That mysterious stomach ache that people get right before a stressful event may not be without medical precedent.
Dr. Nathaniel Winstead, Ochsner Health System director of gastroenterology clinical research, said stress has played a key part in causing stomach aches for years.
“It’s kind of a natural reaction,” Winstead said. “It’s probably based on the fact that for our ancestors, really their only stress was finding food and shelter.”
The brain releases a chemical called serotonin to help regulate mood, the same chemical targeted by many prescription antidepressants to combat depression, Winstead said, but the brain is not the only place serotonin is found.
“It turns out that there is more of the serotonin chemical in the GI tract than in the brain,” he said. “Your gut and your brain are intimately wired in ways that we are only now beginning to understand.”
Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome often see daily symptoms drop off as stress levels decrease, Winstead said.
“I have many patients with gastrointestinal complaints that are intimately tied to the stress in their lives,” he said.
Winstead recommends getting eight hours of sleep to reduce stress as well as avoiding too much coffee and other caffeinated beverages as these can both increase stress levels and adversely affect the digestive system.
“If you have heartburn as part of your upset stomach and stress, then it’s probably a good idea to treat your heartburn because that can give you some relief,” he said. “Calming down is often a good thing. It can alleviate much of the discomfort caused by stomach aches.”
Click here to learn more about Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Stress and Stomach Aches
Articles From April 2012
© 2013 Ochsner Health System Privacy Policy | Employees | Careers | View Bills Online | Subscribe | Contact Us