When Is Stomach Pain Serious

Right Or Left Lower Abdominal Pain In Women

Sudden onset of right lower abdominal pain or left lower abdominal pain can indicate a ruptured ovarian cyst in a woman who is mid-cycle. This kind of pain could also be a sign of ovarian torsion, which is the rotation of the ovary and part of the fallopian tube, or possibly a twisting of the ovary due to compromised blood supply. Seek treatment immediately at the nearest emergency department. Surgery to remove the ovary may be required.

Right Side Abdominal Pain: Common Causes And Other Symptoms

For example, pain on the right of your abdomen caused by gas or indigestion can cause, sharp nagging aches. However, sometimes, dull aches that become more intense, or sharp cramping pains in the right side of your belly that dont go away could be a sign of a more serious condition.

Reproductive organs like the right ovary and part of the uterus are located in the lower right abdomen of women. Cramping pain connected with the menstrual cycle can be felt on just the right side of the lower abdomen if the right ovary is ovulating or if there are cysts.

Even though aches and pains in the right abdomen are usually harmless, there are times when you shouldnt ignore the constant discomfort. Cramping pain along with other symptoms can be a cause for worry.

Symptoms accompanying right side pains in your abdomen that need medical attention are:

• Abdominal pain that causes nausea and vomiting
• Dull aching pain that starts near your belly button and spreads to the lower right belly
• Any kind of severe pain in the right abdomen that doesnt go away
• Passing bloody stools

In this article, I am going to examine the different reasons why pain can occur in the upper right abdominal area or in the lower right abdomen. You will also find out about causes of right-sided abdominal pain that only affect men or women.

Internal organs in the abdomen

Other Characteristics Of Severe Abdominal Pain

Also, pay attention to the quality and location of the pain. Your pain may be localized and limited to one area of the abdomen. It may be intermittent, or colicky, which is a term that describes the pain that is sudden and feels like a severe muscle spasm. The pain can also feel like cramps or a tightening sensation in your stomach.

Read Also: How Do You Get Rid Of Upper Stomach Fat

The Pain Is Pretty Intense And Accompanied By Bloody Diarrhea

Unfortunately for you , this could be one of a few things. If these symptoms came out of nowhere, they could be a sign of foodborne illness like salmonella, shigella, campylobacter, or E.coli. And, as if you dont have enough on your plate between the pain and the bloody poop, foodborne illness will usually also cause other symptoms like fever, Mindy Lee, M.D., a gastroenterologist in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, tells SELF. Some important questions to ask yourself, per Dr. Lee: Did you eat anything recently that you suspect might have been contaminated? Do you know of anyone else who ate the same thing and now has similar symptoms? If you split an order of shrimp wontons with a friend who also happens to have developed similar stomach issues, thats worth noting. In any case, even though food poisoning often goes away within a few days, according to the Mayo Clinic, seeing blood in your poop is as good a reason as any to ask your doctor what might be up.

Severe Stomach Pain After Eating A Fatty Meal

If you find yourself doubled over after eating a high-fat meal, you may be experiencing a gallbladder attack. “Women are especially prone to gallbladder disease,” says Hardeep Singh, MD, gastroenterologist from St. Joseph Hospital, Orange, CA. “Overweight women in their 40s are at highest risk.” The pain becomes worse after eating, lasts 30 to 60 minutes, and may come and go, becoming more constant and severe over time, says Singh.

Recommended Reading: Does Apple Cider Vinegar Flatten Your Stomach

Sudden And Severe Onset Stomach Pain

When mid-abdominal pain occurs suddenly especially in people with a history of peptic ulcer disease or in those who take excessive amounts of aspirin or NSAIDs it may be a sign of a perforation that could require emergency surgery. A tear could leak air and gastric content which can lead to a condition called peritonitis, and eventually, septic shock. Surgery would be required to seal the perforation.

What Are The Causes Of Pain In Your Abdomen

There are many reasons you could have pain in the abdomen, and taking note of the patterns and location is important. Pains such as those caused by indigestion or a pulled muscle are generally not very serious and tend to resolve independently. If the pain does not seem to be resolving after a few hours and continues for several days, you may need to seek medical attention.

Here are some common causes of pain in your abdomen.

Let us explore the different types of pain in a little detail below

Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Cellulite On Stomach At Home

What Other Symptoms Relate To Abdominal Pain

Pain in the abdomen may be experienced as aching, stabbing, burning, twisting, cramping, dull, or a gnawing pain.

