Addressing abdominal pain
Published On September 28, 2015 » 1606 Views» By Administrator Times » Features
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Secrets to HealthOne of the problems we all experience once in a while is that of abdominal pain..
This is so common that unless it stays for too long or repeats itself often, most of us will ignore it.
However there is always that nagging feeling of guilt that perhaps we are ignoring something serious that maybe getting worse.
However, the idea of having to go to a clinic or hospital is what discourage most of us. It is against this background that radio programmes and newspaper columns on health are usually popular.
These avenues, allow many of us to get information about our health without the need to actually go to the hospital.      They are two groups of people who I have found are an exception to this general aversion.
These are babies and young single women.
When  a baby  has abdominal pains, especially at night,  they keep everyone awake, so everybody is keen for them to be taken to the hospital.. When young single woman has abdominal pains, there is worry that if the problem is not addressed she may not have children in future.
In African tradition there are many myths around abdominal pains and fertility to such an extent that young women are taught not to tell potential suitors or rivals that they have abdominal pains.  It is believed that this may lower their market value, not on LUSE (the Lusaka stock exchange), but the marriage market of potential young suitors. In view of all this, I thought this week’s column should address this problem.
1.    What causes abdominal pain?
2. Which type of abdominal pain needs hospital attention?
3.How can I deal with abdominal pain?
1.What causes abdominal pains?
Abdominal pains are the subject of a common folklore song which has somewhat faded into oblivion over the years in Zambia.
It is a plea from a young woman, for the abdominal pain to spare her seed, and give her an opportunity to bare children.
“Wecamunda wikalipa….” The song is a serenade, by one of the bands of yesteryear. Taking the cue from the song, abdominal pain can be of 3 types, that is, upper abdominal pain, mid abdominal pain and lower abdominal pain.
The nerves responsible for pain in the internal organs of the body are among a group of nerves called the autonomic nerves.
These are so busy doing everything else in the body, that they are unable to very specifically pin point the source of pain in the internal organs of the body.
However they are able to say if the pain is from the organs of the upper abdomen, the mid abdomen or the lower abdomen. Now, in women, especially young women, most of the pain they experience, comes from the female organs of reproduction.
This is perceived as lower abdominal pains. Most often in the mid line of the body just below the navel or umbilicus.
It occurs often during the time of their blood flow or menstrual flow.
It is the result of the contraction of the blood vessels at the bottom of the cushion bed formed in the womb (the uterus), in preparation for a baby. When no baby comes, then this cushion is shed off, with the accompanying pain.
It is less in some and more in others.
The condition is called pain of menstruation or in medical terms Dysmenorrhoea.
It tends to seize, or lessen with pregnancy. The second common type of abdominal pain is upper abdominal pain.
This most often arises from the well-known organ the stomach. In fact so well-known is this organ that in many local languages there is no difference between the abdomen itself and the stomach.
The stomach is a large bag that stores the first arrivals of food from the mouth, much like a dry port or a ZRA customs border post.
This organ produces acid which is used to clean the food we eat of germs (sterilise it) as well as process the food so that the body can absorb it more easily.
The stomach may sometimes develop small sores (Gastritis) or big sores (Peptic Ulcers).This pain will tend to be worse when food enters the stomach, because, then acid is produced it goes into the sores thus increasing the pain.
So pain in the upper abdomen especially during meals maybe due to stomach sores.
You may also find that it makes you feel like vomiting (nausea) and you may feel better after vomiting.
If the pain wakes you up at night then the sores are further along at the beginning of the small intestines, a C shaped tube called the duodenum (because it is 12 finger breadths in length).
Pain in the upper abdomen that moves to the right back or shoulder along the edge of the ribs will be from the gall bladder or in Bemba “Indusha”.
If you slaughter a  chicken, you will see a green looking organ, in the right upper abdomen, if you burst it, while removing the insides of a chicken, the chicken becomes bitter and uneatable.
This  organ can swell and form stones.
When it swells or has stones in it this can become extremely painful, especially after a juice fatty meal.
