There are many ways to treat stomach pain and swelling.
If you have stomach swelling and pain, you must consult your doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause. In the meantime, some measures can minimize the pain and swelling if the cause is not too severe.
Reduce Stomach Swelling
Cut back on the amount of fiber in your diet, including high-fiber fruits, vegetables, beans and some dairy. An excess of fiber can cause bloating and swelling in the stomach area. This is the most likely culprit for stomach swelling associated with gas and is most effective when used in these circumstances.
Eat smaller meals throughout the day to avoid overloading your body with a large amount of food. Smaller meals will allow your body to slowly and effectively digest the food without it being overwhelmed. That may reduce stomach swelling.
Taking in excess air is a common cause of abdominal swelling. Avoid carbonated drinks, chewing candy and gum, sipping food or drinks and drinking from straws.
Increasing fiber in your diet is sometimes also necessary to reduce swelling of the stomach, as is the case with irritable bowel syndrome or constipation. Reducing stress and taking anti-inflammatory medications can also help reduce a swollen stomach.
Reduce Stomach Pain
Take over-the-counter digestive aids to reduce pain in the stomach related to an upset stomach or other digestive problems. These over-the-counter medications can reduce cramps and other undesirable sources of pain quickly.
It is important to bear in mind that various medications are meant to treat different conditions. A laxative, for example, should be used to treat pain associated with constipation, antacids to treat sour and upset stomachs and so on. Some work by restoring the correct acidity levels of the stomach to reduce indigestion, others enable you to reduce constipation, and all work on varying timelines. Always use over-the-counter medication as directed on the label and consult the information there about how long it will take to receive comfort from the medication.
Use a heating pad to treat and reduce stomach pain associated with dull aches caused by conditions such as ovarian cysts or pulled stomach muscles. This is a good treatment for dull or throbbing aches that have nothing to do with digestive issues.
Reduce stomach pain with the use of soothing herbs. Substances such as chamomile, fennel, licorice and ginger can be taken orally and can reduce light stomach pain. These herbs can all be added to teas or food or ingested in pill form to treat indigestion, constipation and other stomach pains. These can be found at your grocery or health-supplement store.
Taking over-the-counter pain medication can help to reduce some forms of abdominal pain. Often a doctor will prescribe such medications in the case of extreme menstrual cramping, small cysts or hernias.