The pain may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, bloating, constipation, wind , belching , fever, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, fever, dehydration or loss of appetite

The pain might be steady or it might get stronger. It can be made worse or it can be improved by changes in posture or by coughing.

Describing the pattern and location of your symptoms to a doctor may help them in identifying the cause of your abdominal pain. These causes include:

• Peptic ulcer The pain is often felt in the upper abdomen, as a knife-like pain which goes through to the back.
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease The pain usually causes a central burning pain that develops just under the breastbone, and may rise upwards. It may be accompanied by belching.
• Appendicitis The pain usually starts near the navel before moving down to the lower right abdomen when it becomes more constant.
• Gallstones or gallbladder irritation The pain is felt in the upper right abdomen, back or right shoulder.
• Lower abdominal pain: Also referred to as lower stomach pain, it is probably coming from your bowel.
• Period pain This is usually a dull, cramping pain, felt low down, which may radiate through to the back.

Lactose Intolerance And Food Allergies

Eating something youre allergic or sensitive to can cause sharp pains in your abdomen as your body struggles to digest it. Sometimes gas and indigestion symptoms will arise if you eat food that your body doesnt agree with.

Unless you have food allergies that put you at risk for anaphylaxis, abdominal pain from food allergies or sensitivities is not an emergency. You may also notice bloating or diarrhea because of eating food your body cant digest properly.

If you have a lactose allergy, speak to your healthcare provider about replacement enzyme pills that may allow you to consume dairy without discomfort.

Don’t Miss: Can You Lose Stomach Fat

When Should You Be Concerned About Abdominal Pain

01|18|2019

Abdominal pain is common, and everyone experiences it at times. In fact, it is the most common reason people are evaluated in most emergency rooms. While most abdominal pain resolves on its own, it can represent something serious or even deadly.

So, how can one know when to be concerned? Below are some characteristics that can help a person decide when evaluation is necessary.

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.

Recommended Reading: What Is On The Lower Left Side Of Your Stomach

When To Go To The Er For Stomach Pains

So how exactly do you know when to seek out medical attention for stomach pains? Well there are a few main symptoms you want to look out for. Make sure to seek medical attention if you experience stomach pain:

• And a high fever
• Accompanied by repeated vomiting
• Accompanied by other serious or unusual symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, dizzyness, cold sweat, or change in behavior
• Sudden and very severe or prolonged
• Repeated attacks of cramp-like pain
• Localized to one particular area
• Right lower quadrant could indicate appendicitis.
• Right upper quadrant could indicate cholecystitis , kidney infection or stones, gall stones or hepatitis
• Left lower quadrant could indicate diverticulitis or a colon infection.
• Left upper quadrant could indicate kidney infection or kidney stones as well as pancreatitis
• Middle: upper: GERD , heartburn, stomach ulcer, heart attack, aortic aneurysm. lower: bladder stones, bladder infection, endometriosis, ruptured ovarial cysts, bowel occlusion
• There are many more possible causes, but these are the most common ones.

Additionally, its important not to get dehydrated if you experience any of these symptoms.

You May Like: Can Sciatica Cause Ankle Pain

When Its Not An Emergency

If your stomach pain is not severe, persistent, or associated with concerning symptoms like those already discussed, it is likely to resolve on its own. Abdominal pain is usually caused by minor problems such as constipation, trapped gas, or eating something that didnt agree with you, like a high dairy meal or a spice that you arent used to.

Waiting a few hours, having a bowel movement, or passing gas usually helps. There are a few things you can do so that you can be more comfortable and to help relieve your symptoms as your pain resolves:

• Limit yourself to clear liquids for a few hours.
• If you experience vomiting and/or diarrhea, stick with the BRAT diet and other mild foods until your symptoms start to subside.
• Avoid foods that are tough on the digestive system, such as food that is high in fat, fried foods, spicy foods, and drinks containing alcohol or caffeine.
• Try an over-the-counter antacid or gas-relieving product.
• Try to have a bowel movement. Often, eating raw fruit, vegetables, beans, or high-fiber cereal can help.
• Use a hot water bottle or heating pad. This may help to soothe your pain. Place the pad on your abdomen for half-hour intervals and be sure to use a towel under the pad to protect your skin.

Your symptoms may completely improve within one to two days. If they do not, call your doctors office for advice.

