By Brandi Jones, MSN-ED RN-BC 

 Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD

Stomach cramps can affect anyone and often result from gas, indigestion, constipation, or muscle contractions. Mild stomach cramps typically resolve on their own. However, you should contact a healthcare provider for severe and persistent abdominal (stomach) cramps (lasting more than a day) or cramps that occur with vomiting, diarrhea, or fever.

This article discusses what causes stomach cramps, when to contact a healthcare provider, and strategies for relief and prevention. 

IMG_256

Common Causes of Stomach Cramps

The following three pain characteristics can help differentiate the underlying cause of stomach cramps:1

  • Generalized or localized: Generalized pain occurs in over half of your stomach. Localized pain stays in one area. 

  • Cramping or burning: Cramping is a dull or squeezing pain. Burning is a gnawing pain.

  • Continuous or intermittent: Continuous pain doesn’t stop. Intermittent pain comes and goes. 

This section reviews the leading causes of stomach cramps, pain characteristics, and additional symptoms.

Gas and Indigestion

Excessive gas causes generalized stomach cramping, typically after eating gas-producing foods like beans. You may notice relief after burping, passing gas, or having a bowel movement. 

Indigestion causes a burning discomfort in the epigastric area (upper middle abdomen). You may notice it with overeating, consuming fatty or spicy foods, certain medications, or reflux.2

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning causes generalized cramping a few hours after consuming contaminated food. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.3

Viral Gastroenteritis (Stomach Virus)

Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) causes intestinal irritation that may lead to generalized stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.4

Constipation

Symptoms of constipation include lower abdominal or back cramping, dry, hard stools, or difficulty passing stool.5

Food Allergies

Food allergies cause the immune system to release chemicals that irritate the digestive tract. This causes generalized stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea, or hives (raised, red, itchy rash).6

Food Intolerances and Sensitivities

Food intolerances and sensitivities differ from food allergies because cramping occurs from difficulty digesting food rather than an immune response.  

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) cramping typically occurs in the lower abdomen and may worsen with trigger foods, stress, and hormonal changes. It often improves after a bowel movement.2

Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps occur in the lower abdomen as the body sheds the uterine lining during menstruation (period bleeding). Pain intensity ranges from mild to severe and improves with period progression.7

Pregnancy Problems

Mild cramping that comes and goes is normal in early pregnancy (as the uterus expands). However, persistent or severe cramps require immediate medical evaluation as it may indicate a problem such as an ectopic pregnancy or preterm labor.8 

Anxiety

Anxiety causes the body to initiate the fight-or-flight response, releasing adrenaline and cortisol (stress hormone). This reduces blood flow to the digestive tract, causes intestinal muscle tension, and slows digestion, leading to generalized stomach cramps.2

Other Possible Causes of Stomach Cramps

Stomach cramps can stem from the following underlying health conditions.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis, inflammation of the appendix, causes severe, sharp, intermittent pain around the belly button that typically moves to the lower right abdomen. The pain worsens with time (24–48 hours), movement, or pressure release from the right lower abdomen.9 

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones moving through the urinary tract cause intense, intermittent pain in the lower or upper abdomen, back, sides, or groin. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine.9

Gallstones

Gallstones, hard deposits in the gallbladder, may trigger intermittent stomach cramps, especially after consuming fatty foods. They can cause nausea, vomiting, fever, and severe pain in the upper abdomen that may radiate to the back or shoulders.10

Ulcers

Ulcers (sores) cause erosion in the protective lining of the stomach or duodenum (upper part of the small intestine). These persistent, sometimes burning, cramps typically occur between meals and at night.2

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, inflames the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. IBD can cause intestinal spasms that lead to stomach cramping, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue.11 

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is inflammation or infection of the diverticula (small pouches in the large intestine). It can cause intestinal spasms leading to cramps, bloating, fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation.9

Intestinal Obstruction

An intestinal obstruction blocks the passage of food, liquids, and gas through the intestine. This can cause intense generalized cramping, abdominal swelling, bloating, vomiting, and the inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement.9

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

If stomach cramps are intense and persistent (lasting more than one day), interfere with your daily activities, or are unresponsive to treatment, consult a healthcare provider. Persistent vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever (greater than 100.4 degrees F that occurs with stomach cramps also require medical attention.1 

For those who are pregnant and experiencing severe, persistent stomach cramps, consult your healthcare provider to rule out complications.

