Attention! Do not take painkillers for stomachache!!!

With the increasing pressure of work, the accelerated pace of life, and the irregular diet and work schedule, many people have experienced stomach pain, bloating and other discomforts. So what should I do if I have stomach pain? Is taking painkillers effective?

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Let me give you a clear answer first: Never take painkillers for stomachache! Not only can painkillers not relieve stomachache, but they may make the condition worse!

Why can't you take painkillers when you have stomachache? What should you do if you have stomachache?

01

What is stomach pain

The location of stomach pain is approximately around the navel, between the upper abdomen and the chest.

When stomach pain occurs, sometimes it only manifests as pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen, but is often accompanied by other symptoms such as acid reflux, heartburn, abdominal distension, early satiety, belching, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc. Some patients may also experience dull pain, throbbing pain, and bloating pain.

We would like to remind everyone to be alert to major diseases other than gastrointestinal diseases hidden in "stomach pain" , such as acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis, etc. The symptoms are also upper abdominal pain, which some people may mistake for stomach pain.

02

Why can't you take painkillers for stomachache?

Most of the common painkillers in our daily life are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). NSAIDs are a general term for a class of drugs with non-steroidal structures, which have antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic effects. Common painkillers include aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc. They have obvious effects on most mild and moderate pains such as headaches, toothaches, dysmenorrhea, and muscle pain after exercise.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can treat most pain, but they are ineffective for stomach pain and may even aggravate the condition . Why is this? Because these drugs play an anti-inflammatory and analgesic role by acting on cyclooxygenase (COX) and reducing prostaglandin synthesis.

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Endogenous prostaglandins are very important substances in the gastric mucosa. Prostaglandins are related to the secretion of mucin and phospholipid synthesis in the gastric mucosa, and can promote the proliferation of mucosal cells and repair mucosal damage. Therefore, when prostaglandins decrease and the gastric mucosa loses its protection, acidic gastric juice takes the opportunity to invade the stomach wall, which may cause erosion, ulcers and even bleeding. If the "stomach pain" is caused by a gastric mucosal disease such as a gastric ulcer, taking this type of drug will make the situation worse.

Because there are many important organs in the human abdominal cavity, it is sometimes difficult to accurately locate the specific location of abdominal pain based on experience, or it may be that the adjacent organs are damaged and mistaken for stomach pain. In other words , the so-called "stomach pain" may be a manifestation of pancreatitis, appendicitis, cholecystitis, or even pneumonia, angina pectoris, etc.

If you take painkillers blindly, although it can temporarily relieve the pain, the lesions in the abdominal cavity will actually worsen further, which will make it difficult for doctors to observe the condition and determine the location of the disease, and may lead to misdiagnosis.

03

What to do if you have stomach pain

First of all, you need to go to the hospital and let the doctor identify whether it is really stomach pain. The causes of stomach pain are different and the treatment methods are also different.

1. Stomach discomfort caused by stomach acid

Taking certain prazoles is the most common, such as omeprazole, rabeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, etc. It is a class of powerful acid-suppressing drugs that inhibit gastric acid secretion (PPI) by blocking the proton pump on the gastric parietal cells, which can relieve the pain caused by gastric mucosal ulcers or gastric mucosal erosions.

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Most "prazole" drugs are not stable in gastric acid, so most "prazole" drugs are made into enteric-coated tablets or enteric-coated capsules, which cannot be chewed or crushed before taking, but can only be swallowed whole. The absorption of this type of drug is easily disturbed by food in the stomach, so it should be taken orally before meals or on an empty stomach.

2. Stomach discomfort caused by insufficient gastric motility

Commonly used prokinetic drugs include domperidone, mosapride, and itopride. These drugs mainly enhance gastric motility, accelerate gastric emptying, prevent gastroesophageal reflux, and improve symptoms such as postprandial fullness and early satiety. These drugs should be taken on an empty stomach half an hour before meals.

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3. Stomach discomfort caused by Helicobacter pylori

The average Helicobacter pylori infection rate in my country is as high as 58.07%. According to statistics, 67%-80% of gastric ulcers and 95% of duodenal ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori, and Helicobacter pylori infection is related to the onset of various peptic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and duodenal ulcers. Therefore, it is very important to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. At present, the first choice for eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection is quadruple drug therapy, and the course of treatment is generally 10 to 14 days, which are:

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (acid suppressants): They can inhibit the secretion of gastric acid and increase the bactericidal activity of antibiotics. Commonly used ones include omeprazole, pantoprazole, etc.

Two antibiotics: can kill Helicobacter pylori. Different antibiotics are selected based on whether the patient is allergic to penicillin and whether there is resistance to macrolide antibiotics. Commonly used ones include clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, etc.

Bismuth: A gastric mucosal protective agent that can promote mucosal repair and tissue healing, and also has an auxiliary bactericidal effect. Commonly used drugs include bismuth pectin, bismuth potassium citrate, etc.

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To treat Helicobacter pylori infection, you must use drugs rationally under the guidance of a doctor, such as choosing sensitive antibiotics for sterilization based on the local bacterial resistance situation, and taking the drugs regularly and in sufficient amounts for the full course of treatment as prescribed by the doctor to ensure the successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection.

4. Stomach discomfort caused by mental stress

It is common to hear people say "I get so angry that my stomach hurts". This is true. The stomach is called the second brain of the human body, which means that the stomach is an organ that is very obviously affected by emotions. For example, the secretion of gastric acid, the blood flow of gastric mucosa, and the peristalsis of the stomach are all regulated and controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Frequent anger, mental tension, and excessive stress can cause autonomic nervous system disorders, leading to abnormal stomach function and causing nervous stomach pain.

You can take acid-suppressing drugs to relieve symptoms. If you are indeed in an anxious state, it is recommended to see a psychiatrist. The doctor will give you some drugs to regulate the autonomic nervous system according to the situation. Self-administration is not recommended.

04

What to do in daily life

1. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption

The nicotine contained in tobacco and the ethanol in alcohol both damage the gastric mucosa once they enter the body.

2. Exercise

Some people lie down like Ge You right after eating, which slows down gastrointestinal motility and puts too much pressure on the stomach, making it more likely to suffer from chronic gastric disease in the long run. In addition, the stomach and esophagus are at the same level, which makes it easy for gastric acid to flow back into the esophagus through the lower esophageal sphincter, causing acid reflux and heartburn.

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3. Improve your diet

Focus on light nutrition. Eat more foods rich in pectin, such as pumpkin, okra, yam, carrot, cauliflower, apple, etc. Pay attention to eating small meals frequently and avoid overeating.

4. Adjust your mood

Keep a good mood and avoid anxiety and tension.

Source: Big Doctor and Little Nursing

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