Night stomach pain: causes, possible diseases, treatment

The rating of problems caused by malfunctions of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is headed by nighttime stomach pains. This unpleasant symptom causes discomfort and takes away a good sleep. Read on to learn more about the causes of painful sensations in the dark and how to treat them.

Features of night pain

Pain is a significant adaptive reflex of the body. It can act as both a preventive and protective reaction.

Abdominal discomfort is a complex clinical symptom. Due to the fact that many vital organs are concentrated in this zone, it is quite problematic to determine the source of pain. The range of manifestations of pain is wide - cramping, sharp, pulling, aching, cutting, like colic. The pain can be concentrated in one area, and give to other areas, spread throughout the body and have a different intensity. The body has taken care to inform the brain as accurately as possible about the presence of malfunctions in its work.

The dagger type of pain is very dangerous. It may indicate a stomach ulcer. At the first appearance of such discomfort, you should immediately call an ambulance.

If pain occurs in the epigastric region after going to bed, the features of the manifestation of pain should be differentiated. If the duration of the attack is less than 1 minute, there is no cause for concern. If the discomfort persists within 1 hour, you should seek specialized medical help.

Table 1. Categories of pain in the abdominal area

Variety	Characteristic
Visceral	It is considered a consequence of irritation of the nerve endings located on the walls of the peritoneum. In most cases, it is caused by the following factors: increased pressure in the stomach; malfunctions in the circulatory system. Any squeezing or stretching of the internal organs can provoke this kind of pain. A person perceives it as squeezing, deep, giving into the skin. It does not have a specific localization and is rather long in terms of time of manifestation. In terms of intensity, it is similar to the sensations during an attack of hepatic colic or inflammation of appendicitis.
Parietal	It is also provoked by irritation of the walls of the abdominal cavity, but it always has a clear localization. The intensity increases with walking. It is often observed with peritonitis.
Neurogenic	It is the result of neurological diseases. Pathologies of the peripheral nervous system, especially diabetic neuropathy, can manifest themselves through discomfort in the peritoneum. Pain is inherent in shooting. She suddenly appears and disappears just as quickly.
Reflex	This type of pain is sometimes referred to as reflected pain. It can be localized in areas located at a distance from the focus of excitation. Often appears in gastric ailments.

A psychogenic type of pain is also felt in the abdomen. However, it has a completely different nature of occurrence. It arises as a result of suspiciousness and excessive anxiety.

Video - Stomach pain

Alarming symptoms

Nocturnal stomach pains are in themselves an alarming symptom. However, when they are accompanied by functional disorders of the body, you should pay a visit to your doctor.

Among the dangerous symptoms are the following:

• hunger;
• nausea turning into vomiting;
• increased formation of gases;
• an increase in body temperature;
• excessive sweating;
• darkening of urine;
• clarification of feces.

Such manifestations are a sign of the presence of a pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

If the faeces are black, internal bleeding is diagnosed in most cases. In this situation, emergency medical attention is required.

Clinical manifestations of pain

In addition to the characteristics of pain, other parameters of its assessment should be taken into account. Before visiting a specialist, the following criteria must be assessed:

• intensity;
• duration;
• etiology;
• features of occurrence;
• factors influencing the increase or decrease.

An important point is the localization of night pain. If it is concentrated in the upper peritoneum, there is the possibility of a stomach or duodenal ulcer or pancreatic disease. If pain from the central part of the abdomen radiates to the left hypochondrium and is reinforced by hunger, doctors diagnose gastritis.

One of the main factors signaling gastric pathologies is the improvement in well-being when changing posture.

Often, pain that feels like "stomach" can be related to other internal organs.

Table 2. Possible diseases with "stomach" pain

Pain characteristic	Possible diseases
Rapid occurrence within minutes. It is difficult for the patient to move.	perforation of the stomach; aneurysm of the abdominal aorta.
Cramping character. Localization in the lower right side of the peritoneum. Short in time.	motile cecum syndrome; adhesive process.
Gradually increasing in intensity.	inflammation of appendicitis; Crohn's disease; renal colic; intra-abdominal abscesses; inflammation of the appendages; intestinal obstruction.

During an attack of acute appendicitis, the pain is characterized by an undulating character, characterized by periods of recession and increased discomfort.

Etiology of night pain

Stomach discomfort occurs when the organ expands or shrinks. If an excess of gastric secretion is produced in it, hydrochloric acid begins to negatively affect its walls, which also leads to unpleasant sensations.

