Upper Stomach Pain: 10 Causes And When To See A Doctor
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Should I Be Getting Screened Regularly For Colon Cancer Or Other Gi Tract Cancers
As of 2021, the United States Preventative Services Task Force and major GI medical societies recommend that adults at average risk for colorectal cancer are regularly screened beginning at age 45.
People who have a family history of colorectal cancer or other GI tract cancers, including stomach or pancreas cancer, or a history of GI conditions like inflammatory bowel disease may need routine cancer screening earlier than age 45.
Talk your primary care physician about your risk and ask if you should get tested.
How Can You Prevent Nausea
Nausea can be prevented by:
- Eating small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals
- Eating slowly
- Avoiding hard-to-digest foods
- Consuming foods that are cold or at room temperature to avoid becoming nauseated from the smell of hot or warm foods
Resting after eating and keeping your head elevated about 12 inches above your feet helps reduce nausea.
If you feel nauseated when you wake up in the morning, eat some crackers before getting out of bed or eat a high protein snack before going to bed. Drink liquids between meals, and drink at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration. Try to eat when you feel less nauseated.
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Stomach Pain And Nausea
Stomach pain and nausea is an indicator of underlying digestive issues that aggravate over time, if appropriate treatment is not taken.
Stomach pain and nausea is an indicator of underlying digestive issues that aggravate over time, if appropriate treatment is not taken.
When stomach pain is accompanied by nausea, the affected person is not at all interested in having food. The person feels like vomiting and the associated pain simply does not allow him to digest food. Even a normal stomach pain interferes with the daily appetite, so when it is accompanied by nausea, it can severely affect the desire to eat food, and then results in weight loss.
Why Does Stress Cause Stomach Pain Or Gi Discomfort
We know through research there is a strong connection between our brain and our gut through the central nervous system. The enteric nervous system an out-branching of the central nervous system serves the GI tract, making a direct connection between our brain and gastrointestinal system. That connection can cause normal physiologic processes to be interpreted as painful under stressful or anxiety-provoking situations.
When were stressed, hormones and neurotransmitters are released in the body. This can negatively impact gut motility, or the way our intestines and stomach squeeze and move waste through the body. Also, stress can affect the delicate balance of bacteria in our gut, causing GI discomfort.
People experiencing chronic stress may also eat more or eat unhealthy foods with a higher amount of natural and artificial sugar that is poorly digested and causes GI distress. People may also smoke and drink more alcohol or caffeine than normal which can cause symptoms.
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What Is The Difference Between Nausea And Vomiting
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often accompanies the urge to vomit, but doesn’t always lead to vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying of stomach contents through the mouth. Some triggers that may result in vomiting can come from the stomach and intestines , the inner ear , and the brain .
Stomach Ache And Nausea
If you are experiencing a stomach ache and nausea or vomiting, learn how to understand the possible causes and how to feel better.
According to the National Institute of Health, stomach ache and nausea arent always signs of a serious condition. However, there are times when the causes of stomach pain and vomiting require immediate medical attention.
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When Should A Doctor Be Consulted
The timing of the nausea or vomiting can indicate the cause. When it appears shortly after a meal, nausea or vomiting may indicate a mental disorder or a peptic ulcer. Nausea or vomiting one to eight hours after a meal may indicate food poisoning. Foodborne diseases, such as Salmonella, may take longer to produce symptoms because of the incubation time.
A person who is experiencing nausea should consult a physician if it lasts more than one week, and if there is a possibility of pregnancy. Vomiting usually lessens within six to 24 hours, and may be treated at home.
You should see your doctor if home treatment is not working, dehydration is present, or a known injury is causing the vomiting.
Take your infant or a child under 6 years old to the doctor if:
- Vomiting lasts more than a few hours
- Diarrhea is also present
- There is a fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit
- The child hasn’t urinated for six hours
Take your child over 6 years old to the doctor if:
- Vomiting lasts one day
- Diarrhea combined with vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours
- There are signs of dehydration
- There is a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit
- The child hasn’t urinated for six hours
Adults should consult a doctor if vomiting occurs for more than one day, if diarrhea and vomiting last more than 24 hours, and if there are signs of moderate dehydration.
