When muscles contract, marked by a delay in the relaxation phase, a spasm is detected in the intestines. It can occur as a result of various diseases, as well as poisoning. At the same time, unstable stools are observed when diarrhea is replaced by constipation, the appearance of pains in the lower abdomen, which may be accompanied by flatulence.
Mechanism
Intestinal contraction occurs with peristaltic waves, in which the muscular system of its various departments works alternately, from the duodenum to the sigmoid colon. In the rectum, such movements are not observed, since food is pushed towards it with the help of the above waves. In addition, pendulum contractions and rhythmic segmentation are observed in this organ. With the help of the latter, a lump of food is mixed. Pendulum contractions contribute to its multidirectional movement, as a result of which it moves towards the rectum.
Spasm is a disease that is a symptom of other gastrointestinal diseases. It can go on its own after the corresponding gases have passed away or after a single visit to the sanitary room. If this does not happen, you need to see a doctor.
Grounds for occurrence
The causes of intestinal spasm may include the following:
- decay products of tissues of the walls of this organ as a result of impaired blood circulation;
- salts of heavy metals;
- viruses and microflora;
- various toxins;
- intestinal overstrain;
- violation of its peristalsis;
- obstacles present in it;
- parasitic organisms.
Also, spasm can be triggered by neuropsychiatric diseases, which lead to the formation of loose stools.
Signs
The most characteristic of them are the following:
- the appearance of a feeling of heaviness, which concentrates in the lower abdomen;
- the same sensation localized in the navel.
Symptoms of bowel spasm are also constipation and the opposite process - diarrhea, as well as nausea, belching and flatulence. Vomiting, chills, headache, and cold sweat may be present.
In addition, thrombosis of small vessels and intestinal obstruction can be observed. In this case, the pain fills the entire area of the peritoneum. The stomach becomes hard, there is a feeling of fullness of the intestine, which does not disappear even after visiting the sanitary room.
Symptoms and treatment of bowel spasm should be interconnected. It is necessary to identify what causes this ailment, and eliminate the cause of this symptom. To do this, you need to contact a gastroenterologist.
The occurrence of intestinal spasm in various pathologies
It can appear as a result of the following diseases:
- violations of the digestive tract, as a result of which undigested food enters the intestine and causes its spasm;
- intestinal infections such as cholera, typhoid fever, salmonella, dysentery, etc .;
- helminthiases, as a result of which roundworms irritate the nerve endings of the intestine, blocking its lumen and causing obstruction;
- SARS and influenza, which with common symptoms of viral intoxication can cause bowel spasm;
- acute obstructive intestinal obstruction due to obstruction in the passage of feces: worms, foreign bodies, clumps of plant fibers or fallen hair, gall and intestinal stones, tumors;
- adhesive intestinal obstruction, which is formed as a result of gynecological infections and the latter in relation to the abdominal cavity, chemotherapy for malignant neoplasms, peritonitis, operations performed on the abdominal cavity.
In addition, spasms are formed as a result of the reaction of thin impressionable people to nervous shocks. They can also appear due to various poisonings:
- working in hazardous chemical industries;
- animal poisons (when eating the meat of some fish, honey collected from poisonous plants, etc.);
- plant toxins (potato solanine, hydrocyanic acid from felt cherry seeds, etc.);
- mushrooms;
- as a result of the ingestion of various pathogenic microorganisms: staphylococci, Escherichia coli, botulism pathogens.
Also, various violations in the diet lead to them:
- eating spicy, smoked and fried foods;
- dry man;
- soaked and pickled products;
- yeast dough products;
- stale and cold food.
In the treatment of bowel spasm, the causes and symptoms must be considered for its proper conduct.
Symptoms in pregnant women
In the first stages of pregnancy, when the egg is moved into the uterus, mild symptoms appear:
To prevent complications, you need to see a doctor.
Varieties of ailment
Pain and cramping in the intestine can occur in its various departments. In this regard, its following varieties are distinguished:
- vascular colic - occurs due to insufficient oxygen supply with increasing blood pressure, vascular compression by tumors, scars, adhesions, aortic aneurysm, thrombosis, atherosclerosis;
- lead colic - is formed as a result of poisoning by the heavy metal of the same name with an increase in body temperature up to 39 ° C, the appearance of a gray coating between the teeth and gums, bleeding of the latter, while muscle tension in the abdominal muscles , abdominal pain;
- rectal colic - occurs in the rectum, is characterized by frequent urge to defecate;
- appendicular colic - due to the inflammatory process in the appendix with localization of pain in the right iliac region with observation of the clinical picture of general appendicitis after a few hours.
