Stress causes stomach pain

Many people face stomach pain after eating, but the cause is not always related to food intolerance. Experts have found that stress can trigger an immune response that makes the body sensitive to food. This may explain why people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) experience pain after eating.

The discovery was made by researchers from Northwestern University who published their work in the journal Gastroenterology. One of the authors, Dr. Cecilia Berin, notes that the immune system can react to food not only in allergies, but also in gastrointestinal diseases. This explains why certain foods cause discomfort in people with IBS.

To understand the mechanism, scientists conducted an experiment on mice. The rodents were subjected to a stress test, while simultaneously injecting the protein contained in egg white into their bodies. A few weeks later, they were given the same protein again. The result was unexpected: the mice had increased pain signals in the intestines, although there were no classic signs of allergy.

Additionally, the researchers studied the activity of neurons and the work of immune cells responsible for inflammation. It turned out that the process involves special antibodies (IgE), as well as mast cells, which are usually involved in allergic reactions. Interestingly, taking the anti-allergy drug pyrilamine reduced pain sensations by reducing the nervous system response.

The discovery emphasizes that psychological stress not only affects emotional well-being, but can also alter the gastrointestinal tract. The next step for scientists will be to study these mechanisms in patients with IBS, which may help in the development of new treatments.

This finding offers hope for people who suffer from pain after eating. If the link between stress and the body’s response to food is confirmed, there will be new approaches to therapy that will significantly improve the quality of life of patients.