You should see a doctor immediately if the following signs or symptoms occur:
- Blood in the vomit
- Severe headache or stiff neck
- Lethargy
Who Is More Likely To Experience Nausea And Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting can occur in both children and adults. People who are undergoing cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, have an increased risk of nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women in their first trimester may also experience nausea and vomiting, commonly referred to as “morning sickness.” It is estimated that 50 to 90 percent of pregnant women experience nausea, while 25 to 55 percent experience vomiting.
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Stomach And Back Pain With Vomiting
This type of pain generally begins in the upper abdominal region before progressing to the back, lean meats, CRNAPain from pancreatitis may also present as a simultaneous back and stomach ache, Gastritis , like a band of extreme,Author: Rachel Nall, even though its not limited to just influenza, If the pain occurs
Why Does My Stomach Hurt
There are numerous reasons for abdominal pain. It can come from any of the organs in your belly gallbladder, pancreas, liver, stomach and intestines or the abdominal wall the outer shell of the body. Sometimes you feel the pain in your belly, but its actually coming from the chest, back or pelvis.
Abdominal wall pain is common and easy to miss as healthcare professionals may direct their attention to internal organs as a cause of the pain. Once the abdominal wall is considered as a suspect, it is generally easy to nail down this diagnosis. If a patient strains the ab wall muscles from exertion, he may tell his doctor that he has right sided stomach pain. Clearly, this pain is not caused by a diseased internal organ such as the gallbladder or the stomach.
Healthcare providers can often determine where pain is coming from by taking a detailed history from you. Depending upon the physicians style, you may be simply asked to relate your medical story in your own words as a narrative. Other physicians may prefer to ask a series of detailed questions. Others may utilize both techniques. This medical history is paramount, even more important than the physical examination. After the history and physical, certain diagnostic tests may be advised to make an accurate diagnosis.
What are the most common causes of abdominal pain?
Digestive issues
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What Causes Pain On The Left Side Of The Stomach
Your upper left abdominal area is the left-hand side part of your body above the navel and below the chest. Also, being able to describe the type of pain can help to diagnose the cause of left sided abdominal pain. For example, the stomach pain could be sharp and stabbing and only happen intermittently.
When To Call Your Doctor
There’s a bit of a gray area in terms of which stomach pain cases need immediate attention and which would warrant a call or visit to your doctor instead, as there can be symptom overlap. Again, listen to your body and your instincts if you’re not sure.
If you don’t have any of the symptoms listed above and instead have any of the following features of your abdominal pain, it is important that you contact your doctor within a day or two:
- Excessive vaginal bleeding or blood clots
- Vaginal bleeding that lasts for longer than usual
You should also call your doctor if you experience stomach pain while you are being treated for cancer.
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Why Does My Stomach Hurt When I Have A Cold
These can include the common cold, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, and prostatitis. Stomach pain can vary in sensation. Sometimes, the pain may feel dull, while at other times, it can cause cramping or a burning sensation. The pain may also radiate to the back or to other parts of the body.
What Can Be Done To Control Or Relieve Nausea And Vomiting
There are several ways to control or relieve nausea however, if these techniques do not seem to ease the queasiness, talk to your doctor.
When trying to control nausea:
- Drink clear or ice-cold drinks.
- Eat light, bland foods .
- Avoid fried, greasy, or sweet foods.
- Eat slowly and eat smaller, more frequent meals.
- Do not mix hot and cold foods.
- Drink beverages slowly.
- Avoid activity after eating.
- Avoid brushing your teeth after eating.
- Choose foods from all the food groups as you can tolerate them to get adequate nutrition.
Treatment for vomiting includes:
- Drinking gradually larger amounts of clear liquids
- Avoiding solid food until the vomiting episode has passed
- Resting
- Temporarily discontinuing all oral medications, which can irritate the stomach and make vomiting worse
If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, an oral rehydrating solution should be used to prevent and treat dehydration.
Vomiting associated with surgery, radiation therapy, anticancer drugs, alcohol and morphine can often be treated with another type of drug therapy. There are also prescription and nonprescription drugs that can be used to control vomiting associated with pregnancy, motion sickness and vertigo. However, you should consult with your healthcare provider before using these treatments.
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Stomach Or Peptic Ulcers
Ulcers or wounds that will not heal tend to cause severe and persistent abdominal pain. It can also lead to bloating, indigestion, and weight loss.
