Abdominal pain is a ubiquitous experience, and everybody suffers from it at some point in his or her life. It is normal to have heartburn, indigestion, constipation, or other minor ailments that cause Abdominal pain.
Our abdomen is the larger area, and most of the time, the pain experienced is minimal and can be managed at home by simple home remedies.
However, if consistent Abdominal pain becomes chronic or if you suffer from severe acute Abdominal pain that affects your everyday activities, it may be a sign of some more significant issue that needs proper diagnosis and management.
What Is The Abdominal Pain?
The pain between your chest and the pelvic region is defined as abdominal pain. It can be achy, sharp, intermittent, crampy, or dull. Major organs that are located in human abdomen are small and large intestines, appendix, kidney, Stomach, Liver, pancreas, gallbladder and spleen.
Abdominal pain is caused due to the diseases and inflammation of the organs in the abdomen. Any parasitic, Bacteria or Viral infection that affects the intestines and stomach are significant causes of Abdominal pain
What Causes Abdominal Pain
Many conditions can cause Abdominal pain; however, significant causes of abdominal pain include inflammation, obstruction, Abnormal growth, and Infection of abdominal organs, and other intestinal disorders.
Often, infection in the intestine, blood, and throat causes bacteria to enter the digestive system and result in pain in the abdomen.
In females at abdominal pain can be associated with menstruation horrible it commonly causes Pelvic Pain. Other causes of abdominal pain include:
- Stomach flu or gastroenteritis
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Acid reflux
- Stress
- Vomiting
Diseases affecting the digestive system such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, lactose intolerance, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome may cause chronic Abdominal pain.
A few causes of acute severe abdominal in include:
- Gallbladder stone
- Kidney stone
- Organ near- rupture or rupture
- Kidney infection
When To See A Doctor
Consulting a doctor for abdominal pain depends on the type of abdominal pain and location. Let us learn about the types of abdominal pain first.
Types Of Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can be described as colicky, sharp, localized, or cramp-like.
Localized Abdominal pain – When the pain is limited to an area of the abdomen, it is termed localized pain. It is often due to an issue in a particular organ. For example, the most common localized abdominal pain is due to a Stomach ulcer.
Cramp-like pain – This type of pain comes and goes. Usually, cramp-like pain is associated with constipation, bloating, flatulence and diarrhoea. In females, the pain can be associated with regular menstruation, reproductive complications, and miscarriage.
Colicky pain – Sharp and severe pain due to conditions such as gallstone or Kidney Stone. The pain is like severe muscle spasms.
In most cases, abdominal pain is mild and goes away without treatment.
In case of severe abdominal pain associated with some accident or injury that causes pain or pressure in the chest, immediately call a doctor.
Also, seek immediate medical care if severe pain accompanies the following symptoms:
- Fever more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit
- Vomiting up blood
- Bloody stools
- Vomiting
- Persistent nausea
- Yellow eyes or skin
Severe tenderness or swelling of the abdomen Book an appointment with your doctor in case you experience the following symptoms:
- Prolonged constipation
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Burning while passing urine
- Pain in the abdomen lasts more than 24 hours
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
If breastfeeding and pregnant feeling experience abdominal pain, they should immediately consult a doctor.
Diagnosing The Cause Of Abdominal Pain
Your doctor may ask specific questions regarding the severity and location of pain and your habit. After that, your doctor will do a physical examination that includes gently pressing the various parts of the abdomen to check swelling and tenderness.
Based on the information gathered after questioning and physical examination, your doctor may recommend specific tests such as Ultrasound, X-rays, and MRI scans to view the abdominal structures in detail to Diagnose Tumour, fractures, ruptures, inflammation, etc.
In some cases, endoscopy, colonoscopy, or upper GI may be recommended. In addition, in some cases, your doctor asks you to get urine, stool, and Blood samples collected and tested to rule out viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections.
Can You Prevent Abdominal Pain?
All forms of abdominal pain are not preventable; however, you can minimize the chances of developing certain diseases that cause abdominal pain by following:
- Drinking water frequently
- Exercising regularly
- Eating a healthy diet
- Eating smaller meals
- Limiting alcohol
- Quit smoking
- Restrict sugar and fatty food intake
- Avoid lying down soon after eating
- Do not sleep or exercise for at least 2 hours after eating.
Refrain yourself from eating stale and unhygienic food
Our article has tried to include all the essential information regarding the types of abdominal pain and its causes to help you understand when to see a doctor. We will keep updating this article. Keep reading.