When to Go to the Hospital for Stomach Cramps

Seek immediate medical attention for the following symptoms:1

  • Sudden, persistent, severe abdominal pain

  • Abdominal pain that suddenly worsens

  • Blood in your vomit (may look like coffee grounds) 

  • Blood in your stool (tarry black, bright red, or maroon)

  • A high fever (over 102 degrees F), chills, or sweats

  • A rigid (tight) belly

  • Shoulder pain and nausea 

How to Find Relief for Stomach Cramps

General home remedies for stomach cramps include:12

  • Heat therapy 

  • Gentle abdominal massage

  • Peppermint or chamomile tea 

  • Ginger (plain ginger or ginger ale, tea, lozenges, and cookies)13

  • Rest and a clear liquid diet (for gastroenteritis or food poisoning)

For gas and indigestion, consider over-the-counter (OTC) medications like:14

  • Gas-X (simethicone) 

  • Tums, Rolaids (calcium carbonate)

  • Alka-Seltzer (sodium bicarbonate) 

  • Pepcid (famotidine) 

  • Zantac (ranitidine)

  • Prilosec (omeprazole)  

Other OTC medications to consider include:

  • Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) for stomach upset, diarrhea, or indigestion

  • Imodium (loperamide) for diarrhea

  • Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), or Bonine (meclizine) for nausea  

  • Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen) for menstrual cramps

For stomach cramps due to constipation, consider:15

  • A warm glass of water or prune juice 

  • Metamucil (psyllium)

  • Dulcolax (bisacodyl) 

  • Senokot (senna)

  • Miralax (polyethylene glycol) 

  • Magnesium citrate

  • An enema (introducing liquid into the rectum, the last part of the intestines) 

Can You Prevent Stomach Cramps?

Sometimes, you can prevent stomach cramps by adopting lifestyle changes and avoiding trigger foods, which vary with each individual. Common examples include:2

  • Spicy, high-fat, or gas-producing foods

  • Dairy (lactose) 

  • Gluten

  • Caffeine

  • Artificial sweeteners

Consider eating foods like yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut or taking a probiotic supplement to balance your good and bad intestinal bacteria. You can also try OTC supplements such as Beano for gas prevention and Lactaid for lactose intolerance.

Healthy lifestyle choices to minimize stomach cramps include:1512

  • Frequent handwashing 

  • Proper food handling, cooking, and storage to prevent food poisoning

  • Avoiding overeating 

  • Drinking plenty of water to optimize digestion

  • Stress and anxiety management

  • Physical activity

To prevent severe menstrual cramps, consider beginning Motrin or Advil the day before your period and taking it every eight hours for the first few days.

Summary

Mild stomach cramps are common and typically resolve on their own. However, severe cramps can occur with serious conditions like appendicitis. Home remedies for mild cramps include heat, peppermint, ginger, or over-the-counter medications. Severe, persistent cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever are indications that you should seek medical attention. 

Sources

MedlinePlus. Abdominal pain.

Sabo CM, Grad S, Dumitrascu DL. Chronic abdominal pain in general practice. Dig Dis. 2021;39(6):606–614. doi:10.1159/000515433

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Food poisoning symptoms.

MedlinePlus. Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu).

Wong MYW, Hebbard G, Gibson PR, Burgell RE. Chronic constipation and abdominal pain: Independent or closely interrelated symptoms? Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2020;35(8):1294-1301. doi:10.1111/jgh.14970

Gargano D, Appanna R, Santonicola A, et al. Food allergy and intolerance: A narrative review on nutritional concerns. Nutrients. 2021;13(5):1638. doi:10.3390/nu13051638

Barcikowska Z, Rajkowska-Labon E, Grzybowska ME, Hansdorfer-Korzon R, Zorena K. Inflammatory markers in dysmenorrhea and therapeutic options. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(4):1191. doi:10.3390/ijerph17041191

Govender I, Rangiah S, Bongongo T, Mahuma P. A primary care approach to abdominal pain in adults. South African Family Practice. 2021;63(1). doi:10.4102/safp.v63i1.5280

Mehta H. Abdominal pain. Clinical Pathways in Emergency Medicine. 2016;329-345. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_26

Gutt C, Schläfer S, Lammert F. The treatment of gallstone disease. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2020;117(9):148-158. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2020.0148

Wils P, Caron B, D’Amico F, Danese S, Peyrin-Biroulet L. Abdominal pain in inflammatory bowel diseases: a clinical challenge. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022;11(15):4269. doi:10.3390/jcm11154269

Lacy BE, Pimentel M, Brenner DM, et al. ACG clinical guideline: management of irritable bowel syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021;116(1):17-44. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001036

Zhang C, Huang Y, Li P, Chen X, Liu F, Hou Q. Ginger relieves intestinal hypersensitivity of diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome by inhibiting proinflammatory reaction. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020;20(1):279. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-03059-3

Garg V, Narang P, Taneja R. Antacids revisited: review on contemporary facts and relevance for self-management. The Journal of International Medical Research. 2022;50(3). doi:10.1177/03000605221086457

Aziz I, Whitehead WE, Palsson OS, Törnblom H, Simrén M. An approach to the diagnosis and management of Rome IV functional disorders of chronic constipation. Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2020;14(1):39-46. doi:10.1080/17474124.2020.1708718

IMG_256

By Brandi Jones, MSN-ED RN-BC
Brandi is a nurse and the owner of Brandi Jones LLC. She specializes in health and wellness writing including blogs, articles, and education.