Stomach pain is no fun at all. It leaves you focused on your discomfort instead of family, work, and fun. Sometimes, stomach aches leave you less than enthusiastic to participate in daily activities. When you begin to experience something out of the ordinary, it is time to take action. Here are some practical tips for improving your gut health that you can seamlessly add to your daily routine.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Healthcare Provider
If you are experiencing new stomach pain or your abdominal pain has become worse, it is time to contact your healthcare provider to schedule an appointment or visit the emergency room, if that is the right move for your unique situation. Your licensed physician will talk about symptoms, recent activities, and run any tests or scans as necessary to help determine the underlying causes for your discomfort. From there, they will work with you to create a plan of action to help relieve your pain. Always ask any questions you have when they arise. If you are in too much pain, ask how to contact them later if you need to discuss any questions or concerns.
Introduce More Fiber into Your Diet
Fiber is essential to your gut health. It keeps things moving along inside your body so you can eliminate waste instead of experiencing that heavy feeling when everything is just sitting inside of you, which often causes gas, bloating, and unnecessary pain. While fiber promotes digestive health, it also aids in regulating blood sugar levels and helps you feel full, which can help you avoid overeating. Work to incorporate more fiber-rich foods into every meal.
Address Your Stressors
There will always be stress present in every person’s life, including yours. It is inevitable. How you deal with it, however, can have a significant impact on how your body, and specifically how your stomach feels.
Here are some ways you can reduce stress in your life.
- Look for the helpers in your life, such as your partner at work or at home, to help pick up the slack (or simply do their part) to reduce your workload.
- Talk to a licensed therapist for an opportunity to work through stressful experiences and find a way to deal with them.
- If you say yes to too many things, take this as your green light to say an empowered no every once in a while. It is okay to let others do the work and give yourself more time to do what you need without extra burdens.
- Incorporate stress-relieving activities into your schedule, such as regular exercise, a rewarding hobby, or meditative yoga.
Watch this video for a guided yoga practice focused on stress and anxiety relief.
Maintaining your overall health is essential for living your life well. Follow these easy tips to help determine what your body needs through sound medical advice and a little self-care. By paying attention to how your actions impact how you feel, you will be on the path to making good choices and feeling better.
