7 causes and how to alleviate them

Hunger pangs, or hunger pains, are a natural reaction to an empty stomach. They cause a hollow or gnawing feeling or an empty sensation in the abdomen.

But hunger pangs can happen even if the body does not need food. Several other situations and conditions can lead to hunger pangs, including:

• sleep deprivation
• dehydration
• eating the wrong foods

Read on to learn more about hunger pains and discover how to ease them.

People get hunger pangs or hunger pains for several different reasons. Seven reasons are explained here:

1. Hunger hormone

Share on PinterestThe release of ghrelin in the body, dehydration, and a person’s emotional state can cause hunger pains.

The brain triggers the release of a hormone called ghrelin in response to an empty stomach or in anticipation of the next meal.

Ghrelin signals the body to release stomach acids to digest food. If food is not consumed, the stomach acids begin to attack the lining of the stomach, causing hunger pains.

Studies have shown that ghrelin increases hunger by up to 30 percent when it is administered to adults.

2. Quality of food eaten

Hunger pangs can happen even when the body does not need calories.

This is because ghrelin interacts with insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. Falling levels of insulin cause ghrelin, and therefore hunger, levels to rise.

Junk food contains high amounts of sugar and simple carbohydrates. Eating it causes a spike in insulin levels, followed by a quick drop. Ghrelin then increases, even though the food was consumed only an hour or so beforehand.

In this way, eating even large amounts of poor quality food can increase hunger and cause the pang response in the body.

3. Dehydration

Many people cannot tell the difference between hunger and thirst because the symptoms are so similar.

Thirst can cause symptoms, such as:

• stomach pains
• shaking
• irritability
• lightheadedness

4.

The environment

Some people experience pangs in response to smells and sights. Many people have a physical response to the smell of freshly baked goods or cooking. Images of food on T.V. or online can also cause the mouth to water.

Although this type of hunger may not be based on a need for food, it causes very real physical symptoms, including hunger pains.

5. Lack of sleep

Overeating and excess weight have long been associated with sleep deprivation. It appears that hunger pains may be linked to a lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep.

Lack of sleep increases the effects of a chemical that makes eating sweet, salty, and high-fat foods more appealing, a 2016 study suggests.

The sleep-deprived study participants ate a meal containing 90 percent of their daily calories but were unable to resist junk foods just 2 hours later.

6. Emotional state

People may mistake their brain signals for food as hunger pains in some cases. This situation can occur when someone is in a heightened emotional state.

Research suggests that stress and other negative emotions can make it seem like the body urgently needs food, even when it may not.

A rumbling or growling stomach can sometimes help distinguish between emotional and physical hunger. The noises can only be heard when the stomach is empty.

7. Medication and medical conditions

Hunger pangs may be caused by medical conditions in rare cases. This is true for people with diabetes, as hunger increases when blood sugar crashes.

It can indicate an infection or digestive illness that requires medical attention if pains occur alongside other symptoms. Look out for symptoms, such as:

• diarrhea
• dizziness
• fever
• headaches
• nausea
• vomiting
• weakness

Some medications, including certain antidepressants, may interfere with hunger signals and ghrelin release.

Share on PinterestSymptoms of hunger pains may include tiredness, irritability, and lightheadedness.

Hunger pains feel like a gnawing or rumbling in the stomach. They may also present as contractions or the feeling of emptiness.

Other symptoms may include:

• cravings for certain foods
• tiredness
• lightheadedness
• irritability
• strong desire to eat

Once food is consumed, hunger pains and other hunger symptoms usually go away. The stomach adjusts to this new level of fullness (or emptiness), so they may even subside without eating anything.

Research on mice has found that there is an instinctive desire to reduce hunger pangs and other hunger signals. Certain neurons in the brain kick in to fuel appetite once a certain amount of bodyweight has been lost.

This may explain why it is challenging to stick to a diet when experiencing hunger pains.

There may be other ways to control hunger pangs while losing weight even though the researchers suggest that manipulating these neurons will help people maintain their diets.

To alleviate hunger pains, especially when dieting, people can try the following:

Eat at regular intervals

Ghrelin is released in response to what someone’s usual mealtimes are.

