Stomach cramps are spasms of the stomach muscles, mostly neurogenic in nature. It is a condition in itself, rather than a specific disease, and is often acute. The main symptoms include severe upper abdominal pain, vomiting, etc. The high incidence of stomach cramps in summer is largely due to patients' excessive indulgence in coldness, leading to irritation of the stomach by cold stimuli.
Case 1: A young man got stomach cramps from a fan all night
Xiao Qin, born in the 90s, is 1.8 meters tall and quite sturdy. He is particularly sensitive to heat and sweats profusely after even a little activity. The night before yesterday, the weather was muggy and hot. Xiao Qin slept shirtless with an electric fan on all night. When he woke up the next morning, he felt a stomachache but still went to work. Half an hour later, his face turned deathly pale, beads of sweat poured down, and the pain was so severe he was almost rolling on the floor. Colleagues helped him to the Nanjing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, where he was diagnosed with stomach cramps.
Expert Analysis: Every summer, there are numerous cases of stomach cramps caused by electric fans, air conditioning, or cold showers, mostly affecting young and middle-aged people. This is mainly due to stomach discomfort caused by "cold coagulation and qi stagnation." The pain can usually be relieved by warming the middle to dispel cold and using acupuncture therapy.
Case 2: Ice cream after intense play led to intestinal cramps
After playing with friends, 10-year-old Huzi came home and immediately turned on the air conditioner. He took out his favorite ice cream from the fridge. Unexpectedly, half an hour later, he suddenly felt abdominal pain and diarrhea, while breaking out in a cold sweat, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. His face turned deathly pale. His family rushed him to the hospital for treatment. The doctor used moxibustion, applying moxa sticks to several of Huzi's acupoints while also using an infrared physical therapy device. After an hour, Huzi's abdominal pain was basically relieved.
Expert Analysis: After the weather turns hot, hospitals admit many children like Huzi. This is mainly due to the large temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, combined with eating cold food, which puts the abdomen in a state of being attacked by cold from both inside and outside. This leads to enhanced gastrointestinal motility, manifesting as acute cramps with symptoms like severe abdominal pain and nausea.
Case 3: Drinking chilled mung bean soup caused stomach cramps
Recently, with the hot weather, Wang Youyou, who lives near Mingren Street, would cook a pot of mung bean soup every day and put it in the refrigerator. The next morning, he would drink a bowl. This morning, he drank a bowl of chilled mung bean soup as usual, but shortly after arriving at work, his stomach hurt so much he couldn't bear it and had to take leave to see a doctor. After a preliminary examination, the doctor determined that the chilled mung bean soup had caused a strong stimulation to Wang Youyou's stomach, leading to stomach cramps.
Expert Analysis: The occurrence of stomach cramps is usually due to acute stimulation to the stomach. Experts remind that mung beans are not only a food but also a traditional Chinese medicine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, mung beans are considered cool in nature and sweet in taste, with effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, relieving summer heat and restlessness, quenching thirst, and strengthening the stomach. From a dietary therapy perspective, the natural properties of food, such as being warm or cool, should be consistent with the constitution of the consumer to achieve a health-preserving effect. Therefore, three types of people should not consume mung beans long-term: first, people with a cold constitution; second, the elderly, children, and people with a weak constitution; and third, people who are currently taking various medications.
Special Reminder: Eating cold food in summer can be refreshing and heat-relieving, but people's digestive function is weaker in summer. Eating too much raw and cold food can, in the short term, trigger intestinal cramps, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea, and in the long term, lead to illness in the autumn. People with a cold constitution should be even more vigilant against cold foods like mustard and watermelon. Actually, preventing summer stomach cramps and maintaining gastrointestinal health is not that difficult. As long as you follow the "five nos and three mores"—no overexertion, no strenuous exercise, no overeating, no indulging in cold drinks, and no eating unclean food. You should eat more cooked food, more soups, and more vegetables.