stomach_cramping
family,  Health

Keep Stomach Cramping at Bay

Stomach cramping has always been an issue for me. If I don’t watch what I eat, I’m guaranteed to have severe issues. It’s the opposite of fun and sometimes comes at me sideways when I am not even remotely in the mood to be sidelined with cramps. While everyone else is scarfing down hot dogs or funnel cakes hanging out at amusement parks, or what have you, I’m calculating how much grease is in all that delicious food, and how much I might pay for eating it later. Occasionally I forget, for instance when I am away doing a travel writing assignment as I was just last week and too much of a good thing hits me right in the stomach. All of that amazing fresh seafood coupled with late nights on airplanes meant sudden severe cramping. Stomach cramping is a pain, but I try my hardest not to let it cramp my style and my ability to do what I need and want to do.

stomach_cramping

 

Stomach Cramping – What You Need to Know to Protect Yourself

For a long time, my stomach issues and cramps were something that I dealt with as they came. I really didn’t know what was causing them. I just knew when they were coming, and I knew I’d have to grit my teeth and try to make it through them. Eventually, I started to keep track of what I was eating and how it correlated to my stomach cramps. I figured out that certain foods always set me off, so I simply avoided them. Heavy residue, grease and dairy are triggers for me. This time of year barbecue foods and summer get togethers can be big minefields for those of us who get a lot of stomach cramping.

Knowledge is power, especially when dealing with stomach issues. So let’s take a look at some information on stomach cramping to help make it easier to handle the issue.

 

Causes of Stomach Cramping

A recent study showed that many Canadians eat foods that are known to cause stomach issues 5 to 7 times per week. Although about 49% of Canadians say they have a relatively healthy diet, over half of that population consumes spicy foods, alcohol, fried food, or coffee at least once a week. Even healthy foods with a lot of fructose like some fruits and vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cabbage can all cause gas, bloating, and stomach cramping.

The same study also found that almost 75% of Canadians say they experience stomach cramps at least some of the time, but only about 20% say they think their discomfort indicates a larger issue. It’s not all about food. Anxiety, stress, tension, and certain foods can cause discomfort and pain, so stomach cramps can absolutely be the result of several factors.

 

Identify the Causes of Stomach Cramping

One of the best ways to ease the pain of stomach cramping is to avoid it altogether. The best way to do that is to identify your triggers and eliminate them. Whether it is spicy food, caffeine, dairy, or something else, keep a vigilant eye on what you eat and how it affects your gut.

 

Treat Stomach Cramping

No matter how well we do, many of us will deal with stomach cramping at some point. What we do to alleviate that cramping has a real impact on our relief. Nearly 1/3 of Canadians treat their cramping with antacids, which do nothing to address the cramping. Other remedies tried by Canadians include heat, home remedies, and pain relievers. As a long time Gut Gladiator, I can tell you that these things might work a little bit to help, but they don’t make a dramatic impact at all. There are better ways to soothe that cramping.

 

If you find that you’re in a position of having to treat your stomach cramping, you need to treat the actual cramping. Buscopan is designed to relax the smooth muscle spasms in the stomach which cause the pain during stomach cramping. It relaxes tight, cramping muscles in the stomach, intestine, and bowel to relieve the pain and cramping that can ruin your day.

 

Keep Stomach Cramping at Bay

Whether you’ve just begun keeping track of what you eat and how it relates to your stomach discomfort, or you’ve already determined what causes your stomach cramping, chances are, you’ll have a painful incident at some point. Don’t grab pain relievers or antacids when that happens. Use a medication that actually addresses the issue. Buscopan is designed specifically to address stomach cramping, and I can tell you that it is highly effective. For more information, visit the Buscopan website or speak with your pharmacist.

 

This post has been sponsored by Buscopan and as such I am compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is 100 % truthful.

Mom of two beautiful active girls, traveller, fitness junkie, social media consultant, and keeper of the sanity.

23 Comments

  • JENN

    Stomach cramps are the WORST! I went through almost a year of those before, I was finally diagnosed with Celiac Disease! It was a long battle. I love that they now have product to help people overcome stomach cramps!

    • Paula

      I know Jenn. I agree. With the Crohn’s here I have brutal cramping many days. Thank goodness there are some things that can help you figure out what type of cramping you are having and what to do about it.

  • Annemarie LeBlanc

    I am sorry to hear that you suffer from this condition. My husband is the same way too and it is a challenge to choose the right food for him to eat. He also takes Buscopan which really helps a lot. I will bookmark this page and let him read it when he gets home.

  • Olivia

    I have IBS and I’m definitely no stranger to painful cramping. For sure I’ve noticed that when I eat better I get much less cramping and other symptoms. I’ll have to look into Buscopan more.

    • Paula

      Olivia:I didn’t know that you had IBS. I understand IBS pretty well as someone with IBD. That’s a hard one to get a handle on. I wonder if this can help.

  • Toughcookiemommy

    Suffering from stomach cramps is terrible. I’ve had stomach issues for years and have had to deal with them from time to time. It’s great to see that there is some relief out there for them.

  • mary

    Stomach pain can put a damper on the day for sure. These are some great tips. It’s usually diet related in our house

  • Babita

    I get stomach cramps if I eat a lot oily and greasy food. Even naturally oily fish like salmon set off the cramps. Since I identified it, it has been easier because I avoid eating to much of those kind of food.

  • Aeryn Lynne

    Oh, thanks for the heads up, I’ll have to check Buscopan out for sure. I’m stuck with stomach cramps a few times a week (I know most of what ails me food wise, but I seem to be missing something that’s affecting my diet. Also I sometimes accept that I’ll wind up with debilitating cramps for half a day if I have a truly major craving for a certain food, heh.)

    I really hate reaching for Advil when a cramp hits though. I feel like I’m using it way too much. Hopefully I can find Buscopan easily enough to see if its what I should be using instead. <3

    • Paula

      Travel is tricky for me sometimes. I usually am fine but occasionally the extra mount of food really overloads my system plus I can’t stand all the sitting involved on planes. I wish they had treadmills on planes.

  • Andrea

    Buscopan is a prescription in Canada so u can get it through your doctor fairly easily. I take it when I get stomach cramps and when I feel cramps coming on from diarrhea or constipation. Still trying to figure out what is wrong with me. So meanwhile I take what works.

  • Cathy

    I have used buscopan for about 20 years. It’s a life saver for me. I have ulcerative colitis and diverticular disease within 20 minutes you can feel that little pill going thru your body calming the cramps. I never leave home without some in my purse.

  • Loretta Hughes

    Some sound advice Ill say…suffer terrible in hot summer mostly..’have ischemia colitis…
    foods tick it off as well..Tks for the advice

  • Eleanor

    So, is this good then for IBS and is it something you take on a daily basis or only when you feel cramps coming on?