Sticking to a schedule will ensure food reaches the stomach in time to meet the stomach acid released in response to ghrelin spikes.

It can also be helpful to carry healthful, low-calorie snacks, such as fruit and nuts, when outside the home, in case it is not possible to eat a full meal at a designated meal time.

Choose nutrient-dense foods

Share on PinterestEating healthful foods including whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, are recommended to alleviate hunger pains.

Avoid insulin dips by choosing healthful food options instead of processed ones.

Eat balanced meals that contain:

• lean protein, such as beans, lentils, and skinless poultry
• whole grains, including brown rice, oats, quinoa, and whole-wheat products
• fruits and vegetables, including fresh, frozen, and canned (without added sugar)
• healthful fats, found in avocados, olives, nuts, and seeds
• low-fat dairy products or dairy alternatives

A person should try to limit the intake of foods that are high in sugar, salt, saturated fats, and trans fats. Refined carbohydrates, including white bread and white pasta, should be eaten in moderation or not at all.

Fill up on low-calorie foods

Some low-calorie foods are considered high-volume, meaning they take up space in the stomach yet do not contribute to weight gain.

A full stomach will cause levels of ghrelin to drop, which alleviates hunger pains. High-volume, low-calorie foods include:

• salads
• raw or lightly steamed green vegetables
• homemade vegetable soups
• green smoothies

Stay hydrated

Sip water throughout the day. Aim to drink 8 glasses daily. Limit diuretic drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol, which contribute to dehydration.

Get enough sleep

It is sensible to avoid food cravings caused by sleep deprivation by establishing a sleep routine. It helps to go to bed and get up at the same time every day and aim to sleep for 7 to 9 hours nightly.

Practice mindful eating

When eating, focus on the taste and texture of each bite. Chew food thoroughly. Do not watch television during mealtimes.

Use distractions

A person can try to ignore hunger pains if they are not based on a real need for food.

Effective distractions include:

• reading
• dancing
• exercise
• working
• socializing

Consult a doctor if hunger pains regularly persist despite eating balanced meals. Stomach pains may suggest a gastrointestinal disorder or infection.

People who experience the following symptoms along with their hunger pangs should also see a doctor:

• breathlessness
• constipation
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea
• rapid changes in weight
• sleep difficulties
• vomiting
• weakness

Stomach pains are a normal response to hunger. Although they may signal a need for food, it is possible to experience hunger pangs in response to other situations, including dehydration, sleep loss, and anxiety.

Hunger pains rarely need medical attention, as they usually go away once food is eaten.

People who are dieting may wish to take steps to alleviate their hunger pains to meet their weight loss goals.

7 causes and how to alleviate them

Hunger pangs, or hunger pains, are a natural reaction to an empty stomach. They cause a hollow or gnawing feeling or an empty sensation in the abdomen.

But hunger pangs can happen even if the body does not need food. Several other situations and conditions can lead to hunger pangs, including:

• sleep deprivation
• dehydration
• eating the wrong foods

Read on to learn more about hunger pains and discover how to ease them.

People get hunger pangs or hunger pains for several different reasons. Seven reasons are explained here:

1. Hunger hormone

Share on PinterestThe release of ghrelin in the body, dehydration, and a person’s emotional state can cause hunger pains.

The brain triggers the release of a hormone called ghrelin in response to an empty stomach or in anticipation of the next meal.

Ghrelin signals the body to release stomach acids to digest food. If food is not consumed, the stomach acids begin to attack the lining of the stomach, causing hunger pains.

Studies have shown that ghrelin increases hunger by up to 30 percent when it is administered to adults.

2. Quality of food eaten

Hunger pangs can happen even when the body does not need calories.

This is because ghrelin interacts with insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. Falling levels of insulin cause ghrelin, and therefore hunger, levels to rise.

Junk food contains high amounts of sugar and simple carbohydrates. Eating it causes a spike in insulin levels, followed by a quick drop. Ghrelin then increases, even though the food was consumed only an hour or so beforehand.

In this way, eating even large amounts of poor quality food can increase hunger and cause the pang response in the body.

3. Dehydration

Many people cannot tell the difference between hunger and thirst because the symptoms are so similar.

