What is stomach pain?
The pain occurring in the area between the chest and pelvic region is known as stomach pain or stomach ache or abdominal pain. The stomach pain can be caused by either virus or bacteria or parasite. Stomach pain can be sharp, intermittent, crampy, or achy. Stomach pain can be due to inflammation or diseases that affect the abdominal organs. The major abdominal organs are:
The large and small intestine
- Kidneys
- Appendix
- Pancreas
- Spleen
- Stomach
- Liver
- gallbladder
What causes stomach pain?
Abdominal or stomach pain be caused by many conditions; however, the main causes are:
- Abnormal growthInfection
- Inflammation
- Blockage in the intestines
- Intestinal disorder
Other common causes of stomach pain are:
- Constipation and diarrhea
- Stomach flu
- Acid reflux
- Stress
- Vomiting
Diseases that induce stomach pain are:
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder)
- IBS (Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome)
- Crohn’s disease
- Lactose intolerance
Severe stomach ache can be caused by:
- Near rupture or organ rupture
- Stones in gallbladder
- Kidney stones
- Kidney infection
What are the types of stomach pain?
The stomach pain can be characterized into 3 types of pain:
- Localized - this pain is caused due to the problems in a particular organ.
- Cramp like - this type of pain is caused due to constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, etc. In women, it is also associated with menstruation, miscarriage, etc.
- Colicky - this pain is due to severe problems such as gallstones, kidney stones, etc and this pain feels like sudden & severe muscle pain.
What does the location of stomach pain indicate?
Generalized pain throughout the abdomen indicates:
- Appendicitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Traumatic injury
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Urinary tract infection
- Flu
Lower stomach pain indicates:
- Appendicitis
- Intestinal blockage
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Crohn’s disease
- Cancer
- Kidney infection
- Hernia
- Flu
Lower stomach pain specifically in women:
- Menstrual pain
- Cysts in the ovaries
- Miscarriage
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Ectopic pregnancy
Upper stomach pain:
- Heart attack
- Gallstones
- Pneumonia
- Hepatitis
- Enlarged spleen
- Hardened stool
- Heart attack
- Cancer
- Kidney infection
Stomach pain in the center:
- Gastroenteritis
- Injury
- The build-up of waste in the body (uremia)
- Appendicitis
When should an individual seek a doctor for stomach pain?
Following are the symptoms indicating emergency medical attention:
- When the pain is so severe that a person can't sit straight and curls up
- Bloody stools
- High fever
- Blood in vomit
- Persistent vomiting and nausea
- Pale skin and eyes
- Severe tenderness of the stomach
- Swelling
- Difficulty breathing
- Prolonged constipation
- Stomach pain more than 24 hours
- Burning sensation while peeing
- Loss of appetite
How is stomach pain diagnosed?
Following are the diagnostic methods for stomach pain:
- Physical examination by gently pressing on the abdomen by the doctor
- MRI scan
- Ultrasound
- X-rays
- Colonoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Upper GI X-ray
- Blood, urine, stool sample are sent to the lab for further investigation
How to prevent stomach pain?
All kinds of stomach pain cannot be prevented; however, the risk of developing severe stomach pain can be prevented by the following ways:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Drinking water frequently
- Exercise regularly
- Eating smaller meals
Follow the diet given by the doctor if an individual has Crohn’s diseases or GERD to minimize the discomfort. Lying down soon after eating increases the chances of heartburn and stomach pain, hence avoid it.