Introduction
Stomach churning is a condition caused due to various problems which arise in the intestine and stomach area. Stomach churning usually causes temporary discomfort and gets resolved without any medical intervention. However, if stomach churning lasts longer or occurs recurrently, the condition must be properly evaluated to identify the underlying cause. The problems causing the condition can vary from minor indigestion to intestinal obstruction.
How Does Stomach Churning Feel?
Stomach churning is an uncomfortable feeling in a person's abdominal area. The person might feel uneasy and experience gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal tightness, knots, gargling sounds, abdominal pain or cramps, and abdominal churning. Some people might also experience a butterfly feeling in the stomach like a stomach is tied in knots.
What Causes Stomach Churning?
Stomach churning is usually temporary, but sometimes it can last for hours and even a few days. Stomach churning, which lasts for longer periods, is due to factors like indigestion, motion sickness, strenuous abdominal exercises, migraines, a hunger that arises from fasting or dieting, morning sickness during the first trimester of pregnancy, and due to certain medications like NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), laxatives, or antibiotics.
What Are the Conditions Associated With Prolonged Stomach Churning?
A few conditions associated with prolonged stomach churning include:
-
Stress and Anxiety - The stomach and the brain share the same nerve connections, so when anxiety and stress levels increase, they can affect the digestive system. When a person is anxious or feels stressed, the body releases certain hormones which enter the digestive system and causes various symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach-churning, diarrhea, constipation, peptic ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
-
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) - Includes various symptoms that a woman might experience one or two weeks before their period. PMS occurs due to hormonal changes which happen in the menstrual cycle. The intensity of premenstrual syndrome varies from one woman to another. Some women experience gastrointestinal symptoms, like stomach-churning sensation, abdominal bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and stomach pain or cramps.
-
Food Poisoning - Occurs when people eat spoiled beverages or food. Harmful viruses, bacteria, parasites, chemicals, and molds usually cause food poisoning. The symptoms of food poisoning can take about hours or even days to appear after consuming contaminated food. Symptoms usually vary from mild to severe. The symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, fever, and abdominal pain associated with cramps. It is important to seek medical attention if the patient experiences frequent vomiting, dizziness when standing up, dehydration, blood in the stool, diarrhea that lasts more than three days, and if the temperature exceeds 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - It is a disorder that affects proper bowel functioning. It combines gastrointestinal symptoms caused by the bowels' increased sensitivity or due to the colon's slow or irregular movements. Some symptoms of IBS include gas, bloating sensation, abdominal pain or discomfort, stomach cramps, and alternating sessions of diarrhea and constipation. Even though IBS is a chronic condition, its symptoms usually come and go. Lifestyle changes and dietary modifications are recommended for people with irritable bowel syndrome. In some cases, medications are also prescribed to help relieve the symptoms.
-
Viral Gastroenteritis - It is a viral infection of the intestines. The norovirus usually causes this condition. However, for children less than 24 months of days, rotavirus causes viral gastroenteritis. Some symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include nausea, vomiting, cramping, pain, fever, and watery diarrhea. Viral gastroenteritis is not serious; however, dehydration can occur with frequent diarrhea and vomiting. The symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, less energy, extreme thirst, infrequent urination, and sunken cheeks or eyes. Viral gastroenteritis is usually treated by replacing electrolytes and fluids to prevent dehydration.
-
Intestinal Obstruction - It is a blockage that occurs within the small or large intestine, which in turn, prevents the passing of digested food and waste products. Some causes of intestinal obstruction include hernia, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), foreign objects, scar tissue formed after intestinal surgery, tumors, and when the intestine twists around itself. Symptoms of intestinal obstruction include nausea, vomiting, constipation, difficulty in passing gas, abdominal swelling, bloating sensation, severe abdominal pain or cramping, and loud gargling noises from the abdomen. An inability to pass gas or stool can cause stomach churning. If left untreated and undetected, intestinal obstructions can lead to life-threatening complications like an intestinal rupture. People who experience an obstruction should immediately seek medical care and attention.
-
Celiac Disease - It is an autoimmune condition where the patient experiences symptoms after eating gluten products. Gluten is a protein found in barley, wheat, and rye. In celiac disease, when the immune system comes in contact with gluten, it overreacts and attacks the lining of the small intestine. The symptoms of the disease include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps or pain, bloating, gas, foul-smelling stools, and persistent constipation or diarrhea. Other symptoms include mouth sores, joint pain, numbness in the legs, unexplained weight loss, confusion, fatigue, delayed growth in children, delayed puberty, and reproductive issues like missed periods in females. Ceiling disease is usually difficult to diagnose and can be managed by adopting a gluten-free diet.
How Is Stomach Churning Managed?
The management of stomach-churning depends on the underlying condition causing it. Some steps that can help prevent a short-term stomach-churning case include:
-
Avoid foods or medications that trigger the symptoms.
-
Reducing the portions of food and practicing healthy levels of food intake.
-
Controlling anxiety and stress levels.
-
Reducing caffeine intake and alcohol consumption.
-
Avoid fried, fatty, spicy, or greasy foods.
-
Drinking peppermint or ginger tea reduces the feeling of nausea.
-
Taking probiotics can help repopulate the good bacteria in the intestinal tract.
-
Antacid intake can help relieve symptoms of heartburn.
If stomach churning occurs from viral gastroenteritis or food poisoning few tips to relieve the symptoms include:
-
Keep well hydrated.
-
Avoid foods that are hard to digest.
-
Get enough rest.
-
Eat bland soups and foods like white toast and saltine crackers.
Conditions like intestinal blockage must be treated under a doctor's close supervision, and hospitalization might be necessary in such cases.
Conclusion
Stomach churning is an uncomfortable condition where a person experiences gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, cramps, and tightness. It can be caused due to various conditions like indigestion, taking certain medications, stress and anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, and intestinal obstruction. Stomach churning usually causes temporary discomfort and can resolve without any treatment. However, if the symptoms last for longer periods, and if a person experiences recurrent or persistent symptoms, it is a sign of an underlying condition that might require medical intervention.
