What Is Abdominal Pain?
Abdominal pain is pain that occurs between the chest and pelvic
regions. Abdominal pain can be cramp-like, achy, dull, or sharp.
Organs in the abdomen are:
Ø Intestines
Ø Kidneys
Ø Appendix
Ø Spleen
Ø Stomach
Ø Gallbladder
Ø Liver
Ø Pancreas
Inflammation or diseases that affect these organs can cause pain
in the abdomen. Viral or bacterial infections that affect the stomach and
intestines may also cause significant abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is
sometimes referred to as a stomachache.
Abdominal pain can be caused by many conditions. However, the
main causes are infection, abnormal growths, inflammation, and intestinal
disorders.
Infections in the throat, intestines, and blood can cause
bacteria to enter your digestive tract, resulting in abdominal pain. These
infections may also cause changes in digestion, such as diarrhea or
constipation.
In women, cramps associated with menstruation are also a common
source of lower abdominal pain.
Other common causes of abdominal pain include:
Ø Constipation
Ø Diarrhea
Ø Gastroenteritis
(the flu)
Ø Acid reflux (when
stomach contents leak backward into the esophagus, causing heartburn and other
symptoms)
Ø Vomiting
Ø Kidney infection
Ø Stress
Ø Diseases that
affect the digestive system can also cause chronic abdominal pain. The most
common are:
Ø Gastro esophageal
reflux disease (gerd)
Ø Gastroenteritis
(the flu)
Ø Irritable bowel
syndrome (a disorder of unknown origin causing abdominal pain, cramping, and
changes in bowel movements)
Ø Crohn’s disease (an
inflammatory bowel disease)
Ø Lactose intolerance
(the inability to digest lactose—the sugar found in milk and milk products)
Ø Causes of severe
abdominal pain include:
Ø Organ rupture (such
as a burst appendix)
Ø Gallbladder stones
Ø Kidney stones
Location of Pain within the Abdomen
The location of the pain within the abdomen may be a clue as to
its cause.
Pain that is generalized throughout
the abdomen (not in one specific area) may indicate:
Ø Appendicitis
(inflammation of the appendix)
Ø Crohn’s disease
Ø Injury
Ø Irritable bowel
syndrome
Ø Urinary tract
infection
Ø The flu
Ø
Pain that is focused in the lower
abdomen may indicate:
o
Appendicitis
o
Intestinal obstruction
o
Ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb)
Ø
In women, pain in the reproductive organs of the lower abdomen can be caused
by:
o
Severe menstrual pain, or dysmenorrhea
o
Ovarian cysts
o
Miscarriage
o
Fibroids
o
Endometriosis
o
Pelvic inflammatory disease
o
Ectopic pregnancy
Ø
Upper abdominal pain may be caused by:
o
Gallstones
o
Heart attack
o
Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
o
Pneumonia
Ø
Pain in the center of the abdomen might be from:
o
Appendicitis
o
Injury
o
Uremia (buildup of waste products in your blood)
Ø
Lower left abdominal pain may be caused by:
o
Crohn’s disease
o
Cancer
o
Kidney infection
o
Ovarian cysts
o
Appendicitis
Ø
Upper left abdominal pain is sometimes caused by:
o
Enlarged spleen
o
Fecal impaction (hardened stool that can’t be eliminated)
o
Injury
o
Kidney infection
o
Heart attack
o
Cancer
Ø
Causes of lower right abdominal pain include:
o
Appendicitis
o
Hernia (when an organ protrudes through a weak spot in the
abdominal muscles)
o
Kidney infection
o
Cancer
o
Flu
Ø
Upper right abdominal pain may be from:
o
Hepatitis
o
Injury
o
Pneumonia
o
Appendicitis
Abdominal pain can be described as localized, cramp-like, or colicky.
Localized pain is limited to one
area of the abdomen. This type of pain is often caused by problems in a
particular organ. The most common cause of localized pain is stomach ulcers
(open sores on the inner lining of the stomach).
Cramp-like pain may be associated
with diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or flatulence. In women, it can be
associated with menstruation, miscarriage, or complications in the female
reproductive organs. This pain comes and goes, and may completely subside on
its own without treatment.
Colicky pain is a symptom of
more severe conditions, such as gallstones or kidney stones. This pain occurs
suddenly and may feel like a severe muscle spasm.
Mild abdominal pain may go away without treatment. However, in some
cases, abdominal pain may warrant a trip to the doctor.
Call Emergency service if your abdominal pain is severe and
associated with
Ø Trauma (as from an accident or injury)
Ø Pressure or pain in your chest
Seek immediate
medical care if
Ø Pain is so severe
that you can’t sit still or need to curl into a ball to get
comfortable
Ø You also have bloody stools, persistent nausea or
vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, swelling or severe tenderness of
the abdomen, or difficulty breathing
Make an appointment
with your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Ø Abdominal pain that lasts longer than 24 hours
Ø Prolonged
constipation
Ø Vomiting
Ø A burning sensation
when you urinate
Ø Fever
Ø Loss of appetite
Ø Unexplained weight
loss
Women who are
pregnant or breastfeeding should call the doctor if abdominal pain occurs at
any time.
The cause of abdominal pain can be diagnosed through a series of
tests. Before ordering tests, your doctor will do a physical examination. This
includes gently pressing down on various areas of your abdomen to check for
tenderness and swelling. This information, combined with the severity of the
pain and its location within the abdomen, will help your doctor determine which
tests to order.
Imaging tests, such as MRI scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays are used to view
organs, tissues, and other structures in the abdomen in detail. These tests can
help diagnose tumors, fractures, ruptures, and inflammation.
A colonoscopy is used to look inside the colon and intestines. A
small tube housing a fiber optic camera is inserted into the colon and through
the intestines. The camera allows the doctor to see intricate details of the
colon’s structure. This test is often used to detect blockages, inflammation,
and abnormal growths in the colon and intestines.
An endoscopy is used to detect inflammation and abnormalities in
the esophagus and stomach. For this procedure, a small tube is fed down your
throat and into the esophagus. A tiny microscope is threaded through
the tube, allowing the doctor to view the inside of the esophagus and stomach.
An upper GI is a special X-ray test that uses contrast dye to check for the
presence of growths, ulcers, inflammation, blockages, and other abnormalities
in the stomach. For this procedure, you will drink a solution that contains
contrast dye. After ingesting the solution, you will be given an abdominal
X-ray.
Blood, urine, and stool samples may also be collected to look
for evidence of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections.
Not all forms of abdominal pain are preventable. However, you
can minimize the risk of developing abdominal pain by doing the following:
Ø Consume a healthy
diet.
Ø Drink water
frequently.
Ø Exercise regularly.
Ø Eat smaller meals.
If you have an intestinal disorder, such as Crohn’s disease,
follow the diet given to you by your doctor to minimize discomfort. If you have
gastroesophageal reflux disease, do not eat just before bedtime. Lying down too
soon after eating may cause heartburn and abdominal pain. Try waiting at least
two hours after eating before lying down.
Post a Comment