Constipation
Constipation causes stomach pain because blocked fecal matter stretches the colon in a manner it doesn’t want to be stretched, says Dr. Raymond. If you’re experiencing stomach pain and notice you have to strain to have a bowel movement or your trips to the bathroom aren’t regular, constipation is a likely culprit for your stomach aches.
To better move stool through your system, drink more water and consume more fiber. However, if you’ve been constipated for more than a few days or get constipated often, Dr. Raymond suggests eating milk of magnesia. “They’re relatively gentle and help when consuming fiber could just give you extremely hard stool.” Raymond says her patients with defecation disorders also benefit from the use of squatting toilet devices.