Stomachache & Gas with Treatment Plan

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Stomachache & Gas with Treatment Plan




The distress or stomach ache after eating is actually classified in two ways:


1. Distress appearing immediately after eating(postprandial distress): symptoms arise half an hour aftera meal, such as abdominal bloating, distension, fullness or
pressure.

2. Intestinal distress: Here symptoms usually start half anhour after eating and continue for several hours dependingupon person to person. They may involve the stomach,small or large intestines with additional symptoms (to thatof postprandial distress) such as abdominal pain and crampsand/or anal flatus.

Excess of gas in stomach and intestines is quite distressing and it is due to the disordered intestinal movements which delays the passages of gases through the bowel. Drugs might provide a symptomatic relief in the following ways:


1. The active ingredients may lower the surface tension ofthe stomach contents to facilitate the action of digestivejuices, which will speed up the digestion and the passageof food contents from the stomach into the intestines.

2. The active ingredients may speed up stomach emptying bychanging the stomach's acidity or increasing the contractionsof smooth muscles of the stomach or by some other
mechanisms.


The commonly available preparations, usually in combination, may contain the following

ingredients:


Antiflatulents: Dimethicone (dimethypolysiloxane) and simethicone (a combination of dimethylpolysiloxanes and silica gel) act as antifoaming agent by reducing surface tension. The small mucous covered bubbles of gas (which hold air back) come close to each other, coalesce, and a large bubble is formed which is easily expelled out.


Carminative Oils:

Peppermint, cumin, 'azovan' oils, etc. relax the muscles between oesophagus and stomach, increase the gastric secretions and churning in the stomach accelerate the passage of food from stomach.
Antacids: Magnesium trisilicate, light magnesium oxide, sodium carbonate etc. reduce gastric acidity.


Sodium Bicarbonate:

It is a household baking soda (mitha-soda) which releases carbon dioxide as it interacts with acid in the stomach. It is useful for relieving distress after meal. Elderly patients above 60 should not consume more than a teaspoonful daily and if one is already on sodium or salt restricted diet, physician approval is necessary. In any case, this should not be used for more than a fortnight, unless a physican directs so.


Charcoal:

Activated charcoal and wood charcoal can relieve bloating and other intestinal distress symptoms on account of its absorbent properties. However, it may bind a number of drugs and inactivate them for the same (absorbent) reason. Not more than 1 Og per day in divided doses would be safe for adults. So, for children the dose should be half.

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