If a man came to Hippocrates complaining of a stomach ache, Hippocrates would MOST LIKELY say the cause of the problem is:

If a man came to Hippocrates complaining of a stomach ache, Hippocrates would MOST LIKELY say the cause of the problem is:

• A. Excessive exercise
• B. Helminth infection
• C. Bad lunch
• D. Cold weather

Answer: (C)

Diet and regimen shape how Hippocratic physicians explained digestive symptoms. In that tradition, a stomach ache would most often be linked to what was eaten and how the meal affected digestion. A “bad lunch”—food that's heavy, spoiled, or difficult to digest—fits this pattern as a direct, observable cause of indigestion and abdominal pain. The physician would treat this by addressing the meal and advising moderation and lighter foods to restore balance. Other possibilities mentioned, like helminth infection, cold weather, or excessive exercise, would be considered less immediate explanations for a sudden stomach ache tied to a specific meal. Parasites usually produce symptoms over a longer period; cold weather or physical exertion might aggravate discomfort but don’t explain the acute onset tied to a meal in the same straightforward way that dietary issues do. So attributing the symptom to a bad lunch aligns with the era’s emphasis on diet and daily habits as central determinants of health.

Diet and regimen shape how Hippocratic physicians explained digestive symptoms. In that tradition, a stomach ache would most often be linked to what was eaten and how the meal affected digestion. A “bad lunch”—food that's heavy, spoiled, or difficult to digest—fits this pattern as a direct, observable cause of indigestion and abdominal pain. The physician would treat this by addressing the meal and advising moderation and lighter foods to restore balance.

Other possibilities mentioned, like helminth infection, cold weather, or excessive exercise, would be considered less immediate explanations for a sudden stomach ache tied to a specific meal. Parasites usually produce symptoms over a longer period; cold weather or physical exertion might aggravate discomfort but don’t explain the acute onset tied to a meal in the same straightforward way that dietary issues do. So attributing the symptom to a bad lunch aligns with the era’s emphasis on diet and daily habits as central determinants of health.