The following factors can be the culprits of uncomfortable conditions:

• inflammatory process;
• trauma to the abdominal walls;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• intestinal infection;
• autoimmune diseases;
• adhesions of the peritoneum;
• endometriosis;
• flatulence;
• rapid contraction of the walls of the esophagus;
• metabolic disorders;
• ARI;
• stretching of the intestine or liver capsule;
• biliary dyskinesia.
• duodenal ulcer.

Also, discomfort in the epigastric region can be neurotic in nature, arising at a time of severe stress.

Among the physiological causes of night pain, the following are distinguished:

• indigestion;
• incomplete bowel movement;
• excessive consumption of fatty and spicy foods;
• individual intolerance to certain products.

If nocturnal attacks are short-lived and not systematic, the cause often lies in an unbalanced diet. Revision of the diet will help get rid of this problem.

Sometimes stomach pains can be caused by the pressure of the growing fetus on the organ. In the first trimester, he may be ill due to toxicosis, in the subsequent trimester - due to an increase in the volume of the uterus.

First aid

If discomfort appears in the epigastric region at night, simple rules should be followed. Both the diagnosis and the recovery process depend on adherence to the recommendations.

General rules:

1. You should not take any medication until the doctor arrives.
2. Among the pain relief drugs, you can drink warm mint tea or a few sips of cold water.
3. Although the pain is often accompanied by a feeling of hunger, it is necessary to postpone food intake.
4. Applying a warm heating pad is allowed. However, if the pain intensifies, the heating pad should be removed from the surface of the abdomen.
5. Lying on your back with your legs up will help reduce pain.

In no case should you self-medicate.

Body diagnostics

To make the correct diagnosis, experts prescribe a comprehensive examination. Among the recommended examination methods, the following are distinguished:

• Ultrasound;
• CT;
• FGDS;
• general analysis of blood, urine and feces.

In addition, the doctor palpates the abdominal cavity and collects a detailed history.

FGDS - fibrogastroduodenoscopy consists in inserting a probe with a built-in video camera through the esophagus to assess the state of the gastrointestinal tract. If necessary, short-term anesthesia is done. The most informative method for diagnosing gastric diseases.

Treating Night Stomach Pains

Among the funds traditionally used for discomfort in the epigastric region at night, the following are used:

• antispasmodics;
• analgesics;
• stabilizers of the functions of the digestive tract;
• antibiotics.

The names of drugs and the duration of the course of treatment are due to the intensity of the attacks and the physiological characteristics of the patient's body.

Health food

Simultaneously with therapy, you must adhere to a diet. It will help enhance the effect of taking medications and normalize the activity of the digestive tract. The basic principle of nutrition is to eat sparing food. The following foods and drinks are recommended for consumption:

• vegetable soups in low-fat broth;
• boiled or mineral water without gas;
• grated porridge;
• weakly brewed herbal tea.

The food stop list contains many delicious foods from a gastronomic point of view:

• canned food;
• beans;
• gooseberry;
• fatty, smoked and salted dishes;
• carbonated and alcoholic drinks;
• turnips and radishes;
• grape;
• wholemeal bread.

Foods containing coarse fiber are especially dangerous. Although in most cases dietary fiber can help improve the digestive process, at times it can be harmful. With inflammatory processes occurring in the digestive tract, especially the large intestine, fiber leads to discomfort

Eating even small amounts of unprocessed fruits and vegetables can cause a strong deterioration of the existing pathology. If the intestines cannot cope with the processing of raw plant products, you should make mashed potatoes or use only baked or boiled plants.

Eating rules:

• food temperature - room temperature;
• portions are small;
• the number of meals per day - up to 6 at the same time;
• consistency - mushy;
• cooking method - steaming or boiling;
• peculiarities of filling the diet - the balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Eat chewing food thoroughly. Outdoor walks are encouraged as they help improve digestion.

ethnoscience

By agreement with the doctor, it is possible to use proven, "working" means from the home first-aid kit. Along with drug treatment, the following drugs are popular:

1. Fresh cucumber. To improve the taste, you can add 0.5 tsp. honey. Take 3 times a day, 25 ml. By analogy, you can take juice from white cabbage.
2. Freshly squeezed plantain juice. Drink 250 ml of the drink within 24 hours. If the pain is severe, you can chew the leaves of the plant.
3. Decoctions of meadowsweet, St. John's wort or honeysuckle. Choose a plant to taste, take 1 tbsp. dried mass, pour 400 ml of boiled water, insist for 3 hours and drink throughout the day.

Mint, chamomile or currant tea will also be helpful.

Dangerous pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and stomach in particular can begin with night pains. Timely appeal to a therapist and gastroenterologist will help to solve the problem in the shortest possible time and preserve longevity.