Everyone suffers from abdominal pain or discomfort at some point in their lives. Abdominal pain normally occurs in the part of the trunk below the ribs, above the groin and the pelvis. It can be mild as well as severe also. Although abdominal pain is not normal, most of the time it resolves itself, and it isn’t necessarily serious.
But some specific forms of abdominal pain may specify a serious health problem, so it’s vital to know the signs that may suggest you have an underlying condition that requires medical attention.
Signs And Symptoms of Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can be of various forms. Based on the severity of the pain, abdominal pain can be defined in the following ways:
Generalized Pain
It is the most common pain felt in most parts of your abdominal area and is typical of indigestion, stomach viruses, or gas as the main cause of your pain.
Localized Pain
In this condition pain mostly occurs only in a single area of your abdomen, and is typical of a problem with an organ such as your appendix, stomach, or gallbladder as the root cause of your pain.
Cramping
The pain of cramping comes and goes, or changes in its perceived position or severity in your abdomen. It is rarely critical and is typical of passing a stool, gas, or menstruation as the main cause of your pain.
Colicky
This pain is also like cramping, it also comes and goes, but is likely to be severe and start and end suddenly. It’s typical of gallstones or kidney stones as the cause of your pain.
You should call your doctor if your abdominal pain is severe and you can’t move without feeling more pain, or are unable to sit still in a comfortable position.
Look for immediate medical help if your abdominal pain is followed by any of the symptoms given below:
Fever
Bloody stool
Vomiting and nausea that doesn’t resolve
Weight loss
Yellowish skin
Abdomen very tender to touch
Swollen abdomen
Causes And Risk Factors of Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can be caused by many reasons such as organ stretching or distention, inflammation (as in diverticulitis, appendicitis, or colitis), or loss of blood supply.
Some over-the-counter and prescription medications, also some dietary supplements, can cause stomach pain. Medications can irritate the stomach, leading to pain, nausea, and diarrhea, or affecting digestion, which results in constipation. Make sure to check the drug’s label to see the possible side effects and if abdominal pain is listed there or not.
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Below are the most common causes of abdominal pain that may cause the following health conditions:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Constipation
Peptic ulcer
Pancreatitis
Diverticulitis
Severe pain that needs emergency medical help tends to be caused by the following conditions:
Aortic aneurysm rupture
Intestinal or Stomach perforation
Torsion of a testicle or ovary
Some other potential causes of abdominal pain may include the following:
Gastritis
Menstrual cramps
Indigestion
Stomach virus
Food poisoning
Food allergies
Lactose intolerance
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Gas
Fecal impaction
Hernia
Gallstones
Kidney stones
Ulcerative colitis
Urinary tract infection
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Intestinal obstruction
Endometriosis
Appendicitis
Cancer
Ectopic pregnancy
Celiac disease
Pulled or strained abdominal muscle
In children, usual causes of abdominal pain include:
Constipation
Urinary tract infection, especially in girls ages 1 to 5
Strep throat
Appendicitis
Milk allergy
Lead poisoning, often from eating paint chips
Emotional upset
How Is Abdominal Pain Diagnosed?
The abdominal pain cause is diagnosed after analyzing your physical examination, symptom history, and testing if needed.
The doctor’s questions may address the following aspects of your abdominal pain:
How intense it is
Where it’s located
Whether it’s stabbing, dull, burning, or cramping
Whether it comes and goes
When you experience it most
Whether it extends outward to other areas of the body
How long you’ve had it
Whether any actions or activities seem to make it better or worse
Your doctor may also ask about any recent injuries, your overall health history, and whether you might be pregnant.
If your doctor suspects a serious health problem that needed to be treated, the tests given below might be used to diagnose the reason for your abdominal pain:
Blood, stool, or urine tests
X-ray of the abdomen
Ultrasound of the abdomen
CT scan of the abdomen
Barium enema
Endoscopic procedures
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
Prognosis of Abdominal Pain
The duration of your abdominal pain, and if it gets better or worse, is dependent on the reason for your pain and how your body responds to any treatments.
Most forms of abdominal pain simply get better on their own or like to respond to self-care measures, including pain caused by food allergies, constipation, intolerances, or stomach viruses.
Abdominal pain caused by severe chronic or acute conditions may need substantial treatment before it gets better, including pain caused by bowel obstruction, appendicitis, cancer, peptic ulcers, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Duration of Abdominal Pain
The duration of the abdominal pain depends on its underlying cause. It can be brief as well as long-lasting. It can be recurring, or ongoing, coming and going with certain activities or behaviors.
If severe pain comes suddenly it needs immediate medical attention. Some more conditions are ongoing pain that increases with coughing or movement, or if you have mild pain but is growing more severe with passing hours or days.
Treatment And Medication Options For Abdominal Pain
The treatment for any disease is dependent on its cause. The cause of your pain defines the treatment it needs which may involve over-the-counter or prescription medications, self-care measures, or procedures including surgery or drug injections.
Self-Care Measures
Mild abdominal pain can be treated easily with the help of short-term self-care measures such as the following:
Sipping clear fluids or water
Avoiding solid foods for a few hours
Resting until you feel better
Avoiding citrus fruits, dairy products, tomato products, fatty foods, alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated beverages
Sticking to mild foods such as rice, crackers, applesauce or bananas
Don’t take ibuprofen, aspirin, or any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for abdominal pain, as these medications can disturb your stomach and enhance your pain.
Medication Options
If you are suffering from an underlying health problem that needs medical treatment then the doctor may prescribe some medications such as the following:
Drugs for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease
Antibiotics for the treatment of infection
Drugs for inflammation reduction
Treatments for inflammatory bowel disease
Procedures And Surgery
Some rare cases may need office procedures or surgery. These procedures may include the following:
Corticosteroid injections
Injection of a numbing agent
Hernia repair surgery
Appendectomy
Prevention of Abdominal Pain
In most cases, abdominal pain can be easily prevented with the help of adopting dietary choices and lifestyle changes that address the cause of your pain. Digestive upset, constipation, and even abdominal injury can be prevented.
The steps given below may help you prevent abdominal pain
Staying hydrated is very helpful in avoiding constipation.
Many individuals can train themselves for regular bowel movements that help to avoid constipation.
Eating a variety of vegetables, fruits, and fiber-rich foods, such as whole grains, helps support healthy digestion and constipation reduction.
Eating regular small meals, instead of starving first and then stuffing yourself, can help avoid pain due to eating on an empty stomach or overeating.
Exercising regularly can help strengthen your abdominal muscles and prevent constipation, which may help prevent straining.
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