Sooner or later, every person has to experience a rather unpleasant phenomenon - abdominal pain. In this case, it is very important to pay attention to the peculiarities of pain, because they can indicate both minor digestive problems and serious diseases that may require immediate medical attention.
First, you need to know what abdominal pain is.
What is abdominal pain?
Abdominal pain is pain that occurs in the area between the lower ribs, diaphragm and pelvic bone, and also spreads in both directions. Although abdominal pain can originate in the tissues of the abdominal wall surrounding the abdominal cavity (for example, the skin and muscles of the abdominal wall), the very concept of abdominal pain is often used to describe pain that occurs in organs located in the abdominal cavity: the liver, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.
Technically, the lowest part of the area described above is the pelvis, which contains the bladder and rectum, as well as the prostate in men and the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries - among women. Therefore, it is often difficult to distinguish between abdominal pain and pelvic pain.
Sometimes abdominal pain is the result of pain in organs that are not located in the abdominal cavity itself. For example, pain in the lower part of the lungs, kidneys, as well as the uterus and ovaries can be given to the stomach. Conversely, for example, pain from inflammation of the pancreas can be felt in the back. Such pain is called repercussion because it does not occur directly in the place where the person feels it.
Causes of abdominal pain
Abdominal pain can be caused by:
- inflammation of an organ (e.g. appendicitis, diverticulitis, colitis);
- stretching or expansion of an organ (eg, bowel obstruction, blockage of the bile ducts by stones, swelling of the liver);
- insufficient blood flow to the organ (eg, ischemic colitis).
Of course, other causes of abdominal pain can also include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), in which it is not clear exactly what is causing the pain, but it is believed to be caused either by abnormal contractions of the bowel muscles ( spasms) or abnormal sensitivity of the nerves in the intestines.
When to see a doctor if your stomach hurts
Some doctors believe that if you have "less severe" symptoms of abdominal pain, especially if you suspect food poisoning (viral or bacterial), and you are not dehydrated but just uncomfortable, seek medical attention if the symptoms do not pass within 24-48 hours. If you have chronic health problems that lead to abdominal pain, you should contact your doctor. However, there are also sudden and serious symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
Signs and symptoms associated with abdominal pain
Along with abdominal pain, the following symptoms may occur:
- bloating;
- gases;
- indigestion;
- constipation;
- gastroesophageal reflux disease;
- heartburn;
- chest pain.
To help your doctor determine the cause of the pain, you need to pay attention to the following features of abdominal pain:
1. How does the pain begin? Abdominal pain that starts suddenly is indicative of an acute event, such as a blockage in the blood supply to the intestines (ischemia) or a blockage in the bile duct by a stone.
2. A place where pain is felt.
- Appendicitis usually causes pain in the middle part of the abdomen, which then moves to the lower right part of it - in fact, the location of the appendix.
- diverticulitis usually causes pain in the left lower abdomen.
- Pain from the gallbladder (colic or cholecystitis) usually appears in the middle upper abdomen or in the upper right side near the location of the gallbladder.
3. Nature of Pain
- Bowel obstruction typically causes rolling waves of spasmodic pain that occurs due to contraction of the bowel muscles and bowel distension.
- Severe cramp-like pain indicates strong contractions of the intestines.
- Blockage of the biliary tract by stones usually results in persistent abdominal pain that lasts from 30 minutes to several hours.
- Acute pancreatitis usually causes severe, unrelenting, persistent pain in the upper abdomen and back.
- Pain caused by acute appendicitis may initially begin in the umbilical region, but as the inflammation progresses, it moves to the lower right abdomen.
- The nature of the pain may change over time.
4. Duration of Pain
- Pain from IBS tends to wax and wane over months or even years.
- Biliary (hepatic) colic lasts no more than a few hours.
- Pain from pancreatitis may last one or more days.
- Pain caused by acid-related illnesses, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or duodenal ulcers, is usually intermittent - it can last from weeks to months, after which it fades and reappears.
5. Which makes the pain worse. Pain caused by inflammation (appendicitis, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis) is usually aggravated by sneezing, coughing, and sudden movements that “shake” the body.
6. Which eases the pain. For example, taking medication, going to the toilet, etc.
It is also worth remembering that abdominal pain may be accompanied by fever, the presence of which indicates inflammation or infection; diarrhea or rectal bleeding, indicating that the cause of the pain is a bowel problem.
Estet-portal calls to pay attention to any pain in the abdomen, especially if they occur suddenly and are quite strong. Do not neglect your health, remember that the more detailed you can describe the symptoms, the time of their occurrence, duration and other features, the easier it will be for the doctor to make the correct diagnosis and start treatment!
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