Stress is the cause of many pathologies. Often people complain that their stomach hurts from nerves. In this case, patients take many different drugs, but not one medicine helps. In such cases, the pain syndrome is directly related to psycho-emotional overload. How to get rid of discomfort? We will consider this issue in the article.
Pathogenesis
Why does the stomach hurt from nerves? This organ is extremely sensitive to the state of the psyche and emotional background. Sometimes even a little stress can cause serious malfunctions of the digestive tract.
Digestion is controlled by the central nervous system. During stress, the regulation of the stomach from the side of the brain is disturbed. In humans, the production of hydrochloric acid and pancreatic juice changes. All this leads to improper digestion of food and the occurrence of pain. Unpleasant sensations usually intensify after eating.
During psycho-emotional stress, the work of the endocrine glands, especially the adrenal glands, is also disturbed. The body increases the level of adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones affect a person’s appetite. Therefore, some people begin to intensely "seize" stress, while others completely refuse to eat. Such malnutrition also leads to pain in the epigastric region.
If the patient complains that his stomach is systematically sore from nerves, then this can be a rather alarming sign. Indeed, constant stress can lead not only to temporary digestive disorders, but also cause the development of chronic diseases. The patient worsens blood circulation in the digestive tract, painful cramps of the muscles of the stomach occur. Over time, the mucous membrane of the organ becomes inflamed and undergoes pathological changes.
Causes
What kind of emotional stress leads to a violation of the functions of the digestive tract? Usually the stomach hurts from nerves in people who often experience the following negative emotions:
- sadness
- apathy and depression due to constant overwork;
- anxiety and fear;
- anxiety for your future;
- nervous excitement.
If such experiences are noted over a long period of time, then a person develops chronic gastric pathologies. Next, we will consider in detail the possible diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that arise from stress.
Gastritis Nervous
If a person often has a stomach pain from nerves, then this may be a sign of gastritis of a psychogenic origin. Against the background of prolonged stress, the patient has a disturbed blood supply to the digestive tract. This leads to inflammation of the gastric mucosa, as well as to increased reproduction of the pathogen Helicobacter pylori. The patient complains of the following pathological manifestations:
- pain in the stomach;
- burping;
- nausea
- heartburn.
These signs are characteristic of any form of gastritis. However, if inflammation of the gastric mucosa is of a psychogenic origin, then pathology is accompanied by additional symptoms:
- fatigue;
- chest pain during breathing;
- attacks of suffocation;
- arrhythmia;
- sensation of a lump in the throat.
- frequent fainting conditions;
- drowsiness.
At an early stage of the disease, these manifestations are noted only during psycho-emotional stress. In advanced cases, the symptoms of pathology bother the patient even at complete rest.
Gastric neurosis
There are times when a patient complains of abdominal pain. However, a diagnostic examination does not reveal any pathologies of the digestive tract. Can the stomach hurt from nerves? Yes, it is quite possible. In this case, doctors talk about psychosomatic pain and make a diagnosis of neurosis of the stomach. This disease is caused by the depletion of the autonomic system and often occurs due to overwork.
This pathology is quite difficult to identify. After all, an objective examination indicates that the digestive tract is absolutely healthy. But at the same time, the patient periodically has the following symptoms:
- stomach pains;
- rumbling in the stomach;
- bad taste in the mouth;
- a feeling of emptiness in the stomach even after eating;
- excessive gas formation;
- causeless nausea and vomiting.
After each stress, a person complains that his stomach hurts from nerves. "What to drink to relieve stomach discomfort?" - This question is often asked by patients to the gastroenterologist.
Traditional drugs for the relief of pain with gastric neurosis usually do not help. It is necessary to undergo consultation and examination with a psychotherapist. These patients are shown taking sedatives. Usually, after normalization of the mental state, the pain syndrome and dyspeptic symptoms disappear.
Nerve pancreatitis
There are times when patients complain of girdle pain in the stomach that radiates to the sides and lower back. This pain syndrome is characteristic of pancreatitis, a chronic inflammation of the pancreas.
This pathology can also form on nerve soil. It often occurs in people who are accustomed from childhood to "seize" stress. Regular intake of excess food creates a large load on the pancreas. As a result, the blood supply to the organ is disturbed and inflammation occurs.
