Can Anxiety Or Stress Cause Stomach Pain And Bloating
Essentially, when you’re feeling anxious or stressed, your brain goes into a ”Fight or flight” mode and stops your body from properly digesting food until things get back to ”normal”. However, when you’re in a stressed state for a long time you never fully come out of that ”Fight or Flight” mode, which means your digestive system is always compromised and symptoms of digestive upset such as bloating may occur. Continue reading to find out what is happening in our gastrointestinal tract when we are stressed.
Remedies For Stomach Bloat
When it comes to bloating, you have two options to keep it in check: you can avoid foods and activities that trigger bloating, and you can intervene when you first notice your stomach feeling full or swollen. The good news is there are as many remedies for bloating as causes. Here are some remedies to try the next time you feel bloated.
What If The Cause Is Unknown
Before a doctor can treat the pain, they must determine the cause. To do this, the doctor may take a complete medical history, press on the abdomen or back to identify pain levels and position, perform blood work, or do imaging scans of the back or stomach.
There are some home remedies that a person can try to ease back pain and bloating. However, if symptoms are due to a serious condition, such as liver failure, it is essential to talk to a doctor before trying any home remedies. Some treatments may be unsafe for people in organ failure or with other conditions.
If the problem is a minor one, such as gas or a stomach virus, it is usually safe to manage symptoms at home.
Strategies that might help include:
- taking anti-gas medication
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How Is The Treatment Done
The use of antacid medication like Pepsamar, or medication that decreases the production of acidity in the stomach, such as Omeprazole or Pantoprazole, is advisable for the treatment of stress-induced gastritis and should be recommended by a doctor. However, continuous use of these medications isnt recommended, so the treatment of emotional issues that trigger the symptoms with psychotherapy, relaxation techniques such as meditation, a balanced diet and regular physical activity is the best course of action. A great home remedy for gastritis is chamomile tea, which should be taken 2 to 3 times a day to activate its calming effect. Other natural calming herbal remedies include valerian, lavender and passion-flower blossoms tea.
Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth
Symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
Small intestinal bowel overgrowth is when theres an abnormal increase in the bacteria that live in your small intestine, such as E. coli or Klebsiella.
Several things can lead to SIBO. Surgery of the intestines that changes your anatomy can cause it. Decreased motility of the small intestine caused by IBS, diabetes, or opioid drugs can also cause SIBO. And people who have a weakened immune system have a higher risk of SIBO.
SIBO can interfere with your bodys ability to absorb nutrients from your food, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies.
SIBO can be diagnosed using a non-invasive carbohydrate breath test. Your doctor may also recommend an endoscopy and colonoscopy to rule out other diseases.
Treatment may include dietary changes, nutritional supplements, and antibiotics to control bacterial overgrowth.
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How Common Is Stomach Bloating
Between 10% and 25% of otherwise healthy people complain of occasional abdominal bloating. As many as 75% describe their symptoms as moderate to severe. About 10% say they experience it regularly. Among those diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome , it may be as much as 90%. Up to 75% of women experience bloating before and during their period. Only 50% of people who experience bloating also report a distended abdomen.
Can Anxiety Cause Stomach Problems
When we think of anxiety and our stomach in a single sentence, it is difficult to fathom the connection between the two. One is an organ where the other is an emotional state of mind . However, the reality, which many may be surprised to know, is that Anxiety and Stomach Problems often go hand-in-hand. Studies reveal that in some individuals, anxiety is directly related to or is the direct cause of stomach problems. Many a times, the stomach problems caused due to anxiety become chronic in nature and become a source of frustration for the patient. Stomach problems caused due to anxiety can be difficult to diagnose and manage.
According to medical professionals, mind and the stomach have a robust linkage as both are affected by similar neurotransmitters and hormone and both our mind and stomach are highly sensitive to changes in the chemical patterns and to stress. This is the reason why Anxiety and Stomach Problems frequently go hand-in-hand. Given below are some common stomach problems caused due to high level of stress and anxiety and some methods to cope up with the stomach problems and other symptoms.
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The Link Between Gut Health And Mental Health
In the past, researchers believed that mental health issues could create problems within the digestive system. Those who were anxious or depressed were more likely to experience stomach or intestinal disturbances. Thus, the answer to can stress causes constipation or stomach pain is, yes.
