The stomach stopped. Why does it stop working and how to fix it?

When they say that “the stomach is up,” they mean a situation when this organ suspends its normal functioning. Doctors call this situation the term “stomach atony.” Naturally, against the background of such a problem, a person’s condition worsens. And in general, malfunctions in the digestive system are not the norm. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly understand the issue and understand when the body asks for help.

But not everyone knows what such a stop in the activity of one of the main parts of the digestive system entails and how to cope with it. Endocrinologist, nutritionist, Ph.D. told AiF.ru about the consequences of atony and methods of combating it Svetlana Aleksandrovna Makarova .

Gastric atony is a loss of stomach muscle tone resulting from damage to nerve fibers or general severe asthenia. This pathological condition, leading to the cessation of contraction of the stomach, can manifest itself in different ways: it occurs abruptly or, more often, it develops gradually.

Not sparing your belly. Any pathology begins with problems in the stomach Read more

Forms of pancreatitis

Acute – characterized by acute girdling pain in the upper abdomen. Pain often appears after eating fatty foods or alcohol. Unpleasant sensations can be either barely noticeable or unbearable, radiating to the scapula or sternum. Nausea, vomiting, and stool disturbances are observed. Due to the obstructed flow of bile, the skin takes on a yellowish color.

Chronic - the main localization of pain is on the upper part of the abdominal wall with irradiation to the back, chest (left side), lower abdomen. Unpleasant sensations occur after eating heavy fatty foods, alcoholic drinks, and constant stress.

The development of chronic pancreatitis is characterized by nausea, loss of appetite, bloating, bowel dysfunction, and sometimes vomiting.

The chronic form of the pathology differs from the acute form by periods of remission and exacerbation. As the disease progresses, periods of exacerbation become more frequent; intestinal disorders, disturbances in normal digestion, and weight loss are possible.

Chronic pancreatitis often causes complications (stomach bleeding, cancer, cysts and abscesses, liver damage, diabetes mellitus, enterocolitis). That is why you need to take the disease seriously and, at the slightest suspicion of the development of inflammation, consult a doctor.

Traditional medicine recipes

How else can you get your stomach working at home? Of the methods of traditional medicine, the most effective have been shown:

1. Chamomile or mint teas and infusions. On the one hand, they promote the regeneration of the mucous membrane, on the other, they have a positive effect on gastric motility.
2. Black elderberry infusion is effective for chronic gastric atony.
3. An infusion of flax seeds has a good effect - it envelops the walls of the stomach, thereby protecting the mucous membrane. At the same time, it normalizes acidity levels in its cavity.
4. Herbal infusion of calendula and St. John's wort - activates motility processes, reduces the severity of dyspeptic disorders.

Reasons for the development of pancreatitis

The disease develops due to damage to pancreatic tissue. This happens for the following reasons:

• alcohol and tobacco abuse
• abdominal trauma, surgery
• uncontrolled and long-term use of medications: antibiotics, hormonal drugs, corticosteroids, some diuretics
• intoxication with food products, chemicals
• genetic predisposition
• improper diet with a predominance of spicy and fatty foods and long breaks between meals

Possible complications

With inadequate medical care, gastric arrest can lead to the development of the following complications:

• metabolic acidosis;
• development of chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa (gastritis);
• increased risk of developing chronic pathologies of other organs of the digestive system;
• gastroesophageal reflux disease;
• the appearance of erosions and stomach ulcers;
• dehydration;
• infectious-toxic shock (in case of poisoning);
• multiple organ failure.

