Stomach pain is a common problem, it can happen to anyone. Usually, stomach pain can occur due to gas, constipation, or indigestion, which is also cured by common medicines and home remedies. But if you have been suffering from stomach pain or digestive problems for a long time and it is not getting cured through common treatment, then be careful, is this a sign of mental health problems?
Yes, you heard it right. Disturbances in the digestive system can be a symptom of mental health disorders in some situations. Health experts say that a link has been seen between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and mental problems like stress-anxiety. That is, if you have had symptoms of GERD for a long time and are not getting relief from treatment, then you should meet a psychiatrist once.
World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10 October to educate and make people aware of mental health and to remove the feeling of social stigma. Let us know what can be the relation of stomach problems with mental health.
Gut-brain health connection
According to the report of Harvard Health, gut-brain health is closely connected to each other. If you often experience stomach pain or feel nauseous? If you are not getting relief from these problems with normal medicines, then it may be due to stress or anxiety.
Health experts say that the state of stress or anxiety can affect our digestive system. Our intestines are controlled by the central nervous system in the brain and spinal cord, so if you have a mental health problem, then digestion-related symptoms can also be seen in it.
What do experts say?
Harvard experts say that people who take more stress can often have digestive problems. Psychiatrist Dr. Torossian says, it is important to note that stress does not pose a risk of problems like inflammatory bowel disease, although it can make digestive symptoms severe. People suffering from stress and trauma should be careful about gastrointestinal problems.
Why does digestion problem occur in stress?
Mental health experts say that due to the state of frequent stress, many types of hormonal changes start happening in the body, which increases the secretion of gastric juice, causing stomach pain, bloating, acidity, and burning.
A 2019 study found that symptoms of anxiety and depression were quite high in people suffering from GERD, especially in those who were also complaining of chest pain. Both GERD and anxiety disorders can cause chest pain, these symptoms often feel like a heart attack.
Control stress
Health experts say that it is not necessary to assume that you have some mental problem as soon as you have gastrointestinal problems, however, if you do not get relief with normal treatment, you should be cautious. Everyone should keep trying to control stress because it can not only cause problems in digestion but also increase heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The problem of stress that persists for a long time is also considered to be the cause of many other serious health disorders.
(PC: Freepik)