However, more recent studies show that it could be the other way around: gut health may affect mental health. In fact, many scientists believe that all disease begins in the gut.
What Are The Stomach Problems Caused By Anxiety
The most interesting fact about Anxiety and Stomach Problems is that it can occur in people of any age and at any time of their lifespan. The general population usually suffers from stomach issues in the case of severe anxiety attacks and symptoms, while other suffer from gut problems throughout the day when they are under the attack of intense anxiety. You are required to undergo an anxiety test to know the severity of anxiety you are suffering from and get appropriate recommendations and customized treatment plan to alleviate the symptoms and anxiety attacks so that your stomach problems are relieved and your gut health is restored. Below are the most common types of stomach problems that are caused due to anxiety attacks.
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Can Stomach Flu Cause Bloating
About 25 percent of patients who get gastroenteritis, astomach infection, have bloating even after theillness clears. A small percentage of those may have small intestinalbacterial overgrowth .
Herein, how long does the stomach flu last?
Depending on the cause, viral gastroenteritis symptomsmay appear within one to three days after you’re infected and canrange from mild to severe. Symptoms usually last just a dayor two, but occasionally they may persist as long as 10days.
One may also ask, how do you get rid of a bloated tummy? The following quick tips may help people to get rid of abloated belly quickly:
Beside this, why do I feel bloated all the time and my stomach enlarged?
It is usually caused by excess gas production ordisturbances in the movement of the muscles of the digestive system. Bloating can often cause pain, discomfort and a”stuffed” feeling. It can also make yourstomach look bigger . However, in some people, bloatingis caused mostly by increased sensitivity.
Can the stomach flu last a week?
But typically symptoms don’t last longer than afew days. However, in some cases, the effects linger forweeks or months even after a person is no longervomiting or having severe symptoms after a bad bout with a virus orfood poisoning.
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Stress Effects On The Body
Stress affects all systems of the body including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems.
Stress effects on the body.
Our bodies are well equipped to handle stress in small doses, but when that stress becomes long-term or chronic, it can have serious effects on your body.
Musculoskeletal system
When the body is stressed, muscles tense up. Muscle tension is almost a reflex reaction to stressthe bodys way of guarding against injury and pain.
With sudden onset stress, the muscles tense up all at once, and then release their tension when the stress passes. causes the muscles in the body to be in a more or less constant state of guardedness. When muscles are taut and tense for long periods of time, this may trigger other reactions of the body and even promote stress-related disorders.
For example, both tension-type headache and migraine headache are associated with chronic muscle tension in the area of the shoulders, neck and head. Musculoskeletal pain in the low back and upper extremities has also been linked to stress, especially job stress.
Relaxation techniques and other stress-relieving activities and therapies have been shown to effectively reduce muscle tension, decrease the incidence of certain stress-related disorders, such as headache, and increase a sense of well-being. For those who develop chronic pain conditions, stress-relieving activities have been shown to improve mood and daily function.
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Why Does The Stomach Feel Stress
Stress impacts the gut because each person has a hard wired connection between the brain in the head and the nervous system housed within the GI tract called the enteric nervous system, Chey says. The enteric nervous system lives within the wall of the GI tract and communicates through the spinal cord with the brain. While the enteric nervous system typically runs the GI tract independently, the brain can influence how it behaves. In times of stress, it may send a distress signal that makes the GI system run differently. In addition, stress makes the nerves in the gut overly sensitive so things that normally arent even perceived at a conscious level are perceived as unpleasant gut symptoms.
Everybody knows somebody that during high school before a big exam or an athletic event would have to run to the bathroom, Chey says. It happens because of the impact of stress or anxiety in the GI tract.
Can Stress Make Your Belly Bloat
In some people, stress slows down digestion, causing bloating, pain and constipation, while in others it speeds it up, causing diarrhoea and frequent trips to the loo. Some people lose their appetite completely. Stress can also worsen digestive conditions like stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
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Can Constipation Cause Stress
If you are a woman, then the relationship between stress and constipation can definitely work the other way around. Research has shown that women can undergo mood swings, and even suffer from anxiety or depression if they are suffering from chronic constipation. In women, constipation usually has a two-fold impact, physical and mental:
- Physical Duress: Not having regular bowel movement can cause women to bloat, suffer from intestinal cramps, etc. that can have an overall impact on your health.