Symptoms of pancreatitis

Manifestations of pathology vary depending on the form - acute or chronic pancreatitis. In acute pancreatitis the following are observed:

• The pain is intense, constant, the nature of the pain is described by patients as cutting, dull.
• High body temperature, high or low blood pressure - the patient’s well-being quickly deteriorates due to the rapid development of the inflammatory process.
• Pale or yellowish complexion.
• Nausea and vomiting - dry mouth and a white coating appear, attacks of vomiting do not bring relief. The most correct step at this moment is to fast; any food intake can only worsen the situation.
• Diarrhea or constipation - stool in acute pancreatitis is most often foamy, often with a foul odor, with particles of undigested food. On the contrary, there are constipation, bloating, and hardening of the abdominal muscles, which may be the very first signal of an acute attack of pancreatitis.
• Bloating – the stomach and intestines do not contract during an attack.
• Shortness of breath - appears due to loss of electrolytes during vomiting.

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain - may be girdling or have a clear localization radiating to the back. Appears after eating.
• Intoxication of the body - general weakness, loss of appetite, tachycardia, increased body temperature, and decreased blood pressure appear.
• Endocrine disorders - ketoacidosis, diabetes mellitus, tendency to hypoglycemia. Bright red spots may also appear in the abdomen, back, and chest, which do not disappear with pressure.

With a long course of the disease, the patient gradually develops anemia, weight loss, dry skin, brittle hair and nails, symptoms of vitamin deficiency, and increased fatigue.

The most effective medications

What to do at home if your stomach gets upset? First of all, in most cases, the use of sorbents is indicated. This is a group of drugs that are able to absorb particles of toxins and microorganisms. Some of them also envelop the gastric mucosa, thereby protecting it from additional damage. The most commonly used sorbents include activated carbon , Smecta , Polysorb , Enterosgel .

There are effective medications that suppress the gag reflex.
They are allowed to be used after gastric lavage. They affect the central nervous system or local nerve plexuses. These include Domperidone and Metoclopramide .
In case of increased gas formation, you can use medications that effectively suppress this process (Espumizan). In chronic pathologies of the digestive tract, enzymatic insufficiency of the pancreas often occurs, so it is corrected with replacement therapy (“ Creon ”, “ Mezim ”). Pain relief with analgesics is not necessary.

If your body temperature rises above 38°C, it can be brought down with drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen. The use of other NSAIDs for gastric arrest is unjustified.

First aid for an attack of pancreatitis

To reduce pain, you can use a heating pad filled with cold water. It needs to be applied to the abdominal area, namely to the epigastric region (the area under the xiphoid process, corresponding to the projection of the stomach onto the anterior abdominal wall). This allows you to reduce the intensity of pain, slightly reduce swelling and inflammation.

The patient must comply with the hospital regime. This will reduce blood flow to the organ, and therefore reduce inflammation.

Eating is prohibited. The digestion process can cause more severe pain, nausea and vomiting. And the diet will reduce the production of enzymes that increase the inflammatory response and pain. You need to fast for 3 days. You can drink clean water without gases.

It is imperative to call a doctor for an examination, even if the patient is not exactly sure that this is an attack of acute pancreatitis. As we already know, this pathology can subside and then rapidly recur. At this time, you can take a painkiller to reduce discomfort.

Products for pregnant women

All medications should be used with extreme caution during pregnancy. Be sure to read the instructions before using them to make sure they are safe for the fetus. Of the medications that are used to stop the stomach, it is not advisable to prescribe antiemetics (metoclopramide) to this category of patients. Sorbents, enzyme agents, and rehydration solutions are prescribed without restrictions.

It is important to note that gastric arrest can be a symptom of pregnancy gestosis, so a woman should seek advice from an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Diagnosis of the disease at the private medical clinic “Medunion”

Diagnosing this disease is not difficult, since the first signs speak for themselves. However, in order to prescribe adequate treatment, it is necessary to determine the form of the disease. To do this, the doctor performs laparoscopy - a method that allows you to examine the abdominal cavity from the inside using a special instrument.

If acute pancreatitis is suspected, laboratory tests are performed:

• General blood analysis
• Blood chemistry
• Analysis of urine
• Stool analysis
• Ultrasound, MRI or radiography of the abdominal organs
• Computed tomography according to indications

In the chronic form, the same studies are carried out, but it is better to take tests during the period of exacerbation of the disease.

