Everyone has dealt with an upset stomach at some point in his or her life. This queasy, unsettling feeling sentences many people to a day on their couch or bed. There is a wide array of causes for an upset stomach, which is one of the most common aliments Americans suffer from.
A look at some of the causes
The stomach is a fickle part of the body. It can get upset over quite a few things, from the food we consume to the lifestyle choices we make. Here’s a quick list of common causes:
Eating too fast
Emotional stress
Smoking
Too much alcohol or caffeine
Travel
Pregnancy
Irritable Bowl syndrome
Ulcers
Reflux (GERD)
A look at Irritable Bowl Syndrome
About 35 million Americans suffer from Irritable Bowl Syndrome or IBS.
This condition causes stomach problems, including pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. New research suggests the condition may be hereditary.
“Our study confirms for the first time what we have long thought and heard anecdotally from our patients — that a relative often has their similar symptoms,” researcher G. Richard Locke III, MD, tells WebMD. “What was most surprising is that our results show the family link is not just related to IBS, but other gastrointestinal disorders as well.”
“We have found that children of parents who have IBS are more likely to be brought into the doctor for the same symptoms, and this may be that they simply learn to pay more attention to the symptoms of this condition,” William E. Whitehead, PhD, who is the co-director for Functional GI and Motility Disorders at the University of North Carolina tells WebMD. “If we find that ‘family learning’ is indeed contributing to IBS, it may add to the possible treatments for the condition but not as much as a genetic link would allow.”
Treatments include medication, stress reduction therapy and changes to your diet.
