; eating or drinking too quickly; smoking;
chewing candies or gum; sucking on hard candies; drinking carbonated beverages;
drinking through straws; wearing dentures that do not fit correctly (people
often ‘suck in’ trying to hold loose dentures in place.
Burping lets some gas out of the
stomach, but the balance of it passes into the small intestine where some of it
is absorbed, and the rest of it continues to the large intestine where it will
eventually pass through the anus.
Stomach Cancer Symptoms
While perhaps a less likely cause of stomach cramps than most people will encounter, it's good to know when to talk to your doctor about more serious issues such as stomach cancer. Stomach cancer offers very few symptoms during the
early stages of the disease. The symptoms are very like those of a peptic ulcer. A stomach cancer can grow extremely large before causing other noticeable symptoms – see your doctor. Symptoms may include:
- A feeling of a bloated stomach following a meal
- Stomach discomfort or indigestion
- Slight nausea
- No real appetite
- Heartburn (acid indigestion)
Home Remedies for Bloating
Different cultures have various home remedies for bloating. Some things you could try are:- Drink peppermint tea
- Purposely allow the gas to pass
- Grate fresh ginger into tea made with honey and lemon; drink right before or after a meal
- Crunch on caraway seeds or crackers
- Chew fennel seed (be sure that you're not allergic to it. If you have an allergy to other seeds it might be wise to skip this one)
- Anise seed helps to relax the digestive tract
- Drink chamomile tea
- Avoid dairy products; they may trigger gas
- Eating one cup of pumpkin with a meal helps to reduce the amount of gas made—broiled, baked, steamed or a piece of pie!
- Use activated charcoal in powder, capsule or tablet form. You can buy it at the drugstore; be sure to follow directions
- Chew your food thoroughly so that it will pass through your system more quickly and not sit inside of you creating gases
- A glass of warm water with fresh lemon juice in it is a good habit to form. The lemon stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid that breaks down the food; the water flushes the digestive system keeping things moving freely. It also helps to detoxify your system—the lemon helps the liver enzymes to do a better job. Drink one whole cup of warm to hot water with the juice of half a fresh lemon in it every morning on an empty stomach
- Avoid caffeine beverages, sugary sweets, fried foods or any foods that you know will personally cause gas
- Exercise helps you to expel gas--better on the track than in the office!
- Take enzymes—e.g. Lactaid can help relieve the pain and pressure by aiding digestion
- Use probiotics, particularly live cultures--available in health food stores (My favorite brand is Plexus ProBio5, because it contains enzymes as well as a natural antifungal)
- A belly rub with herbs such as cinnamon, cloves and fennel in olive oil will help to relieve gas, or try cardamom and ginger
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Livestock account for approximately 20% of global methane emissions; 1–2% of global methane emissions come from livestock flatus; 90–95% of it is released by humans exhaling or burping.
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There is an area of medicine called “flatology,” that translates to, “the study of farts.”
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Professional fart smeller is an actual job in China and you can make up to $50,000 a year. The job requirements are strict. People from 18 to 45 years old can be accredited as fart-smellers. Applicants go through a training program and must pass an examination, must be non-smokers who do not consume alcoholic beverages, and must be free of any nasal conditions or diseases.
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Respiratory Conditions / Colds and Flu
Home Remedies for a Cough Related to Asthma or ColdsHome Remedies For Flu
Home Remedies For Sinus Infections
Cardiovascular / Gastric Conditions
Home Remedies for High Blood PressureHome Remedy For Heartburn
Home Remedies For Bloating
Sore Throat Remedies
You've probably heard throughout your life that Vick's VapoRub (or a similar herbal concoction) stops coughs when applied to your chest, or used in the dispenser area of a humidifier, but did you know that applying it to the soles of your feet and wearing socks over it can help coughs too? I like this approach because sometimes I really don't want Vick's around my face or on my chest or back, and it's a nice alternative to that. Simply slather the Vick's on the soles of your feet and put on some socks (make sure you don't care if the socks get grease stains) right before going to bed. This treatment is best for a cough due to a cold, as asthma attacks can sometimes be triggered by the smell of Vick's.
