O que causa cólicas estomacais noturnas?

Unlike an ache or pain that's there one minute and gone the next, stomach cramps are characterised by sudden, involuntary tightening of the tummy muscles - or spasms - that are more intense and cyclic. These cramps can be uncomfortable and may be accompanied by other digestive symptoms, como inchaço, náusea, vômito ou diarreia.

What can cause nighttime stomach cramps?

Knowing the causes of nighttime stomach cramps could help you avoid getting them - or at least have a better idea of when to seek medical help.

Too much, too little, too late

Eating a lot of food close to bedtime - or not eating enough throughout the day - might lead to nighttime stomach cramps. Sometimes these two causes can even overlap.

Angel Luk, uma nutricionista registrada de Vancouver, Canadá, explica que ficar o dia todo sem comer - e depois ficar com muita fome e comer uma grande refeição antes de dormir - pode aumentar a probabilidade de cólicas estomacais noturnas.

She adds: "In contrast, if you restrict your eating, and don't provide your body nutrição suficiente throughout the day, you may experience hunger pains that can also feel like cramps."

Double board-certified psychiatrist and sleep medicine specialist, Dr Chester Wu, Texas USA, adds that your digestive system slows down during sleep, which can exacerbate conditions such as constipation or doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (GORD). This is more simply known as acid reflux - a condition where your stomach acid flows back up into your oesophagus, leading to heartburn and tummy discomfort.

Food intolerances

One of the most common causes of nighttime stomach cramps is an undiagnosed food intolerance. When someone has a food intolerance without realising it, this could lead to digestive issues.

Luk says: "Even if you experience discomfort eating or drinking certain foods, you may continue to consume them, unaware that the food and symptoms are connected.

"A typical example might be a habit of drinking a cup of milk at bedtime since childhood - not realising your body's production of the lactase enzyme has decreased, levando à intolerância à lactose."

Stress and sleep disruption

Long-term stress e falta de sono can negatively impact digestion, causing discomfort and cramps. When your body is tense from stress your tummy muscles can become strained, which exacerbates your cramps. Additionally, stress pode desencadear a liberação de cortisol - your body's stress hormone. This can increase stomach acid production, and often result in heartburn and tummy discomfort.

"Stress and poor sleep can also create a vicious cycle, where poor digestion worsens sleep quality," says Wu. "This, in turn, increases the likelihood of stomach issues."

Period pains

Cólicas menstruais - uma fonte comum de desconforto para algumas pessoas - podem causar dor antes ou durante o seu período. Essa dor ocorre quando o seu útero se contrai, causando cólicas de moderadas a às vezes severas que podem irradiar do abdômen para as costas e coxas.

Underlying health conditions

Long-term stomach cramp symptoms may be caused by a range of underlying health issues, such as síndrome do intestino irritável (SII).

"As pessoas que vivem com a síndrome do intestino irritável frequentemente lidam com cólicas estomacais em horários imprevisíveis do dia", diz Luk. "Os desencadeantes não são exclusivos dos alimentos, pois o estresse também pode levar a cólicas indesejadas muitas vezes nos momentos mais inconvenientes - como quando você está tentando dormir bem à noite."

Wu adds: "Stress ou o sono de baixa qualidade can also worsen IBS."

When should someone seek medical attention for night-time stomach cramps?

If your stomach cramps - and their associated symptoms - don't get better, you should have them checked out by a doctor to see if you have any hidden health conditions.

Luk advises if your cramps are persistent or severe, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

She explains: "This is because the potential causes of your discomfort could be anything from non-life-threatening issues such as lactose intolerance to something much more serious like coeliac disease."

Estes sintomas não indicam necessariamente um problema de saúde grave. No entanto, podem precisar ser gerenciados com o tratamento adequado ou aconselhamento médico personalizado para tratar as causas subjacentes.