- Emotional Stress: Not having regular bowel movements can cause a build-up of gas which can lead to potentially embarrassing situations in a public setting, which would obviously result in additional stress. Sometimes, once constipated, women fear having a bowel movement because of the pain it might cause, which would only exacerbate the situation.
Being stressed about constipation is bound to make matters worse. The research also pointed out that women who undergo a lot of stress induced by constipation has a lesser amount of blood flowing to the rectum and anus, which hampers regular bowel movements and makes the constipation worse.
Measurable On The Scale
Belly bloating is an uncomfortable sensation that everyone has experienced at some point, says William Li, MD, author of Eat to Beat Disease. It can come and go, and its not something you can measure on a scale.
Gaining weight from fat is different. Actual weight gain from fat is seen on a scale and doesnt go away by itself, Li says.
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Can Stress Be Behind That
Stress may make a persons stomach act up because of nervousness or anxiety, two conditions associated with symptoms according to research.
There are certain food items and high-fat or spicy foods that stress can affect how they digest and if someone has irritable bowel syndrome then this could mean more susceptibility for developing an episode when under stressful situations.
If there was no previous history of IBS before experiencing symptoms from intense stressful environments, other causes should be considered.
The ‘fight Or Flight’ Response
The digestive system is particularly susceptible to stress as the CNS essentially shuts down or slows down gastrointestinal function via the ENS when there is a perceived threat. The body responds to stress by producing stress hormones which rapidly increase our physical and mental ability to deal with the dangerous situation. During this state of hyperarousal, processes such as digestion that aren’t essential for physical exertion are repressed in favour of those which focus on dealing with the stressor.
Blood flow to the gut, intestinal motility, intestinal permeability, digestive enzyme production and protective mucus secretion are all affected7 by stress. This is why anxiety and bloating often go hand in hand. When stressed and anxious, many experience sensations such as: butterflies in their stomach, nausea, a choked up feeling, trouble swallowing, indigestion, heartburn and perhaps even diarrhoea.
When the stress or danger that we are facing is short-lived, the stress response’s brief inhibition of digestion is of little concern as normal function returns once the perceived threat has passed. However, with chronic or ongoing stress the digestive system remains subdued, making it difficult to digest food effectively, predisposing not just the gut, but the entire body to problems8.
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How Do You Get Rid Of Stress Bloating
Here are 11 proven ways to reduce or eliminate bloating.
- Dont Eat Too Much at a Time.
- Rule Out Food Allergies and Intolerances to Common Foods.
- Avoid Swallowing Air and Gases.
- Dont Eat Foods That Give You Gas.
- Try a Low-FODMAP Diet.
- Be Careful With Sugar Alcohols.
- Take Digestive Enzyme Supplements.
- Dont Be Constipated.
How To Treat Stress
There are several things you can do to reduce the effects of anxiety and stress on your gut. ‘There is a direct link between our microbiota and our stress hormone system – alterations in our gut microbiota may lead to a heightened or suppressed hormonal response to stressful situations,’ says Dr Ashton. ‘The direct approach would be to identify the “stress trigger” and try to remove it, or alter its impact, from your daily life, where possible.’
If you feel yourself getting stressed out with a task take a mini-break from the activity.
For instance, Dr Ashton suggests, you may get stressed by not being prepared for some activity at work like giving a presentation make sure that you allow plenty of time to adequately prepare and rehearse to prevent or reduce anxiety.
Think about how you can calm your day from the beginning – walking some of the journey to work rather than all of it being spent on busy trains or in traffic jams.
‘If you feel yourself getting stressed out with a task take a mini-break from the activity by making a hot drink or writing a list of things you would like to do with your weekend before returning to your work.’
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What Are The Possible Causes Of Diarrhea
Diarrhea can be caused by a number of factors, such as certain foods which are difficult to digest.
This includes dairy products and high-fat or spicy food items.
Stress may also contribute to diarrhea as it triggers intestinal spasms that cause the intestines to push the fecal matter through faster than normal, but this is not typically the main reason for an episode.
Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome could make an individual more susceptible to developing diarrhea when under stress, however, if there was no previous history of IBS before experiencing symptoms from stressful situations then other causes should be considered.
A persons stomach may act up during times of intense nervousness or anxiety because these two conditions appear linked according to research.
Stress can also impact the digestive system in ways that lead to diarrhea, but it is not typically the main cause.
Foods That Cause A Bloated Belly
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