How to Treat Stomach Pain in Adults (2024)

FAQs

How to relieve stomach pain? ›

Drink plenty of clear fluids such as water. Reduce your intake of coffee, tea and alcohol as these can make the pain worse. When you are allowed to eat again, start with clear liquids, then progress to bland foods such as crackers, rice, bananas or toast. Your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods.

Contact your provider if you have: Abdominal discomfort that lasts 1 week or longer. Abdominal pain that does not improve in 24 to 48 hours, or becomes more severe and frequent and occurs with nausea and vomiting. Bloating that persists for more than 2 days.

The best position to minimize stomach pain is the fetal position. This is when the body is at rest lying on the side, the spine is curved, the head is bowed forward, and the arms and legs are bent and tucked in toward the chest.

For cramping from diarrhea, medicines that have loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol) might make you feel better. For other types of pain, acetaminophen (Aspirin Free Anacin, Liquiprin, Panadol, Tylenol) might be helpful.

Foods and drinks like bananas, white rice, toast, crackers, and broth are gentle on your digestive system and can help you recover from an upset stomach. It's best to avoid foods and drinks that are difficult to digest and may worsen GI symptoms.

Acetaminophen & Stomach Problems: Is TYLENOL^® Gentle On Your Stomach? Not all pain relievers are created equal, and can cause stomach or gastrointestinal (GI) damage. TYLENOL^® can be a good pain relief option for those with stomach problems such as stomach bleeding, stomach ulcers, and heartburn.

Red Flags Signaling Medical Attention

Severe abdominal pain accompanied by high fever, vomiting blood, or sudden intense pain could signal an issue requiring immediate medical attention. Red flags include unrelenting pain, especially with a rigid abdomen, or pain radiating to your back.

How do I know if my stomach pain is gas? ›

Excess gas can cause abdominal pain, cramping or a feeling of fullness or tightness (bloating). Your belly may feel like an overinflated balloon on the verge of popping. Burping or farting can provide much needed relief as the excess air seeps out.

You can also try applying a warm compress to your stomach, such as a heating pad or warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. This can help alleviate pain and cramping. Moreover, drinking a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon juice can help to soothe an upset stomach.

There's no medicine for stomach flu. Antibiotics don't work on viruses — they're for bacterial infections. The best thing you can do to help your immune system do its work is to stay home and rest, stay hydrated and eat a little if you can. Give your body the energy it needs to fight the infection.

Point location: On the midline of the body, roughly 1 1/2 inches below the navel. To massage this point: Place two to three fingers on the point location. Using gentle pressure, move fingers in a circular motion.

Commonly used for getting relief from a sore throat, drinking warm water with salt helps to treat stomach pain instantaneously. This is also known as saltwater flush. It cleanses the colon, treats chronic constipation, and thereby, detoxes the body.