Coca Cola Relieves an Upset Stomach!

My husband had been suffering from upset stomach even before he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It seems that some foods he once loved and ate all the time had started to upset his stomach. We did not know, at the time, about the deadly disease he had.

After he was diagnosed and began treatment, the medicines he was prescribed caused an upset stomach. He took more medicine for the nausea, plus we used our own simple home remedies to alleviate the stomach problems.

The point is, sometimes a simple upset stomach is just that...an upset stomach; at other times, it may be a symptom of something more serious. If simple home cures do not control your upset stomach, or you are uncertain as to the reason for your upset stomach, it is advisable to seek medical attention.

Simple Reasons and Home Cures for an Upset Stomach

1. Pregnancy: Just about every one who has been pregnant can describe morning sickness. The simplest cure for this type of upset stomach is a box of saltine crackers. Eat a few crackers when the nausea first comes on, and sip a cup of luke warm tea. Sucking on a peppermint candy will also help to settle an upset stomach.

2. A hangover: The best and simplest cure for this type of upset stomach is not to overindulge in the first place! That being said, the next thing to try is a coke freeze. Mix a little coca cola with some vanilla ice cream. Stir it until it is smoothly blended and sip it down slowly. The coca cola will help you to burp up gases while the ice cream soothes the tummy.

3. Eating too much: This too is caused by overindulgence! Children have a tendency to eat too much snacks and sweet things just because they taste good. This can bring on an upset stomach. Soothe the child with small sips of coca cola. This will produce a belch. If the tummy is so upset that there is vomiting, eat small amount of soft Jell-O. This will soothe the tummy and avoid dehydration.

Medically Induced Upset Stomach

Sometimes a medical condition or the treatment for a medical condition will cause an upset stomach. Follow your medical professional's advice as to how to treat nausea related to certain medications. You can also attempt a few simple home cures.

1. Flu Nausea: Having the flu or a cold will produce a lot of mucus- type build up. When this mucus drains into the stomach, it may cause it to become upset. Drinking lots of fluids or broths will help ease the irritated tummy. Drink a warm cup of tea that you have added some honey and ginger to will also help thwart an upset stomach.

2. Chemo Nausea: They very thing that might cure an illness can cause an upset stomach. Cancer patients that undergo chemo treatments suffer from severe nausea. The doctor might prescribe medications to ease the upset stomach. He or she may also suggest several home remedies such as sipping seven up. Mixing ginger, honey or cinnamon into a cup of warm tea is also beneficial.

When caring for my husband, I found that sticking to a diet of mostly cold foods also helped to ease his upset stomach. Try to keep all food portions small, even if you find yourself eating 4 to 6 tiny portions a day instead of the usual 3 meals a day.

3. Medication that causes upset stomach: Again, the very thing that is supposed to help you may cause an upset stomach. If certain medicines upset you, it is advisable to ask your doctor what you can do at home to relieve your symptoms. If the medicine label says to take it on a full stomach, then you can be sure it will upset you if you don't!

Eating a cracker or slice of dry bread may help if the medicine makes you ill, but if the medicine causes severe vomiting, do not try to cure it by yourself. This could be a reaction that your doctor needs to know about.

Know When to Use Home Cures and When to call a Doctor

The key to knowing when to use a simple home cure for an upset stomach vs. when to call the doctor is in knowing what is causing the nausea. Morning sickness due to pregnancy is pretty self evident. So is throwing up after a long night of partying.

If the reason for the upset stomach is not evident, or none of the simple home cures are working, then it is time to call a doctor. Violent and prolonged vomiting is a sign of an underlying problem and you should never try to treat this with a home remedy.

Use common sense and home remedies wisely. A simple upset stomach has a simple home cure. Violent and prolonged nausea does not. When in doubt, seek medical attention.

List of sources:
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/symptoms/Nausea/hic_Nausea_and_Vomiting.aspx

http://www.naturalmedicine.com/news/natural-healthcare/a-little-ginger-helps-with-chemo-induced-nausea/

http://www.cancerpage.com/centers/Sideeffects/nausea_p.asp

http://www.nauseahelp.com/?p=50