Why does stomach pain flare up in the fall and winter?

This is an automatically translated article.

This article is expertly consulted by MSc Vu Tan Phuc - Gastroenterologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.
Stomach pain is a common symptom for a group of conditions that affect the lining of the stomach. This happens when there is an imbalance between the protective factors in the stomach and the damage to the stomach. In particular, the cold and dry weather in the autumn and winter will make the stomach pain worse. Knowing why stomach aches in the fall and winter and ways to prevent them will help us protect our health as the weather changes later in the year.

1. What is stomach pain?

Stomach pain is the most common symptom of gastritis. It is a progressive disease that is associated with some type of infection, direct irritation or local tissue damage. Stomach pain can be acute or chronic, respectively, with new-onset or long-lasting gastritis.
Factors that are commonly thought to affect gastric disease are taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, bacterial infections, reflux of bile from the small intestine, autoimmune disorders or drinking too much alcohol. In addition, there are other factors that can contribute to stomach irritation, including stress, smoking, and eating certain acidic, spicy, or hot foods.
In addition to pain, the patient may complain of indigestion, bloating, tightness in the upper abdomen and feeling nauseous and vomiting. At this time, treatment is necessary, restructuring the protective factors of the stomach. If left untreated, gastritis can worsen in the fall and winter or lead to stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding. Furthermore, some forms of chronic gastritis can increase the risk of stomach cancer, especially if you have thinning of the stomach lining and changes in the cells of the lining.

2. Why is the stomach hurt in the autumn and winter?

The digestive system can be a significant source of illness during the fall and winter, due to the following reasons:
Depletion of protective factors in the stomach In cold weather or when there is a sudden change in temperature will increase the amount of histamine in the blood. This is an irritating chemical that causes the stomach to secrete more acid while thinning the protective mucus layer close to the stomach lining. It is this imbalance that will cause stomach pain, especially in people with a history of disease, the risk of recurrent acid reflux will be very high.
Decreased immunity Since immunity decreases with cold temperatures, the body is susceptible to common infectious diseases. On the gastrointestinal tract, the disease has typical symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting.
Eat too fast, eat too full The cold season is a condition that makes the body need to add a lot of energy to keep warm and fight the cold. That is the reason why people often feel hungry quickly and eat quickly, too full. This condition causes the stomach to not be able to adapt when it has to work hard to convert food into energy, which can lead to stomach pain.
Eat a lot of hot, spicy foods

Autumn and winter is the time when people often like to consume alcohol, spicy and hot foods, smoking, using stimulants... These are strong irritants to the stomach, increasing symptoms. symptom of the disease.
Eating late People tend to eat a lot in the evening, eat late before going to bed to provide more energy to keep warm during the night. However, this puts a burden on the stomach, making it difficult to sleep. The consequences of having trouble sleeping, not sleeping well, causing fatigue, stress, and anxiety are also the causes of stomach pain.
Eat cold foods In contrast to their preference for hot, spicy foods in cold weather, some people choose to eat less processed foods. At this time, cold foods easily stimulate gastric secretion, especially in the morning. Since most organs are still in a state of sleep, eating cold foods can lead to spasms and poor blood circulation in the digestive system, leading to indigestion and a vulnerable stomach lining.
Physical inactivity Cold weather causes the body to stagnate, forgetting exercise and sports activities. This causes poor circulation, limited blood flow to the digestive system in general and the stomach in particular. The stomach's function of contraction and food consumption is no longer guaranteed and stomach pain occurs.
Drink less water When it's cold, the amount of water lost to evaporation decreases. Because the feeling of thirst is gone, people have the habit of drinking less water. However, the body's water requirements are constant. Reducing water intake also makes it difficult to work in the stomach.
Psychological disorders In the autumn and winter, when the weather changes, many people have psychological changes. They easily get bored and think negative, pessimistic. It is these stresses that stimulate the secretion of acid in the stomach, easily causing the onset or recurrence of acid reflux.

3. How to prevent stomach pain in autumn and winter?

The simplest way to prevent stomach pain in the fall and winter is to understand the above causes and avoid them. Accordingly, people need to make sure that their nutrition, eating habits and activity pace in cold days are not too different from those in other seasons of the year. This will help stabilize the digestive function and absorption of food in the stomach.
At the same time, to ensure stomach health in the autumn and winter, it is necessary to refer to the following tips:
Eat enough meals, at the right time. Eat small amounts and divide them into several small meals throughout the day. Choose foods that are warm or relatively hot, which can help stimulate blood circulation. Do not use raw or undercooked food. Limit eating foods that are highly stimulating such as too hot, spicy, and sour. Do not use too much alcohol, tobacco or stimulants. Drink enough water. Maintain a habit of physical activity, increase resistance. Build a positive spirit, think optimistically. Actively take antacids to prevent recurrence of stomach pain.

In summary, gastritis is an acute or chronic disease, which can occur with recurrent episodes of gastric pain or reflux in the presence of provoking factors. In particular, the change of weather in the autumn and winter is also a factor that every stomach pain patient needs to know and take preventive measures to reduce the stomach pain that often occurs at the end of the year.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.