The condition is called Cholecystitis. The eyes may turn a faint yellow, and one might also have an irritating itch like you get after swimming in a heavily chlorinated swimming pool.
The reason for this itch, is the pigment that the gall bladder produces which is used for processing of food. When the gall bladder is diseased, this material accumulates in the body.
If the pain moves down to the legs or the hips, then it most likely, will to be coming from the kidneys, what are called in Bemba  “Infuyo”.
These, as you may remember from your primary school class, are bean shaped organs responsible for the production of urine. When the pain is around the belly button or navel (the umbilicus) then the disease will most likely be from the small bowels or intestines (Amatuboyanono).Often this is accompanied by a feeling of vomiting and the passing of watery stools (diarrhoea).
Most often this condition is due to eating food that has gone bad and contains germs which lodge and grow in the small bowels.
This leads to swelling , pain and failure to digest eaten food, and therefore diarrhea. If the pain from the belly bottom moves to the central back and comes in short burst of severe pain, this is most likely from the pancreas.
This is particularly common among men given to heavy bouts of weekend drinking of alcohol.
2. Which type of abdominal pains need hospital attention?
Have you ever wondered why when people are in pain they often cry for their mother? (“Mayo”). Hardly ever their father (“Tata”).Maybe it’s because when they have central abdominal pain, the belly bottom reminds them of birth and their mum.
More likely, though, that was the person who was always around to take care of them when they have been in pain in the past. There are a least two types of abdominal pain commonly felt. The one that climbs up like a musical note reaching a peak of pain and then slowly going down.
It comes as a waves. This is called colicky pain.
It is the pain felt in a hollow tubular organ which is blocked. The second is a hot burning pain, like someone rubbing chili powder on an open wound. This is usually due a raw sore with digestive juices falling into it.
If you unlike most of us, have the courage to go to hospital each time you have had abdominal pain, you would spend all your time in the hospital, because abdominal pain is very common. The question is, though, which abdominal pain should worry me and get me rushing to my local clinic? The answer is;
1 .Abdominal pain that is severe
2. Abdominal pain that persists
3. Abdominal pain keeps you from standing up
4. Abdominal pain with fever or yellowness of the eyes, bloody diarrhoea or vomitus.
In short if your abdominal pain is severe and has lasted for more the 24hours, you should go to your local clinic.
If it is so severe you cannot walk straight or sit up, this is suggestive that something is seriously wrong inside and you should seek medical attention. When in addition to pain your eyes, facial colour or temperature begins to change the problem has spread beyond the abdomen, and that means it is serious.
If you have diarrhoea or vomiting, and these are frequent or have unusual colours especially red or event blood, then you should seek medical attention.
3. How can I deal with abdominal pain?
Everybody has their own formula of how to deal with abdominal pain. But people are always looking to adopt any formula that may be better than theirs. I know some people who try to work the disease out of their system, by simply ignoring it and continuing their daily routine. It is a mind over matter approach. The plan is this will eventually wear out the problem. This is probably unwise.
Many take family herbs passed on by family traditions from mother to child over generations.
This too is unwise, given the dangers to the kidney posed by some of these alkaloids.
There are 4 things that are helpful which you can do on your own to improve abdominal pains. These are;
1. Slow down
2. Stop food and start fluids
3. Start moderate pain killers
4. Stop alcohol
The first is to rest the abdomen and let it recover. Stop ordinary foods, these work the abdomen too hard.
In any case you will often not feel like eating. Take plenty of fluid with a pinch of salt. This will restore the fluid balance in the body and push down any noxious substances.
If you feel bloated take a little castor oil to help get the bowels working and pushing down any unwanted materials.
It is bitter and should be mixed with some juice.
Take pain killers like paracetamol, be weary of Aspirin which promotes acid and may cause pain for some.
Stop alcohol intake, which will over work the bowels and the liver.
When you start feeling better take raw vegetables these exercise the muscle of the intestine because they are rich in fibre, and are easy to digest.
In general avoid processed foods, salamis, polonies, ham and canned foods their contents are difficult to digest fully. Keep your diet simple/natural and you will have less abdominal pain.

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