Thirst can cause symptoms, such as:

• stomach pains
• shaking
• irritability
• lightheadedness

4. The environment

Some people experience pangs in response to smells and sights. Many people have a physical response to the smell of freshly baked goods or cooking. Images of food on T.V. or online can also cause the mouth to water.

Although this type of hunger may not be based on a need for food, it causes very real physical symptoms, including hunger pains.

5. Lack of sleep

Overeating and excess weight have long been associated with sleep deprivation. It appears that hunger pains may be linked to a lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep.

Lack of sleep increases the effects of a chemical that makes eating sweet, salty, and high-fat foods more appealing, a 2016 study suggests.

The sleep-deprived study participants ate a meal containing 90 percent of their daily calories but were unable to resist junk foods just 2 hours later.

6. Emotional state

People may mistake their brain signals for food as hunger pains in some cases. This situation can occur when someone is in a heightened emotional state.

Research suggests that stress and other negative emotions can make it seem like the body urgently needs food, even when it may not.

A rumbling or growling stomach can sometimes help distinguish between emotional and physical hunger. The noises can only be heard when the stomach is empty.

7. Medication and medical conditions

Hunger pangs may be caused by medical conditions in rare cases. This is true for people with diabetes, as hunger increases when blood sugar crashes.

It can indicate an infection or digestive illness that requires medical attention if pains occur alongside other symptoms. Look out for symptoms, such as:

• diarrhea
• dizziness
• fever
• headaches
• nausea
• vomiting
• weakness

Some medications, including certain antidepressants, may interfere with hunger signals and ghrelin release.

Share on PinterestSymptoms of hunger pains may include tiredness, irritability, and lightheadedness.

Hunger pains feel like a gnawing or rumbling in the stomach. They may also present as contractions or the feeling of emptiness.

Other symptoms may include:

• cravings for certain foods
• tiredness
• lightheadedness
• irritability
• strong desire to eat

Once food is consumed, hunger pains and other hunger symptoms usually go away. The stomach adjusts to this new level of fullness (or emptiness), so they may even subside without eating anything.

Research on mice has found that there is an instinctive desire to reduce hunger pangs and other hunger signals. Certain neurons in the brain kick in to fuel appetite once a certain amount of bodyweight has been lost.

This may explain why it is challenging to stick to a diet when experiencing hunger pains.

There may be other ways to control hunger pangs while losing weight even though the researchers suggest that manipulating these neurons will help people maintain their diets.

To alleviate hunger pains, especially when dieting, people can try the following:

Eat at regular intervals

Ghrelin is released in response to what someone’s usual mealtimes are.

Sticking to a schedule will ensure food reaches the stomach in time to meet the stomach acid released in response to ghrelin spikes.

It can also be helpful to carry healthful, low-calorie snacks, such as fruit and nuts, when outside the home, in case it is not possible to eat a full meal at a designated meal time.

Choose nutrient-dense foods

Share on PinterestEating healthful foods including whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, are recommended to alleviate hunger pains.

Avoid insulin dips by choosing healthful food options instead of processed ones.

Eat balanced meals that contain:

• lean protein, such as beans, lentils, and skinless poultry
• whole grains, including brown rice, oats, quinoa, and whole-wheat products
• fruits and vegetables, including fresh, frozen, and canned (without added sugar)
• healthful fats, found in avocados, olives, nuts, and seeds
• low-fat dairy products or dairy alternatives

A person should try to limit the intake of foods that are high in sugar, salt, saturated fats, and trans fats. Refined carbohydrates, including white bread and white pasta, should be eaten in moderation or not at all.

Fill up on low-calorie foods

Some low-calorie foods are considered high-volume, meaning they take up space in the stomach yet do not contribute to weight gain.

A full stomach will cause levels of ghrelin to drop, which alleviates hunger pains. High-volume, low-calorie foods include:

• salads
• raw or lightly steamed green vegetables
• homemade vegetable soups
• green smoothies

Stay hydrated

Sip water throughout the day. Aim to drink 8 glasses daily. Limit diuretic drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol, which contribute to dehydration.

