In daily work, we often see colleagues who press their stomachs, endure pain, and persist in work, or ourselves who have also been one of them. Doctor, I've been feeling unwell in my stomach lately. Before seeking medical help, many people are likely to have endured for a long time or taken stomach medication themselves, but the effect is not good. The 2023 Gastric Health Insight Report for Workers shows that 94% of the surveyed population (have) experienced symptoms of stomach discomfort, and 73% of the surveyed population (have) been diagnosed with gastrointestinal diseases such as functional dyspepsia, gastritis, Helicobacter pylori infection, and gastric ulcers. Common symptoms of stomach discomfort include pain, bloating, belching, acid reflux, and so on. Various diseases may cause stomach discomfort such as stomach pain and bloating. There are many reasons that can cause stomach pain, some are problems with the stomach itself, and some are diseases in other parts that manifest in the form of stomach pain. The high incidence of stomach diseases among the post-80s and post-90s generations is worth noting. Among the surveyed population of different age groups, the proportion of those who have been diagnosed with stomach diseases is the highest, about 77%. Among the young post-00s, 66% have also been diagnosed with stomach diseases. Li Jingnan, chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that almost everyone at different ages has different degrees of stomach disease. However, in recent years, it has been found that the incidence rate of stomach disease among young people in their twenties and thirties has increased significantly, showing a trend of youth. Gastrointestinal diseases have become a common and frequently occurring disease among the Chinese population, commonly known as "ten stomach diseases and nine diseases", which is also the current state of gastric health for contemporary workers. Stomach pain and spasms caused by stomach problems: Eating cold and irritating food can cause gastrointestinal spasms, which may lead to stomach pain. Inflammation: Improper use of aspirin or acute gastritis can lead to stomach pain. Erosion: A large amount of Baijiu directly damages the gastric mucosa, causing erosion of the gastric mucosa, which may lead to stomachache. Atrophy: Gastric mucosal atrophy, weakened digestive ability, and easy occurrence of stomach pain after eating. Ulcers: Infection with Helicobacter pylori may cause damage to the gastric mucosa, weakened digestive ability, and increased risk of stomach pain after meals. Cancer: If a stomach tumor invades the nerves, it may cause stomach pain. "Stomach pain" caused by other visceral problems may cause stomach pain, but stomach pain may not necessarily be caused by the above reasons. Firstly, we only feel pain in the stomach area, but the subjective judgment of where the pain is located cannot accurately locate the location of the lesion. Different from the pain caused by skin injuries, visceral pain is difficult to accurately locate. For example, appendicitis, cirrhosis, pancreatic cancer, etc. are not stomach problems in themselves, but also can produce symptoms of stomach pain. Appendicitis: More than half of appendicitis patients present with "stomach pain" and abdominal pain in the early stages, and the pain gradually concentrates in the lower right abdomen after a few hours of onset, medically known as metastatic lower right abdominal pain. Cirrhosis: Represented by portal hypertensive gastropathy, after cirrhosis, the venous reflux from the esophagus, gastric fundus, and the entire digestive system into the liver is slowed down, resulting in gastrointestinal congestion, followed by gastrointestinal discomfort such as stomach pain and poor appetite. Pancreatic cancer: The pancreas is located behind the stomach, deep in the abdomen, surrounded by nerve plexus and lymph nodes, and pancreatic cancer is particularly easy to invade nerves, causing pain. The reason why pancreatic cancer is difficult to be diagnosed early is that its early manifestations are very similar to those of stomach disease. In clinical practice, many people feel that stomach pain is the self feeling of pancreatic cancer before it is diagnosed. Gallstones and cholecystitis: The gallbladder is located in the upper right abdomen, adjacent to the gastric antrum. Gallstones and cholecystitis often manifest as upper abdominal pain, and patients often describe it as "stomach pain" before a clear diagnosis is made. Intestinal spasm: The localization of visceral pain is not accurate, and the intestines occupy the entire abdominal cavity. The spasms often make it difficult to distinguish whether it is stomach pain or colic. Heart disease: Myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction caused by coronary heart disease can cause severe pain. The typical pain location is in the chest, but the pain range can be from the mouth to the abdomen. Therefore, one should be alert to the possibility of coronary heart disease when experiencing pain from the mouth to the abdomen. Arterial disease: The aorta originates from the heart and passes through the chest to the pelvic cavity. If there is a tear or aneurysm, it can cause severe pain. The location of pain is often consistent with the location of the lesion, and severe pain in the upper abdomen cannot rule out the possibility of arterial tearing, aneurysm, or embolism. Gastric pain caused by emotional issues often accompanies stomach pain attacks in many people due to emotional anxiety or high mental stress. Prolonged exposure to work pressure and excessive psychological burden can also have a significant impact on the stomach. Excessive mental stress can lead to autonomic nervous system disorders, resulting in dysregulation of gastric juice secretion and reduced blood supply to the gastric mucosa. Mild cases may manifest as stomach pain and poor appetite, while severe cases can lead to gastric ulcers. It is not recommended to "go to the drugstore first to buy some stomach medicine for stomach pain". Stomach pain is common, but it is not so simple. The doctor does not recommend the practice of "go to the drugstore first to buy some stomach medicine for stomach pain". If the pain is caused by myocardial infarction, artery tear, a disease that may cause death at any time, or by malignant tumors such as gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc., the above hasty practice will make people regret. Seemingly simple, even a stomach pain can be so complex. Similarly, if you encounter unexplained abdominal pain, do not make decisions without authorization. The wise choice is to seek medical attention in a timely manner. Stomach protection should be done early, and breakfast is important. According to the report, working people generally do not attach enough importance to breakfast, and about 43% of the population does not eat breakfast every day. Experts remind young people to maintain a positive attitude and maintain regular lifestyle habits even when they are busy. They should eat three meals a day and pay special attention to breakfast, as skipping breakfast can have adverse effects on the stomach and gallbladder. According to the Chinese Dietary Guidelines for Residents, if breakfast includes four types of food: grains, animal based foods (meat, eggs), milk and its products, vegetables and fruits, it is considered nutritious. "Stomach protection should be done early, breakfast is very important." Professor Chen Wei, chief physician of the Clinical Nutrition Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that a nutritionally balanced breakfast should include food rich in high-quality protein. You can eat some eggs, drink some milk or soybean milk, and use some staple foods to provide sufficient energy for the body. In addition, you can add some vegetables and fruits to supplement vitamins and dietary fiber. (Lai Xin She)