What are the reasons for stomach cramps? What factors lead to the occurrence of stomach cramps? Experts in gastrointestinal from Changsha introduced the following contents.
1. Environmental Factors
Among environmental factors, the situation of diet is the first concern. A commonly accepted view is that irregular eating habits may increase the risk of stomach cramps. Cold food and foods that irritate the stomach often can cause a relapse of stomach cramps. Different personal habits are often related to the onset of stomach cramps; for example, the incidence of stomach cramps in long-term smokers is significantly higher than in non-smokers. High-stress jobs are prone to cause stomach cramps. This is just a general impression without definitive evidence; however, from the patients who come for treatment, intellectuals have a relatively high proportion of stomach cramps. Additionally, it has been confirmed that aspirin can destroy the self-regulation of gastric acid secretion and the gastric mucosal barrier, leading to stomach cramps.
2. Genetic Factors
The onset of stomach cramps is closely related to genetic factors. From family history studies, relatives of chronic peptic stomach cramp sufferers have a 2.5-3 times higher chance of developing stomach cramps compared to the general population. Moreover, the heredity of stomach cramps and peptic ulcers are mutually unrelated. Relatives and children of stomach cramp patients are more likely to develop stomach cramps rather than peptic ulcers, and vice versa. If one identical twin suffers from stomach or peptic ulcers, the other is more likely to suffer from the same condition, whereas this is not the case for fraternal twins. The consistency of stomach cramps in identical twins indicates that genetic factors play an important role in the onset of stomach cramps.
3. Psychosomatic Factors
The relationship between mental factors and upper digestive tract diseases is well-known. It has long been recognized that prolonged psychological stress or continuous high levels of mental tension make one prone to peptic stomach cramps. However, the exact mechanism has not been proven yet. It might be related to long-term psychological (mental) stress, which enhances the causative force of stomach cramps or weakens the resistance of the mucosa. Considering that psychological stress is a common phenomenon in society, but only a few people develop stomach cramps, there must be other pathogenic factors involved besides psychosomatic factors.
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