Get enough sleep

It is sensible to avoid food cravings caused by sleep deprivation by establishing a sleep routine. It helps to go to bed and get up at the same time every day and aim to sleep for 7 to 9 hours nightly.

Practice mindful eating

When eating, focus on the taste and texture of each bite. Chew food thoroughly. Do not watch television during mealtimes.

Use distractions

A person can try to ignore hunger pains if they are not based on a real need for food.

Effective distractions include:

• reading
• dancing
• exercise
• working
• socializing

Consult a doctor if hunger pains regularly persist despite eating balanced meals. Stomach pains may suggest a gastrointestinal disorder or infection.

People who experience the following symptoms along with their hunger pangs should also see a doctor:

• breathlessness
• constipation
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea
• rapid changes in weight
• sleep difficulties
• vomiting
• weakness

Stomach pains are a normal response to hunger. Although they may signal a need for food, it is possible to experience hunger pangs in response to other situations, including dehydration, sleep loss, and anxiety.

Hunger pains rarely need medical attention, as they usually go away once food is eaten.

People who are dieting may wish to take steps to alleviate their hunger pains to meet their weight loss goals.

Treatment of abdominal pain in Krivoy Rog, prescriptions for stomach pain

January 22, 2018

Why does the stomach and stomach hurt – medical consultation Mediton Clinic Abdominal pain is a common symptom in a number of diseases. The nature of pain, its strength and distribution can be very diverse and difficult to determine, and often, the patient cannot accurately describe the characteristics of pain. Therefore, you need to seek help in time if you have colitis in your side, your stomach is pulling, your stomach hurts – treatment in Krivoy Rog on Filatov, consultation of a gastroenterologist and a therapist!

The nature of the abdominal pain

Classification is important for determining the underlying disease. It is necessary to treat not a symptom, but a pathological process with simultaneous suppression of discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen, in the navel and pubis, if the stomach and intestines hurt. Only expert diagnostics provides the appropriate result!

Abdominal pain can be either a symptom of a simple increased gas formation in the intestines or signal the onset of a serious illness requiring immediate hospitalization of the patient.

If the pain in the abdomen is acute, it most often indicates inflammation of the appendicitis or the occurrence of biliary, hepatic, renal colic.

Acute abdominal pain is divided into two groups:
• Constant pain. It is limited and deployed directly above the diseased organ. Sensations are aggravated by palpation;
• Attacks of pain or colic. They increase gradually and slowly disappear.

Sudden and severe abdominal pain

These sensations are usually accompanied by fever, chills, diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea. The picture is typical for food poisoning and intestinal infection. These conditions come on in a short time after taking poor-quality food, and are characterized by the following symptoms:
• Constant feeling of nausea and vomiting, pulling on the stomach;
• Diarrhea – watery stools, prolonged diarrhea;
• Weakness due to dehydration and discomfort;
• Sensation of twisting pain in the region of the navel.

Pain and diarrhea with bloody discharge

The condition indicates a serious intestinal disease such as salmonellosis or dysentery. It is also a symptom of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Self-treatment in this case is not possible. If you find blood in the stool during diarrhea, feel pain in the stomach, acute pain in the abdomen or in the anus, it is urgent to take tests, undergo a comprehensive examination and start treatment in accordance with the recommended scheme!

Pain in the abdomen after eating, stomach pain after eating

This type of pain usually varies in strength and has a cutting character. After a bowel movement, the discomfort often stops. In this case, constipation alternates with diarrhea. In this case, doctors talk about irritable bowel syndrome. The composition of the intestinal microflora changes due to stress, the consumption of a certain type of food, or may be hereditary. If the stomach hurts after eating – gastritis, pancreatitis, stomach or duodenal ulcers are also likely diagnoses. If the stomach hurts systematically, this is a reason for an urgent examination!

Pain in the upper abdomen

What do night and hunger pains in the abdomen, pain in the stomach and hypochondrium meanUnpleasant sensations are accompanied by heartburn and may indicate gastritis and some other diseases. In particular, if the stomach hurts from above, it bakes and tingles, there is a lump and heaviness, heartburn is constantly present – gastroesophageal reflux disease, if it hurts, the stomach and stomach hurt – gastritis. The intersection of symptoms can indicate an inflammatory process, infections, exacerbation of a chronic gastrointestinal disease!

