What Causes Stomach Cramps?

Why does your stomach hurt?

Stomach cramps can range from mild achiness to severe, stabbing pain.

Common causes of stomach cramps include eating foods that can irritate your stomach, constipation, food poisoning, or a stomach infection. People who have anxiety may also develop stomach cramps.

Pregnant people may experience stomach cramps as the fetus grows. Menstrual cramps are also very common, though they actually take place in the uterus.

Sometimes stomach cramps are constant. In this case, a chronic digestive illness, such as irritable bowel disease, may be the cause.

Most stomach cramps go away on their own within a few hours or a couple of days. Changing what you eat and taking over-the-counter medication can help with symptoms while you recover.

Some stomach cramps may require medical attention. You should be concerned about stomach cramps if they last for a week or longer or are so severe that you can’t function, or you also have symptoms like fever or blood in your vomit or stool.

2. Food poisoning

Symptoms

• Stomach pain or cramping
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Exhaustion

Food poisoning is from eating contaminated food. The food may have germs that cause infection (like bacteria, viruses, parasites) or toxins created by germs.

Symptoms of food poisoning may develop several hours or days after you’ve ingested contaminated food or water.

Most cases of food poisoning get better within a couple of days. In the meantime, treat your symptoms by resting and drinking plenty of water. Antibiotics are rarely necessary.

But if you have a fever above 100.4°F, can’t keep down any food or drinks, or your symptoms aren’t improving, see a doctor. You may be dehydrated and need to go to a hospital for IV fluids.

3. Food sensitivity

Symptoms

• Stomach cramps
• Bloating in the upper abdomen
• Feeling uncomfortably full
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Diarrhea
• Excessive gas

Symptoms of food sensitivity occur after you eat food that your body cannot handle well. Foods and drinks that are more likely to irritate the stomach of adults include greasy and sugary foods, carbonated and caffeinated drinks, and alcohol.

Some people are sensitive to gluten, which is a protein found in wheat.

Sometimes you may not be able to tolerate a particular food at all. In this case, you have a “food intolerance.” The most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance. People with lactose intolerance are unable to fully digest lactose, which is a form of sugar found in most dairy products.

Symptoms associated with food sensitivities usually go away on their own with time or can be managed with over-the-counter medication (such as antacids). If you’re not sure what food is irritating your stomach, keeping a food diary can help you identify the culprit.

4. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Symptoms

• Stomach cramps more than once a week, are often related to bowel movements.
• Diarrhea.
• Constipation.
• Stool becomes frequent (more than 3 times a day) or less frequent (fewer than every 3 days).

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, chronic disorder of the gut (primarily the large intestine) that causes abdominal pain and changes in your bowel movements.

IBS is a chronic disease in adults, meaning that symptoms last for months or years (although the symptoms usually come and go over time).

Your doctor will discuss your diet to see if any foods or drinks trigger your symptoms that you should avoid. They may recommend fiber supplements, regular exercise such as walking or yoga, and ways to manage life stressors (including getting enough sleep).

If these do not control your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medication.

Options include anti-spasmodics (for belly pain and cramps), probiotics, antibiotics, or even antidepressants to treat anxiety or depression.

5. Menstrual cramps

Symptoms

• Cramps in the lower abdomen
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Fatigue
• Headache

Menstrual cramps are very common. These occur in the uterus, which is located in the lower abdomen. They develop when the uterus contracts to shed its lining. Typically, cramps start up to 2 days before your period begins and last for 1 to 3 days beyond that. Some women also have an upset stomach during their period.

Menstrual cramps are treated with over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil and Naproxen. You can also ease your symptoms by exercising and resting a heating pad on your lower abdomen.

In some cases, menstrual cramps may be a sign of a more serious problem, such as endometriosis or fibroids. If your menstrual cramps are so severe that they interfere with your everyday functioning or if they occur regularly (not just when you have your period), see your doctor.

6. Constipation

Symptoms

• Stomach cramps
• A feeling of fullness in your abdomen
• Bloating
• Hardened, pellet-like stool that’s difficult to pass
• Having fewer than 3 bowel movements a week

Everyone has, some point, been constipated. Constipation is when stool becomes hard, making it difficult to have a bowel movement.

You can become constipated for many reasons. You may not be eating enough fiber or drinking enough water. Not exercising and stopping yourself from having bowel movements can also cause constipation.

You may need to eat more fiber-rich foods (such as fruit and vegetables), drink more water, start exercising regularly. Creating a “bowel schedule”—a time each day when you try to have a bowel movement—can also help. You can also relieve constipation with over-the-counter medications such as stool softeners and laxatives.

See your doctor if constipation lasts for more than a couple of weeks and doesn’t improve with at-home treatments. Sometimes, constipation is a sign of a more serious condition, such as colon cancer, so don’t ignore it.

7. Anxiety

Symptoms

• Stomach pain or cramping
• Elevated heart rate
• Increased breathing rate
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Stress

It’s not uncommon to experience stomach cramps when you’re anxious. This is sometimes referred to as a “nervous stomach.” Anxiety can cause your stomach to cramp and also diarrhea or constipation.

Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and exercise may help stomach cramps related to anxiety. See your doctor or a mental health professional if your anxiety is affecting your everyday life or you’re having panic attacks (episodes of intense fear that make you feel out of control, breathless, etc.).

8. Pregnancy

Symptoms

• Stomach cramps
• Bloating

Pregnancy cramps are often described as pulling sensations on one or both sides of the abdomen. These cramps are from the uterus expanding to make room for the growing fetus.

In most cases, mild cramps early in pregnancy that come and go are common and not a cause for concern.

In the second trimester, you may experience round ligament pain. The round ligament supports your uterus. When it stretches during pregnancy, it can cause cramps. These cramps may be sharp and stabbing or feel like a dull ache in the lower abdomen.

In the third trimester, women will often experience Braxton Hicks contractions towards the end of pregnancy. These are like a false alarm for true labor.

You can treat pregnancy cramps by changing positions (standing up, sitting down, lying down, or even just moving around to see which position is most comfortable for you). Soaking in a warm bath (below 100°F) and drinking plenty of water may also help.

Sometimes pregnancy cramps can be a sign of a serious problem. Call your doctor if you have severe cramps or abdominal pain, cramps that don’t go away, vaginal bleeding, or labor pain (contractions).

9. Appendicitis

Symptoms

• Stomach cramps
• Abdominal pain (usually near the navel or right lower abdomen)
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Appendicitis is more common in children but can also affect adults. Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, which is a thin, short, tube-like organ connected to your large intestine. The appendix becomes inflamed when it is blocked or injured.

Pain usually begins near the belly button and moves toward the right side of the lower abdominal area.

If you think your child has appendicitis, go to the ER immediately. Appendicitis is life-threatening and needs to be treated at a hospital. Treatments include IV antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix.

Other possible causes

A number of conditions may also cause stomach cramps, though their symptoms are more severe and the pain lasts for a longer period of time. These include:

• Diverticulitis
• An intestinal obstruction
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis)
• Kidney stones

Should I go to the ER for stomach cramps?

You should go to the ER if you have the following:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Vomit with blood in it
• Stool with blood in it or that is dark and tar-like
• Fever above 100.4°F
• For pregnant women: severe cramps or abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, or labor contractions