Massage

When the stomach stops, it is recommended to massage. It’s not difficult to do it yourself immediately when you wake up or throughout the day. After pressing on the biologically active points, you can resume digestion.

How it's done:

• Massage the area between the thumb and index finger on each hand using your thumbs separately.
• Place your hands at chest level, clasp your little fingers together. Stretch your arms in different directions, while your little fingers remain clasped.
• Find the point located in the middle of the diagonal between the navel and the left groin. Using three fingers (ignore the thumb and little finger), actively massage clockwise in a circular motion.

Treatment of acute pancreatitis

If acute pancreatitis is detected, the patient should be hospitalized immediately. Treatment should take place in a hospital setting, as this condition is very dangerous.

To relieve pain, antispasmodics are taken; in difficult cases, the contents of the stomach are pumped out to relieve the load on the gland.

In case of exacerbation of pancreatitis, patients require hospitalization with daily monitoring of blood parameters, water balance, leukocyte count, and enzyme levels in the blood serum during the first week. In the first 1–3 days, fasting and taking alkaline solutions every 2 hours are recommended.

During an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, the patient is shown therapy similar to the acute process. The patient must follow a diet throughout his life and take drugs from the group of antispasmodics and drugs that normalize the secretory function of the organ.

The most important thing in the chronic form of the disease is to maintain a diet that involves excluding fatty and fried foods from the diet. At the slightest violation of the regimen, the patient may experience discomfort and nausea. For intense pain, the doctor prescribes antispasmodics. Antisecretory therapy can be used for a short course.

How does the stomach work?

The stomach is an important organ responsible for processing food that comes from the esophagus. Its capacity is a maximum of 3 liters. The main function is the breakdown of contents into fats, proteins and carbohydrates. All this happens thanks to hydrochloric acid produced during periods of hunger, as well as when a person eats food.

Foods are digested differently. Proteins for about 2 hours, fats for at least 4 hours. Acid, if it is normal, does not damage the stomach, since it is protected by a membrane. Stoppage of the stomach indicates that the muscle layer is weakened, food is slowly digested, or this process stops completely. Therefore, it accumulates, puts pressure on the walls, causing discomfort.

Diet for pancreatitis

For any form of the disease, the patient is prescribed a strict diet “Table No. 5p”, according to which it is forbidden to eat spicy and fried foods. All dishes are steamed, boiled or baked. Alcohol and smoking are also prohibited.

It is also necessary to limit salt intake and eat small portions 6 times a day. Dishes should always be served warm. It is necessary to exclude all products with a high content of extractives or essential oils (fish, meat broths, cocoa, coffee, etc.), fresh berries, vegetables, herbs, fruits, sour juices, carbonated drinks, marinades.

Prevention and correction of diet

To avoid stomach arrest, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Monitor your own diet. It must be as balanced and complete as possible, and the products must be of adequate quality.
2. Avoid abuse of alcoholic and carbonated drinks.
3. Quit smoking.
4. Reduce the level of emotional stress.
5. Quickly and adequately treat chronic diseases of the digestive system, do not delay a visit to the doctor.
6. Have enough physical activity during the day.
7. If you want to adjust your own diet, it is better to contact a qualified nutritionist.

Hydrochloric acid: functions and role in digestion and stomach

Hydrochloric acid is a substance that is part of the gastric juice and provides it with an acidic environment. Low or high acidity can also cause the stomach to stop, because it is the presence of the required amount of hydrochloric acid that ensures normal digestion. When the acid balance is disturbed, a malfunction occurs in the digestive process, and food “stagnates” in the stomach and does not come out, as a result of which we get gastric arrest.

Hydrochloric acid performs the following functions:

• restores normal environment in the stomach
• activates the secretory activity of the gastric glands
• curdles milk
• promotes protein breakdown
• responsible for the motor activity of the stomach

Next, let's move on to the treatment of this disease and consider the most effective medications.