The most common causes of stomach and peptic ulcers are the bacteria H. pylori and the overuse or continued use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications .
If you would like to know more about stomach ulcers, click here.
How Is Abdominal Pain Treated
Treating abdominal pain depends on its cause. Options include:
- Medications for inflammation, gastroesophageal reflux disease or ulcers.
- Antibiotics for infection.
- Changes in personal behavior for abdominal pain caused by certain foods or beverages.
- Local or spinal injections of numbing agents or corticosteroids by pain management physicians.
In more severe cases like appendicitis and hernia, surgery is necessary.
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When Should You See A Doctor For Abdominal Pain
You should see a doctor for abdominal pain if it is severe or for mild abdominal pain lasting more than a week . So-called red flag symptoms that may indicate a serious or life-threatening condition include:
- Abdomen is stiff or hard and tender when you or someone else touches it
- Do certain foods or activities seem to make it worse?
- Have you taken any over-the-counter medications for your pain? What is the effect?
Abdominal Pain And Nausea Caused By Medications
Stomach pain and nausea could be the side effects of certain medications. For example, some drugs can irritate the stomach and cause increased gas, diarrhea, constipation, and make you feel that you want to throw up.
Dr. William Blahd says that some of the common medications that can cause nausea and stomach pain are:23
- Aspirin. The continual use of aspirin can erode your stomach lining and lead to ulcers. This can cause upper abdominal pain, burning sensation in your chest, and a possible upset stomach.
- Antibiotics. If you need to take antibiotics to treat serious bacterial infections, you might find that they make you nauseous with a sore stomach. Dr. Everett Stephens on eMedicineHealth says that antibiotics can also cause severe watery diarrhea, gas, and vomiting.24
- Opioid painkillers. Powerful painkillers can cause stomach cramps, nausea, and make you constipated.
- Iron supplements. If you take iron supplements to address the symptoms of anemia, you may suffer from digestive discomfort. This can include dull stomach pain, nausea, constipation, and a metallic taste in your mouth.
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Stomach Pain Bloating Gurgling Nausea
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I had a breast augmentation surgery 8 days ago and couple of days ago I started getting all of these symptoms … I did a little research on the internet and it could be stress related, I was in a lot of pain, I was really depressed and desperate, I haven’t had a good night sleep since the surgery and I was taking heavy medication for a first few days and then switched to “easier” pain killers like Ibuprofen and Paracetamol … Im naturally very anxious person, also I have had these symptoms a month ago, before visiting my family and friends back in my country, I guess I was under a lot of stress, not to mention I found out my boyfriend is married to another woman and I guess all of that just had a terrible impact on my general health, I lost weight, I didnt eat much, just drank coffee and smoked ciggarettes all day… I don’t know, Im just tryin to find out what is happening to me and fix it, because Im only 20 years old and these things shouldn’t be happening to me, Im generally very healthy and sporty kinda person, just a couple of months ago I was training for a marathon, I quit smoking and started eating healthy, I don’t know where it all went downhill from that moment on … Thanks for any kind of info!
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Fastmed Urgent Care Can Treat Stomach Aches And Nausea
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At FastMed Urgent Care, we accept most major health insurance plan, including Medicare and Medicaid, and offer a self-pay discount program to ease your financial burden.
Find a FastMed Urgent Care location in your area and get fast treatment for your stomach ache and nausea. Dont just take our word for it, though. Check out what Kim R. had to say about her great experience with FastMed Urgent Care:Being sick stinks, but my experience at the urgent care clinic was top notch. ALL of the staff were kind, helpful, and good listeners. The medical center was much more attractive than the typical walk-in clinic and the service was amazing. If I had to feel bad enough to see a family doctor, at least I was fortunate to have a clinic like this one nearby. Thank you!!!
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Diagnosis Of Abdominal Pain
The diagnosis may require a series of laboratory tests and examinations. Your healthcare practitioner may consider the following factors including age, history of pain, any trauma, associated symptoms, family history, and gynecological history .
Diagnosis may also require physical examination including abdominal examination, and rectal and pelvic examination. Other laboratory investigations may include the following .
- Blood, stool, and urine tests to check for infectious agents
- Ultrasound of the abdomen
- Abdominal X-ray
- CT scan
- Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy
- ECG
- Upper endoscopy
- Upper gastrointestinal and small bowel series