What is abdominal pain and cramping?

Painful abdominal cramps are a commonly reported digestive complaint. In a multinational survey¹, 37 per cent of women and 28 per cent of men in the UK said they have suffered from abdominal cramping and pain at some point in their lives.

People prone to this condition may suffer on a regular basis. In the survey, 38 per cent said that they experienced abdominal pain and cramps at least once a week. Of those affected, almost 40 per cent described their symptoms as “severe”.

In addition to abdominal pain, sufferers may also report bloating, distension and other “gas related” complaints. Others complain of nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, heartburn or headache.

In some cases, abdominal cramps may be a feature of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, not all sufferers of abdominal cramps have IBS. In addition, some sufferers of abdominal cramps may be reluctant to accept the label of IBS for their symptoms and may not wish to try products specifically for this condition.

To complicate matters further, sufferers may lack specific vocabulary to describe the symptoms, opting for vague terms like “colicky” or “upset”. As a result, many people who suffer from abdominal cramps might not be aware of the most appropriate OTC product for their symptoms.

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• 1. Prevalence and management of abdominal cramping and pain: a multinational survey. Quigley EM, et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther (2006) 24; 411-9