There are additional symptoms that are important in the diagnosis:
• Dull or sharp pain localized in the upper abdomen or back;
• Acute pain from left hypochondrium;
• Lack of appetite, constant heartburn and burning of the upper part of the stomach;
• Abdominal discomfort, nausea, full stomach feeling.

Hungry pains in the stomach, night pains in the abdomen

Signs of peptic ulcer disease, as well as cancer of the stomach, duodenum. Do not self-diagnose a terrible disease. Symptoms often combine and intersect, but you need to seek help at least in order to exclude these diagnoses, or start effective treatment of the stomach and other organs of the digestive tract at the earliest stages!

There are additional symptoms:
• Burning pains in the left side, pain in the upper part of the stomach, pain on an empty stomach that disappears after eating;
• Sensations worse at night, unexplained weight loss;
• Nausea and vomiting after eating, and frequent heartburn, difficult to get rid of;
• Feeling of fullness comes after a small amount of food. In this case, you can feel discomfort in the upper part of the stomach;
• Pain in the back, under the shoulder blades, pain between the ribs.

Over time, the pain in the stomach increases, becomes prolonged and does not depend on food intake. Here, as with other similar symptoms, it is very important to seek qualified help in a timely manner. You should not endure a burning sensation in the stomach, cramps, pain in the hypochondrium and intestines for a long time. Masking discomfort with symptomatic means ensures the gradual development of the disease!

Girdle pain in the abdomen

Pancreatitis is the main cause. This disease is dangerous because its course takes place in an acute form.

The following symptoms are present:
• The pain is sharp and cutting;
• Accompanied by bloating and vomiting;
• Appears after overeating and drinking alcohol.

Exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis can be caused by eating fried, fatty and spicy foods. First of all, you need the right diet.

Diagnosis of pain in the abdomen and stomach in the department of gastroenterology

For a correct diagnosis, you need to see a doctor. It is important not to attempt self-medication: take painkillers from the stomach, try to relieve abdominal pain with homemade tinctures, apply a warm or cold heating pad to the stomach. Only in a specialized medical institution, doctors will conduct a comprehensive examination, confirm the diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

You need to go to the clinic if:
• Acute pain in the abdomen lasts more than 2 hours, pain in the form of contractions continues for more than 12 hours;
• Presence of blood in the stool, vomiting of bile or blood;
• Rapid fever, fever, weakness and fainting.

Acute pain in the abdomen: ultrasound and tests, examination, history taking In order to provide first aid to the patient, it is necessary to help him take the position in which pain will be minimal. It is necessary to take a medical card with you to the hospital, medicines that a person takes constantly.

How is the diagnosis carried out:
• Questioning of the patient, examination, palpation of the abdomen;

• Studying the history of the disease, the patient’s card;

• Blood tests – general and biochemical;
• Ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract;
• X-ray and colonoscopy possible;
• Specialized tests for antibodies, markers of viral hepatitis and dysbacteriosis.

After collecting an anamnesis and studying the picture of the disease, the doctor prescribes tests and instrumental examination to confirm the diagnosis. It is necessary to act not only on the symptoms, but on the source of the disease, while suppressing the symptoms!

If a child has a stomach ache

Most often, the cause of a child’s stomach pain is an acute intestinal infection, because babies have not yet developed immunity that resists infections.
Acute intestinal infection in children is manifested by the following symptoms:
• Frequent and profuse diarrhea, severe indigestion;
• Nausea and vomiting, weakness, drowsiness and nervousness;
• High body temperature;
• Periodically acute or dull pain in the lower abdomen, pain and burning in the stomach!

There is a risk of dehydration, and therefore the child must constantly drink, but in small amounts. Disinfectants are prohibited for use. If there is no improvement, the child must be urgently delivered to a medical institution, where specialists will be involved in the diagnosis and treatment.

An additional cause of abdominal pain in a child is bowel obstruction. Obstruction symptoms are as follows:
• Constipation, cramping abdominal pain;
• General weakness of the body;
• Gas stops coming out.

