In most cases, stomach aches are usually short-lived and will disappear by themselves without treatment within a few hours.
Stomach cramps with bloating are often caused by trapped wind, which is a very common problem.
If you are experiencing stomach pain with bloating, it can easily be treated with over-the-counter products.
“Your pharmacist will be able to recommend a product such as buscopan or mebeverine, which can be bought over the counter to treat the problem,” said the NHS.
In some cases, stomach pain and bloating could be associated with an underlying condition, which would then require alternative treatment.
If you have repeated bouts of stomach cramps and diarrhoea, you could have irritable bowel syndrome.
IBS is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system, causing stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation.
It is thought to affect up to 1 in 5 people at some point in their life, according to the NHS. The condition is often lifelong, but may improve over several years.
Ways to treat IBS include: identifying and avoiding foods or drinks that trigger your symptoms; altering the amount of fibre in your diet; exercising regularly; and reducing your stress levels.
Medication is sometimes prescribed for people with IBS to treat the individual symptoms they experience.
If your stomach cramps and diarrhoea have started recently, the cause may be a tummy bug, or gastroenteritis, signifying a viral or bacterial infection of the stomach and bowel.
In this case, the pain should get better without treatment after a few days.
A bloated stomach could also be a sign of constipation, if you notice that passing stools becomes more difficult and less frequent than usual.
Constipation is a common condition that affects people of all ages.
The severity of constipation varies from person to person. Many people only experience constipation for a short time, but for others, constipation can be a long-term condition that causes significant pain and discomfort.