Ah, the infamous stomach ache. It can be caused by anything from overeating to anxiety to infections. But once you’ve got one, how long does it last? An hour? A day? Well my friend, let me tell you, it all depends on the root cause of your discomfort.
First Things First: Let's Define 'Stomach Ache'
Before we delve into the duration of this painful experience, let’s define what we actually mean when we say ‘stomach ache’. This term covers a wide range of symptoms including bloating, cramps, nausea and diarrhea. So if you’re experiencing any of these conditions then congratulations! You are indeed suffering from a stomach ache.
Acute or Chronic: Know Your Enemy
There are two types of stomach pain – acute and chronic (and no I’m not referring to grades in math class). Acute pain is generally short-lived and related to something like food poisoning whereas chronic pain lingers for weeks or even months making simple tasks like eating difficult.
Causes Behind an Acute Stomach Ache
If your bowel movements have gotten as unpredictable as Kanye West’s Twitter account after consuming some questionable sushi rolls then trust us, you've probably been hit with an acute bug attack. Acute stomach pains are commonly associated with causes that can last between 24 hours up until about 10 days:
- Food poisoning
- Indigestion
- Gastroenteritis / Norovirus
- Appendicitis (if severe/light)
- Gastritis
An acute bout means taking some quick-fix medicine that will help see off those pesky bugs soon enough.
Causes Behind a Chronic Stomach Ache
On the other hand --which sounds flimsy but please, stay with me-- chronic stomach pains are associated with something that has persisted over an extended period, usually more than three weeks.
- Abdominal adhesions
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative colitis
- Stomach ulcers
Chronic conditions generally require a trip to the doctor and maybe even some medication or dietary changes to regulate everything back into shape.
What Determines How Long A Stomach Ache Lasts?
Now that we've determined the underlying causes of stomach ache types let's see what determines how long they last:
Severity
Let's be honest, if your abdominal pain feels like bombs going off in a warzone then it might tend to stick around for longer whereas mild discomfort will go away within hours.
Treatment
You’ve probably heard this before but I’ll say it anyway - Do not self-diagnose! Self-administered medication can either give you positive results or make the situation worse by reducing your immunity system's strength over time which requires more medical intervention than intended at first attempt after prolonged use!
A professional consultation in addition to a dose of medicine means quicker recovery for individuals suffering from acute conditions alongside making sure there aren't any major internal injuries requiring surgery later on down the line as well as lower risk of adopting addictive habits due adding more dosage amounts upon subsequent usage periods without being monitored under professional scrutiny leading onto drug dependence.
Age
If you’re older than 60 years old then get ready because unfortunately, things start creaking no matter what body part is concerned! Weaker immune systems in this age group significantly raise chances of contracting bacterial and viral infections which end up leaving longer-lasting symptoms compared their younger counterparts such as nausea, vomiting coupled with diarhea/former constipation with latter diarrhea between five days up until 10 days on bad cases.
Stress Levels
If you're experiencing stress (which in recent times, who isn’t) then fear not because this can also lead to stomach discomfort that temporarily disappears once the underlying issue is resolved. High levels of cortisol hormones which are produced when our bodies are under stress end up putting pressure on digestive organs leading to further complications.
Nonetheless, mild pain will increase until it goes away once these circumstances subside; usually within half an hour or less depending upon how frequently chronic high stress situations tend surface at random intervals over short periods consecutively while otherwise being fine for months without any indication ahead of sudden onset - remember: if it feels worse than necessary there needs be proper diagnosis inspection before reaching conclusions far from reality especially presumptions regarding certain issues!
Takeaway: Stomach Aches Don't Come with An Expiration Date
To conclude we must always make sure we take care of our digestive system by practicing good nutrition habits such as drinking plenty fluids and avoiding processed foods where possible alongside taking medication only prescribed by physicians whilst also reducing anxiety triggers through regular exercise regimens like yoga.
However if symptoms persist for long durations beyond usual recovery time frames mentioned earlier/ after following the tips given see a medical professional immediately since waiting too late could result in requiring complex medical procedures down the line as well making us lose precious lifetimes needlessly struggling with mindless avoidable health problems!