If a child is suspected of having stomach pain due to an obstruction, it is important to seek immediate help. In the hospital, doctors perform the following procedures and manipulations:
• Give cleansing and therapeutic enemas;
• Give injections, injections of appropriate preparations;
• Use the control solution to demonstrate and confirm the recovery of a bowel pattern in a child.

Constipation and abdominal pain in children may be caused by an unbalanced diet or insufficient fluid intake.

Abdominal pain and appendicitis

Sharp pain in the right lower abdomen may indicate appendicitis. May be accompanied by diarrhea. The only solution is immediate hospitalization.

Parents should know that if a child complains of pain, then without consulting a doctor it is forbidden:
• Give the child “No-shpu”. It provokes a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
• Use pain medication. They can erase the picture of the disease and interfere with the correct diagnosis;
• Warm up in the abdomen.

The following causes of abdominal pain in a child can also be dysbacteriosis, rotavirus infection, intestinal parasites and allergies to certain foods.

If your stomach hurts: when to see a doctor

Stomach ache in a child or adult – when to see a doctor Seek medical attention if the following symptoms appear!

• Abdominal discomfort for several days. If pain occurs, do not wait more than one day;

• Severe stomach pain on the right or left, stomach and intestines hurt, it burns and bakes, there are colic, stomach cramps;
• Severe flatulence for more than two days, swollen abdomen, pain in the navel, sound of a drum when the abdomen is tapped with fingers;
• Burning or cutting when urinating, frequent urination, diarrhea for more than one day, bloody diarrhea, burning around the anus;
• Pain in lower abdomen with fever, twisting pain in intestines;
• Radiating pain in the chest, neck and shoulders, any pain in the abdomen during pregnancy.

Medical emergency! Sudden and acute pain in the abdomen, lethargy and lethargy, sudden vomiting, accompanied by pain. Also, the absence of an act of defecation for several days, loss of appetite, weakness and cold sweat, pale skin and tachycardia. High body temperature, tense abdominal wall, acute pain in the stomach after eating. Any drastic change in the normal state indicates the need for professional help!

Which doctor should I visit if my stomach hurts

If abdominal pain is not acute, it is necessary to carry out diagnostics, diagnosis and treatment on an outpatient basis. Contact the Mediton Clinic and you will be assisted.

First of all, if the stomach hurts – a gastroenterologist and therapist. But, depending on the location and nature of the pain in the stomach and intestines, in the abdomen and side, an examination by other specialists is also necessary!

• If pain in the epigastric region on an empty stomach or after eating – a gastroenterologist;
• If the symptoms of the disease are associated with the urinary system, the lower abdomen and perineum hurts – contact a urologist;
• Pulling or pain in the lower abdomen in women – see a gynecologist, stomach ache in a child – see a pediatrician;
• If you have pain in your groin or anus, see a proctologist!

In case of wandering pains of an unexpressed and indefinite nature, when it hurts near the navel, first in the right side, and then in the left side, when there are temporary pulling pains in the lower abdomen, consult a therapist.

Stomach ache, treatment in Krivoy Rog

The first thing a person does when experiencing pain in the stomach and intestines is to find pills in the medicine cabinet. Secondly, if there are no drugs or an understanding of what exactly to take, a person is looking for information on websites and forums. On this topic, we found dozens of questions: how to treat the stomach, what medicines to take for abdominal pain on the right, what pills to take for cramps, how to quickly get rid of heartburn, pills for diarrhea, drugs for food poisoning … these steps are not correct, since soreness in the stomach, in the right hypochondrium, in the middle of the intestine or in the lower abdomen, can be the cause of multiple diseases and syndromes.

Try not to delay visiting a doctor if the above symptoms occur, and even more so if they constantly increase. Contact a specialist in time to start treatment as soon as possible. Keep in mind that laboratory tests, ultrasound and other examination methods take time, and it is during this period that it can become worse against the background of the development of pathology!

Treatment of acute pain in the stomach, dull pain in the abdomen, heartburn and spasms, indigestion and hunger pains, only after a comprehensive examination. We act on the cause, ensuring the exclusion of recurrence and minimization of seasonal exacerbations, while suppressing the symptoms and alleviating the condition of the person!

