Severe Abdominal Cramps

Common Causes of Severe Abdominal Cramps

Does your stomach hurt a lot? Chronic lower belly pain is so common these days, many people think it’s normal. It’s only when the abdominal cramps become severe that they begin to worry it could be something serious.

If you're experiencing severe abdominal cramps, here are some of the common conditions that may be causing it:

1. Constipation

Constipation is a number one cause of chronic lower belly pain, especially in women. If you’re not having at least one bowel movement per day, you’re constipated.

Constipation is often caused by a combination of poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress.

If constipation is giving you severe abdominal cramps, try treating it naturally by adding more fiber-rich

Chronic yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis are common causes of cervical inflammation.

Women with cervical pain often find sexual intercourse painful and may feel period-like cramps in between their menstrual cycles.

Since cervicitis can also be caused by sexually transmitted disease, it’s important for women with these symptoms to visit their gynecologist for accurate diagnosis.

3. Ulcerative Colitis

This inflammatory bowel disease is a common cause of severe abdominal cramps. In people with this gastrointestinal condition, the immune system overreacts and attacks the lower intestine, resulting in chronic inflammation.

Oftentimes, this reaction is caused by undiagnosed gluten intolerance.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. People with an intolerance to this protein often experience severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea, muscle aches, chronic fatigue, flatulence, brain fog, and emotional instability.

To determine if food allergies are causing your lower belly pain, try an elimination diet for six weeks.

An elimination diet removes the most common offenders, including gluten, lactose, citrus fruits, nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, food dyes, MSG, and

After the six-week period is over, add a different allergen food each day to test for a reaction.

When you find the culprit food(s), you’ll know.

4. Crohn’s Disease

This form of inflammatory bowel disease commonly affects the lower intestines but, unlike ulcerative colitis, it can also affect other parts of the digestive system such as the mouth and anus.

Smoking, Jewish heritage, and environmental allergies can make Crohn’s disease symptoms worse. Adding probiotics, digestive enzymes, and bulk fiber can ease the symptoms.

It is also important for anybody living with chronic gastrointestinal discomfort to cut junk out of their diets. Fast food only worsens inflammation and intestinal upset.

5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

If you have severe abdominal pain along with frequently loose bowel movements, you might have a common condition known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Unlike other inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome can be triggered by emotions. Furthermore, many people with irritable bowel syndrome find their symptoms worsen during periods of emotional