Stomach pain: what causes it and how to avoid it –

Did you get agitated, fasting for a long time, exaggerated in seasonings or coffee? There’s no way: the stomach complains! Digestive system surgeon Alexandre Iwao Sakano, master and doctor from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (USP), reveals what causes the problem and teaches what to do to prevent it.

What are the causes of stomach pain?

In digestion, the stomach releases an acid that dissolves the food to facilitate the absorption of nutrients. In excess, it causes discomfort or pain. It can be fleeting, if due to isolated factors such as certain foods, medications or prolonged fasting, or continuous, when the acid attacks and inflames the wall of the organ (causing gastritis) or produces wounds there (causing the ulcer).

So, the ulcer is aggravated gastritis?

Yes. Gastritis is more superficial, since the ulcer causes the loss of cells and the stomach mucosa changes. It’s as if gastritis were an irritation of the skin, with redness and swelling, and the ulcer was a deeper wound.

What are the symptoms?

Pain in the pit of the stomach, like burning, and a feeling of emptiness in the stomach, which gets worse when you go more than five hours without eating and improves after eating, appear in both gastritis and ulcers. There may also be changes in breath, headache, nausea and nausea, generally more intense after a meal.

Does fasting bring relief?

Nothing! The tendency is to aggravate the symptoms. When you go too long without eating, your stomach releases small amounts of acid that make you feel hungry. In contact with inflamed or injured walls, it causes further irritation and pain. It’s like throwing acid on broken skin.

Is splitting the diet a good measure?

Undoubtedly. Eating smaller portions several times a day prevents damage to the stomach wall. The important thing is not to go more than four hours without eating. The night is the period when we spend the most time on an empty stomach, so make sure you have breakfast.

Could stress be to blame?

He is one of the villains, as well as prolonged fasting. Stress generates a reflex that stimulates the release of acid in the stomach, thus causing or worsening symptoms.

What do bacteria have to do with this story?

Helicobacter pylori destroys the protective layer of the stomach lining, making it more susceptible to the action of acid. Almost half of the population carries this bacteria and not everyone develops gastritis and ulcers. But when that happens, the presence of Helicobacter makes it difficult to control, so it is necessary to eliminate it with specific antibiotics, administered for a week.

Why are spicy foods contraindicated?

They irritate even more the stomach of those who already have ulcers or gastritis.

Does alcohol and cigarettes make your symptoms worse?

Not only do they aggravate the pain, they can trigger gastritis or ulcers. This happens especially when toxic substances from alcohol and cigarettes attack the gastrointestinal tract.

Does milk reduce discomfort?

Yes. Milk neutralizes stomach acid, improving pain and burning and providing comfort.

And coffee, okay or not?

It depends. At breakfast and after meals, it’s fine. But avoid the hourly coffee at the office. Consumed on an empty stomach, it deceives the organ, which starts to release acid, worsening the complaints.

What measures aid recovery?

Quit smoking, practice physical exercise and relaxation techniques (to relieve stress), have regular sleep schedules (poor sleep stimulates acid secretion) and eat light foods every three hours. Also avoid chewing a lot of gum: it makes the stomach release acid to digest food and, if it doesn’t come, the walls suffer!