Stomach ache – treatment in Krivoy Rog on Filatov and Pochtov If your stomach hurts, pulling or stomach ache – treatment in Krivoy Rog on Filatov! Consultation with a gastroenterologist, therapist and gynecologist, appointment with an allergist, infectious disease specialist and urologist, complex ultrasound diagnostics, analyzes and tests at the Mediton Clinic. If you have hungry stomach pains, cramps and spasms, flatulence, diarrhea or constipation, make an appointment with a doctor by phone: (098) 530-60-40!

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Stomach ulcer

90 007 Gastric ulcer – a disease, the main symptom of which is the formation of a defect in the wall of the stomach (ulcers ). The disease proceeds with periods of exacerbations (often in spring and autumn) and periods of remission. Often ulcers are formed not only in the stomach, but also in the duodenum.

Peptic ulcer is one of the most common diseases of the digestive system, about 30-50% of patients in the gastroenterology department in a city hospital are patients with ulcerative lesions of the stomach or duodenum. Since the mechanisms of occurrence of gastric and duodenal ulcers are largely similar, in our country it is customary to talk about gastric and duodenal ulcers.

In developed countries, peptic ulcer affects 6–10% of the adult population, with duodenal ulcer predominating.

The disease is 4 times more common in men than in women.

At a young age, a duodenal ulcer develops more often, at an older age – a stomach ulcer.

Peptic ulcer is more common among urban residents than among the rural population.

Check yourself

The disease can be indicated by:

Pain in the upper abdomen, which, depending on the location of the ulcer, can radiate to the left side of the chest, shoulder blade, thoracic and lumbar spine, left and right hypochondrium, various parts of the abdomen.

With an ulcer in the upper part of the stomach, pain occurs immediately after eating, with an ulcer in the middle part of the stomach – an hour and a half after eating, with a duodenal ulcer – 2-3 hours after eating. Also, with such localization of ulcers, there is a “hungry” pain that occurs on an empty stomach and decreases or completely disappears after eating, and night pain.

Sleep pain is a common symptom of duodenal ulcer. It is observed due to the increase in acid secretion that occurs after dinner.

Nausea and vomiting are observed in 10-15% of patients with duodenal ulcer.

Tendency to constipation.

Diagnosis

To detect gastric and duodenal ulcers, you need: to detect the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

X-ray examination – this method is somewhat outdated, however, it is the best way to identify an ulcerative niche and a violation of the contractile function of the stomach.

pH-metry – the study of the acidity of gastric juice. With peptic ulcer, acidity is often increased.

Fecal occult blood testing reveals bleeding.

SOS!

Advanced disease can lead to complications: gastric bleeding or perforation, in which the wall of the stomach or duodenum is broken, the contents of these organs leak into the abdominal cavity and cause peritonitis, a life-threatening condition.

Memo to the patient

Causes of peptic ulcer:

1) Imbalance between aggressive and protective factors affecting the gastric and duodenal mucosa. Protective factors include mucus, which is produced by the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Aggressive factors include hydrochloric acid, bile acids, reflux of duodenal contents into the stomach.

2) Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. However, the number of people infected with it is much greater than the number of people with an ulcer. Apparently, the state of immunity is of great importance.

3) Hereditary predisposition to the disease. It is detected in 30-40% of patients with duodenal ulcer, but is much less common in gastric ulcers. The predisposition to duodenal ulcer is transmitted through the male line.

4) Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

5) Severe stress.

Factors that contribute to the exacerbation of the disease:

• malnutrition
• smoking
• abuse of strong alcoholic beverages
• night shift work (risk of developing the disease is increased by 50%).

Treatment

Drug treatment involves taking drugs prescribed by a doctor to suppress Helicobacter pylori and drugs that affect the process of ulcer scarring and mucosal recovery. An exacerbation is best treated in a hospital setting.

Patients are also prescribed a diet. Food should be fractional – 5-6 times a day in small portions.

Meat and fish broths, any canned food, smoked meats, marinades and pickles, carbonated fruit waters, coffee, cocoa and strong tea, confectionery, soft white bread and any black bread are excluded from food.