Abdominal pain is something we all experience from the time we are infants to adulthood. There are numerous reasons for abdominal discomfort, some more significant than others. What you think is a stomach ache could originate from another organ in your abdomen or from somewhere else entirely. Many symptoms and causes might be associated with abdominal pain.
Types of Abdominal Pain
As your abdomen contains numerous organs, the healthcare provider may want to focus on a specific area to determine what kind of discomfort you’re experiencing. The abdomen is frequently divided into four quadrants by medical professionals. They might inquire if your pain is in the upper or lower half or the left or right side. Pain in the upper abdomen occurs above the belly button. It is below lower abdominal pain. Your belly button and sternum create the midline of your abdomen. (Cleveland Clinic)
Causes of Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can result from numerous conditions. Some key reasons can be aberrant growths, infection, obstruction and inflammation (blockage), diseases that affect the organs of the belly, and intestinal problems. Bacteria can enter your digestive tract due to infections in the blood, intestines, and throat, which can cause stomach pain. Moreover, these illnesses may alter digestion, resulting in constipation or diarrhea.
Although they are more frequently recognized to induce pelvic discomfort, menstrual cramps can also result in lower abdomen pain. Other typical reasons for stomach pain include constipation, constipation gastroenteritis (stomach flu), acid reflux (when stomach contents leak backward into the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms), diarrhea, stress, and vomiting. Digestive system diseases might also bring on abdominal pain that lasts for a long time. The majority are gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), constipation or a spastic colon (a disorder that causes abdominal pain, cramping, and changes in bowel movements), Crohn’s illness (an inflammatory bowel disease), and lactose sensitivity (the inability to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk and milk products).
Many factors can result in significant stomach pain, like organ failure or organ near-failure (like a burst appendix or appendicitis), bile duct stones (known as gallstones), ureteral stones, and renal disease. The location of the abdominal pain may provide information about its origin. Some conditions may be caused by widespread abdominal pain rather than localized, like appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix), Crohn’s illness, a serious injury, irritable bowel syndrome, infection of the urinary tract, or the flu. Concentrated lower abdominal pain could mean intestinal blockage due to appendicitis or an ectopic conception (a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb).
(Kahn, 2021)
Relieving Abdominal Pain
Call your doctor first if you have minor abdominal pain. Get emergency medical attention if the pain is sudden and intense. But it can also be caused by a benign condition like gallstones, sudden abdominal discomfort is frequently a sign of a severe intra-abdominal disease like a perforated ulcer or a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. Finding out the source of your abdominal pain is crucial, especially if it doesn’t go away independently. Keep in mind that even minor conditions might develop into serious ones. (emergencyphysicians.org)
It is essential to seek medical attention if you are experiencing severe abdominal pain that does not go away within 30 minutes, as it may be a sign of a more serious issue. Remember, understanding the source of your abdominal pain is essential to get the appropriate medical care that you need.
Where to Seek Help
If you want to have a fast diagnosis for your abdominal pain, visit our emergency room staffed by Board Certified ER physicians. We have onsite, the same medical equipment you would find in a larger hospital, only we won’t make you wait to be seen. We perform diagnostic labs, x-ray and CAT Scans to diagnose abdominal pain. Our comfortable facility is staffed with caring nurses and technicians who will treat you like family. We are a higher level of care, right in your local community. We know your time is important and we’ll get you in and out, and out of pain, quickly.
Works Cited
“Abdominal Pain: Causes, Types & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/4167-abdominal-pain.
Kahn, April. “Abdominal Pain.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 6 Dec. 2021, www.healthline.com/health/abdominal-pain#causes.
“Stomach Pain – Know When to Go to the ER.” – Know When to Go to the ER, www.emergencyphysicians.org/article/know-when-to-go/stomach-pain.