Diagnostics
The examination is carried out by a gastroenterologist who, if there is a suspicion of the need for a surgeon's intervention, can refer the patient to this doctor. First, the diagnosis of spasms in the intestine is performed by examining the patient and determining the history of the disease.
Depending on what kind of ailment the doctor suspected, he appoints the appropriate tests:
- general blood test - to determine inflammatory processes and recognition of anemia;
- such a biochemical, which allows to detect a violation of the electrolyte content, kidney function, pancreas, liver, inflammatory processes;
- general urine analysis - to determine disorders in the functioning of the pancreas, kidneys, liver;
- coprogram - for studying pathological processes in the same organs, except for the kidneys, including the stomach and intestines;
- Gregersen's test - for determination of blood which is not found under a microscope;
- Ultrasound of the abdomen;
- FGDS;
- colonoscopy of the large intestine, with the help of which various neoplasms, diverticula, stenosis, fecal stones and ulcers are established;
- sigmoidoscopy - with its help in the rectum and sigmoid colon with the help of an endoscope determine inflammation of the mucosa, bleeding, benign and malignant tumors;
- emergency radiography;
- X-ray contrast studies - used to detect internal hernias, diverticulum, fecal stones, stenosis, ulcers, various neoplasms;
- CT - used if it is impossible to carry out accurate diagnostics using other methods.
Drug treatment
What to do with bowel spasm? First of all, you need to visit a doctor. He will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
To heal from an illness caused by a bactericidal nature, the doctor prescribes antibiotics.
If spasms are due to the fact that blood is poorly supplied to the organs, then antispasmodics and antihypertensive drugs are prescribed.
To reduce pain in the treatment of intestinal spasms, pain medications are prescribed: Baralgin, No-shpa.
Physiotherapy
How to relieve spasm without the use of drugs? To do this, you can use dousing with cold water. It is necessary to do special exercises from the complex of physiotherapy exercises. You can also go swimming. Massages are recommended.
Folk remedies
There are many recipes for treating intestinal spasm with non-medication. Some of them are presented below:
- chopped nettles (1 tbsp.) are taken in equal proportions, partitions of walnut, St. John's wort, meadowsweet are brought to a boil and left to languish until the solution reaches room temperature - they use 0.5 cups every hour;
- 70 g of wormwood is poured with filtered or spring water, after which it is left for one day to settle, after which it is boiled, filtered, filled with 350 g of granulated sugar or honey and boiled - take 1 tsp. 4 times a day;
- every two hours take 1 tbsp. l vegetable oil, after which - a few sips of a decoction of chamomile or mint;
- the birch mushroom is soaked for 4 hours, then crushed, poured with warm water and kept for two days, then filtered and taken 6 times a day before meals;
- you can take a decoction of berries taken in equal proportions: plums, gooseberries, blueberries, as well as a sheet of black currant.
Diet
Proper treatment should be accompanied by a balanced diet. It should come in small portions into the body 5-6 times a day. In this case, you need to use those products that favorably affect intestinal motility, which include:
- dairy products;
- cereals;
- spinach and carrot juices;
- low-fat fish;
- herbal tea drinks
- grated carrots and apples;
- fruits and vegetables.
You can eat low-fat and non-sharp meat dishes.
In this case, the following should be excluded from the diet:
- coarse fiber products - cabbage, radish, radish, corn, turnip;
- legumes;
- fat meat;
- yeast dough products;
- butter products;
- sweets;
- seasonings;
- canned food;
- carbonated drinks;
- smoked meats;
- marinades;
- pickles;
- spicy and fried foods.
Other treatments
How to relieve intestinal spasm? The use of the psychotherapeutic method with the help of conversations between the doctor and the patient or during hypnotic sessions.
An extreme option is surgery. It is used if traditional conservative methods have failed.
Disease prognosis
It is mostly favorable. In this case, the patient must adhere to an optimal diet and lead a healthy lifestyle. Visit your gastroenterologist periodically to check your intestines. Compliance with all these recommendations will avoid complications.
Finally
An intestinal spasm appears in a person as a result of exposure to various causes. It is necessary to monitor hygiene in order to prevent the development of helminthiases, to eat high-quality products prepared by traditional methods, and only those that do not cause food allergies. It is also necessary to harden and be physically active. As with any other disease, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. If such an ailment occurs, it is better not to start self-medication. It is better to call an ambulance to transport the patient to the hospital.