With nervous pancreatitis, girdle pain is accompanied by frequent diarrhea, weakness, fatigue, and fever. This disease in advanced cases can cause secondary diabetes mellitus.
Stress ulcer
Ulcerative processes in the stomach amid stress are the result of advanced gastritis of a psychogenic origin. Often the patient does not pay attention to the fact that his stomach hurts from nerves. Symptoms of mucosal inflammation worsen over time, and gastritis is complicated by an ulcerative process.
Stressful stomach ulcer is very dangerous. This pathology can be almost asymptomatic. Often in patients a perforation of erosion suddenly occurs, which is accompanied by severe bleeding from the stomach and severe pain.
Diagnostics
Suppose a person periodically has a stomachache from nerves. What to do in this case? It is necessary to consult a gastroenterologist and undergo the following diagnostic examinations:
- radiography of the stomach;
- gastroscopy;
- a study of gastric juice;
- Ultrasound of the pancreas;
- blood test for pancreatic enzymes.
If a comprehensive examination did not reveal the presence of gastritis, ulcers or pancreatitis, then, most likely, the pain is associated with autonomic disorders. In this case, the patient is diagnosed with "gastric neurosis" and sent for a consultation with a psychotherapist.
Drug treatment
With pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract of psychogenic origin, traditional drugs do not always help. Often, patients take various analgesics and antispasmodics, but they still have a stomach ache from nerves. How to treat illnesses provoked by prolonged stress? In such cases, complex therapy is necessary.
Preparations for the treatment of gastritis, stomach ulcers or pancreatitis must be taken simultaneously with sedative drugs. Without this, it is impossible to get rid of the pain syndrome. In mild cases, sedatives are shown on a natural basis:
- "Valerian tincture".
- Corvalol.
- "Novopassit".
- "Glycine".
In the early stages of pathology, such treatment leads to a significant improvement in the condition. Patients cease stomach pain associated with stressful situations.
In advanced cases, patients are prescribed antidepressants and tranquilizers:
- Amitriptyline.
- Velaxin.
- "Phenazepam."
- "Fluoxetine."
- Phenibut
These drugs help relieve anxiety and eliminate negative emotions. However, they must be taken under the supervision of a doctor, self-medication in this case is unacceptable. It is also useful to attend special psychotherapeutic sessions aimed at relieving emotional stress and anxiety.
Diet
For pain in the stomach of psychogenic origin, strict adherence to diet is necessary. Without this, a complete cure is impossible. Any malnutrition combined with stress can cause a new attack of stomach pain.
The necessary diet is selected by the attending physician. The list of allowed and forbidden dishes depends on the type of pathology. Frequent meals in small portions are usually recommended. From the diet exclude food that irritates the stomach.
It is recommended to eat fresh vegetables and fruits, low-fat boiled fish, white chicken, sour-milk products. Such food saturates the body with vitamins necessary to stabilize the nervous system.
Lifestyle
With neurosis and VVD, a person very often has a stomach pain from nerves. How to calm the autonomic nervous system? In such cases, taking sedatives alone is not enough. If the pain syndrome is associated with neurocirculatory disorders, then you need to pay attention to your lifestyle. Doctors recommend following these guidelines:
- In no case do not allow overwork. Severe fatigue can trigger an attack of pain in the stomach. It is necessary to reasonably alternate work and rest.
- It is very important to establish a healthy sleep. At night, it is useful to drink a glass of green tea with mint. This plant has sedative properties. You must sleep at least 8 - 10 hours a day.
- It is recommended to take baths with a decoction of motherwort, chamomile or St. John's wort at night. This will help calm the nervous system.
- Yoga classes, meditation, breathing exercises are also useful. This will help reduce unpleasant symptoms such as heart failure and respiratory distress.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that pain in the stomach due to nerves cannot be ignored. Systematic stress can cause serious gastrointestinal diseases. Functional disorders over time develop into organic pathologies. If you notice discomfort in the stomach after emotional experiences, then you should contact your gastroenterologist and undergo a diagnosis. Treatment of psychogenic pathologies of the stomach in the early stages will help prevent the development of complications.