What should I do if my stomach hurts after eating cold-natured foods?
Sep 01, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Haiming
Introduction
After experiencing stomach pain from eating cold foods, one can immediately drink hot water to help alleviate internal gastric coldness and reduce discomfort. Applying a warm towel or hot water bottle to the abdomen may also provide soothing relief. If the abdominal pain is more severe, massage may help improve symptoms. However, if these measures do not produce noticeable improvement, medical treatment under a doctor's guidance with medications such as atropine or anisodamine may be necessary.
Abdominal pain following the consumption of cold-natured foods can generally be managed through drinking warm water, physical therapy, and medication.
1. Drinking Warm Water
Drinking warm water immediately may help alleviate gastric coldness and typically leads to gradual relief of pain.
2. Physical Therapy
Abdominal pain after consuming cold-natured foods usually results from excessive coldness in the food irritating the gastrointestinal mucosa. In such cases, patients may apply heat to the stomach area using a warm towel or hot water bottle to relieve abdominal discomfort. If the abdominal pain is severe, patients may lie flat to relax the abdominal muscles and then gently massage the abdomen in a clockwise direction to help alleviate pain.
4. Medication
If the above measures provide insufficient relief, patients may, under a physician’s guidance, take antispasmodic and analgesic medications to reduce gastrointestinal smooth muscle spasm. Commonly used drugs include atropine and anisodamine. Once the spasm subsides, the associated pain typically resolves gradually.
