



IBS vs Non-IBS Pain Under The Left Rib Cage: How To Differentiate (Dr. Farahat).
IBS pain under the left rib cage can a rise from IBS or other organs located at the upper left abdomen such as spleen, pancrease, stomach, and left kidney
MD, Assistant lecturer of internal medicine, Gastro-enterology, & Hepatology.
IBS sufferer, Gut health enthusiast, and writer.
Your health matters, my content is not a substitute for the medical advice by your doctor. #Stay_Safe
✅ Evidence-Based.
By Dr. Farahat.
Today, I’ll walk you through the common causes of stomach cramps and gas and how to deal with them.
Cause of stomach cramps and gas | How to suspect |
1- Food and drinks causing cramps and gas. |
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2- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) |
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3- Functional Dyspepsia (Indigestion) |
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4- Gallbladder problems |
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5- lactose intolerance |
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6- stomach flu (Viral Gastroenteritis) |
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7- other food intolerances. |
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RED SIGNS: emergency call your doctor |
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Having gas and cramps doesn’t mean you have a disease.
Experiencing stomach cramps and gas doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a disease or medical condition. Any excess gas may cause a stretch of your intestine wall causing stomach colics or cramps.
some foods get fermented by your gut bacteria. Foods are not the same, some of them produce gas more than others.
So,
Food may be the commonest reason why you are getting stomach cramps and gas.
Not only the food type But also the food amount.
worth mentioning, food TYPE is not the only factor causing stomach cramps and gas. Also, the AMOUNT you eat from that specific food may play a role.
So, eating a small amount of gas-producing food, may not cause you a problem. but, eating a larger amount of the same food may be the cause of gas cramps.
Symptoms: How to know if food is the cause of your stomach cramps and gas:
Most common foods causing stomach cramps and gas: (ref)
1-Beans, lentils.
2- Dairy products: milk, ice cream, cheese, and yogurt
3- Some vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, and brussels sprouts.
4- Whole grains: wheat and oats.
5- sodas and other carbonated drinks.
6- onions.
7- Certain fruits: apples, pears, prunes, and peaches.
8- Hard candies, chewing gum: contain artificial sweeteners and make you swallow air.
9- processed foods: as packaged bread, snack foods, cereal, and salad dressings.
How to decrease stomach cramps and gas caused by foods.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a very common medical condition. It affects nearly 15% of people worldwide. IBS is one of the main causes of stomach cramps and gas. Many people are don’t know they have irritable bowel syndrome.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by (reference):
Although “Gas” is not in the ROME IV of diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, it is one of the most frequent features of irritable bowel syndrome. Gas and bloating are more common in people of IBS with constipation or mixed type.
If you think IBS is the cause of your stomach cramps and gas consult your doctor. Your doctor with review your symptoms and may need some laboratory investigations to confirm your condition.
REMEMBER: you cannot diagnose yourself for the first time with IBS, you have to see a doctor.
Read more about How is IBS diagnosed
If you already have IBS, then it is probably the cause of your stomach cramps and gas, try to:
Another common cause of gas and stomach discomfort is functional dyspepsia. Functional dyspepsia ranges from 5 to 11% worldwide (reference).
The main feature of functional dyspepsia is a sense of fulness after meals. It may be associated with stomach discomfort or mild cramps and gas sensation.
According to ROME IV criteria for the diagnosis of functional gastrointestinal disorders, the functional dyspepsia diagnosis criteria are as follow:
1- You have one or more of the following:
AND
2- No evidence of structural disease (including at upper endoscopy): for a complete diagnosis of indigestion or functional dyspepsia, you have to see your doctor. As your doctor has to do some investigations like H. Pylori testing, barium x-ray, or an upper endoscopy.
This is necessary to exclude other causes of upper stomach cramps like peptic ulcers or GERD (Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease).
Read more about functional dyspepsia
The gall bladder is a small organ that is attached to your liver. It is connected to your intestine through a duct called (the bile duct).
It commonly gets inflamed with or without the formation of gallbladder stones. Inflammation of gallbladder may be the cause of your stomach cramps and gas.
The gallbladder can be inflamed acutely with severe symptoms including severe stomach cramps in the right upper quadrant of your abdomen. The stomach cramps are usually very severe (Biliary colic) associated with nausea (especially after meals) and maybe vomiting or fever.
Gallbladder stones may cause no symptoms or cause mild symptoms like
Gallstones may also cause severe acute cholecystitis. With fever, intense stomach cramps, gas, nausea, and vomiting.
Lactose intolerance is another common cause of gas and stomach cramps. It is estimated that millions of people in the US have some degree of lactose intolerance. It is common in African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and American Indians.
Learn more about lactose intolerance here.
It is a viral infection of your stomach and intestine. Millions of people get viral gastroenteritis every year. It results from eating or drinking contaminated foods or drinks.
Learn more about stomach flu here
Food intolerance is a very common condition more than you think. Approximately 15-20% of the population has some sort of food intolerance (reference). The main symptoms are diarrhea, stomach cramps, and gas. In severe cases, food intolerance can cause headaches or migraines, rashes, and anemia.
Discuss the issue with your doctor if you suspect the presence of food intolerance.
The above 7 conditions are the common causes of stomach cramps and gas. But this is not the complete list of causes. Some other medical conditions can cause stomach cramps and gas. Some of these medical conditions may be dangerous and require emergency medical consultation.
They include (but not limited to):
All of the above conditions can cause stomach cramps and gas. But usually, the symptoms are more severe and associated with some red signs or flags.
If you experience any of the below symptoms and signs with your stomach cramps, please consult your doctor immediately:
The internet is not for practicing medicine or getting treatment. This can be hazardous to your health, use this article for informational purposes only. If you find any of the red signs together with your stomach cramps and gas, please contact your doctor immediately. #Stay_Safe.
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