Why when we are nervous, often hurts the stomach. Let’s find out together with the doctor

Why when we are nervous, often hurts the stomach. Let’s find out together with the doctor

This may be a symptom of a disease.

MD, pediatrician, nutritionist, co-founder of the Academy of Physicians UniProf.

Why when we are nervous, the stomach starts to hurt?

Today in medicine, the prevailing viewpoint is that stress is the trigger in most cases of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is confirmed by the fact that anxious depressive state and a number of other neurotic disorders are observed in more than half of people with irritable bowel syndrome.

IBS is one of the most common diseases in people regardless of geography. According to statistics, every fourth or fifth person has it, and only every third of them seeks medical help. The disease stands apart from other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, it is also called intestinal neurosis or irritable colon syndrome.

This axis “gut-brain” – bilateral. Malfunctions in this mechanism occur in stressful situations. The brain gives the intestine the wrong signals, and the intestine begins to incorrectly inform the brain about the processes occurring in it. As a result, there is a violation of intestinal motility, any discomfort provokes attacks of pain.

Why does irritable bowel syndrome occur?

In most cases, in the development of IBS is guilty of a whole complex of causes, not only stress. For example:

• irregular and unbalanced diet;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• violation of intestinal microflora;
• disorders of hormonal background in women (during menstruation, pregnancy);
• genetic predisposition (most people with IBS have relatives suffering from this disease).

The development of IBS also provokes frequent consumption of such products as sodas, fatty foods, fast food, snacks, chocolate, cookies. In addition, irritable bowel syndrome can develop after some infectious diseases.

The symptoms of irritable bowel include:

• abdominal bloating;
• flatulence;
• stool problems;
• pain and cramping in the lower abdomen.

Most often the pains in IBS are contraction-like, but can be of a stabbing or aching nature. Also in the syndrome often want to go to the toilet, even when you do not really need to go there. Sometimes the stool does not change, and the symptoms of IBS are manifested only by intestinal cramps or flatulence.

Irritable bowel syndrome is more common in women than in men. Presumably, this is due to the greater emotional mobility of women, as well as more frequent changes in hormones. IBS is more common in middle-aged people (25-40 years of age), and is much less common in people after 60 years of age.