Don’t Miss: Does Your Stomach Get Hard When Your Pregnant

Using Apple Cider Vinegar As A Stomachache Cure

Another paradoxical-sounding remedy is using acidic drinks to relieve pain from gastric reflux. Since gastric reflux can result in stomach acid leaking out into places its not wanted, your stomachs acidity can end up lower than is optimal for digesting food.

Drinking apple cider vinegar can help improve the levels and ease an upset stomach. This assumes that youre able to, well, stomach the drink in the first place. While apple cider vinegar does its work best if taken raw, you may find mixing it with water, a teaspoon of honey, and sipping slowly to be the more tolerable option.

• Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to one cup of warm water.
• Mix in one tablespoon of honey.
• Drink this remedy every three hours until pain is gone.

How Do I Know When To Go To The Er For Stomach Pain

Because common conditions, like food poisoning or constipation, can cause abdominal pain, it can often be difficult to know when your symptoms require a trip to the ER. If you are having unexplained or severe abdominal pain, or if you are in doubt about the cause of your abdominal pain, it is always best to be examined by a professional. If your stomach pain is severe, chronic, or accompanied by additional symptoms, visit your nearest ER as soon as possible to receive a diagnosis and treatment. Some signs and symptoms that may mean your stomach pain is serious enough to go to the ER include:

• Blood in stool

When you arrive at either of iCare ER & Urgent Cares state-of-the-art facilities in Fort Worth or Frisco, you will be promptly seen by one of our knowledgeable board-certified ER physicians. Your physician will perform a thorough examination, take a detailed health history, and run any necessary tests such as lab work or imaging studies to help elucidate the cause of your stomach pain. From there, effective and appropriate treatment will be administered depending on your diagnosis, severity of symptoms, and other factors. Your doctor may recommend additional therapies or prescribe medications for you to continue at home.

Recommended Reading: When Should I Go To The Hospital For Stomach Pain

Diagnosis Of Abdominal Pain In Adults

If examinations and tests are needed, these may include:

• a rectal exam to check for hidden blood or other problems
• if you are a man, the doctor may check your penis and scrotum
• if you are a woman, the doctor may do a pelvic exam to check for problems in your womb , fallopian tubes and ovaries, and do a pregnancy test
• a blood test to look for infection or bleeding
• other blood tests may look at enzymes in the liver, pancreas and heart to sort out which organ may be involved
• a urine test to look for a urine infection or blood
• an ECG to rule out a heart attack
• other tests, including x-ray, ultrasound or CT scan
• sometimes you may be referred to another doctor to help find the cause of the problem.
• endoscopy is an examination where a flexible tube with a light and video camera at the tip is used to examine some internal organs without the need for surgery. Different names are used depending on which organ is being looked at.

If you do have tests, the doctor will explain the results to you. Some results may take a number of days to come back and these will be sent to your local doctor.

Abdominal Bloating And Pain Treatments

Treatments for abdominal bloating and pain will address the underlying condition.

Examples may include antibiotics for infections. If an intestinal obstruction is the cause, your doctor may encourage bowel rest by decreasing oral intake.

If theres a deficiency moving contents within the GI tract, your doctor may prescribe medications to encourage intestinal movement. Surgery may be necessary in severe instances.

You May Like: How To Stop Stomach Acid From Coming Up

How Common Are Stomachaches

Just about everybody will experience abdominal pain at one point or another. Most causes of abdominal pain are not serious and resolve spontaneously. A healthcare provider can usually readily diagnose and treat these conditions. However, abdominal pain can also be a sign of a serious illness, or even an emergency. Abdominal pain is responsible for some 5% of emergency room visits.

The Page You Requested Could Not Be Found

The page might have been removed or typed incorrectly.

Here are some tips and links to help you find what you are looking for.

Search Box Above Please try searching using the search field above. If youre not sure of the spelling, type the first few letters, followed by an asterisk.

These Links To helpful resources and areas on eMedicineHealth.

• Medical and Health Topics A to Z a complete listing of topics to browse.
• Picture Slideshows learn about health and medical topics through pictures
• Medications information on common prescriptions drugs and over-the-counter medications.
• Image Gallery browse through images and illustrations of skin disorders, bites and infestations, medical anatomy and more.
• First Aid and Emergency Guides PDF downloadable guides to help you to be prepared and learn simple, life-saving medical techniques.
• Site Map for eMedicineHealth

Don’t Miss: Should I Go To Urgent Care For Stomach Flu

Common Causes Of Abdominal Pain

Stomach ache resulting after eating a big meal or something that did not go well with you is normal, but if you feel persistent and troubling pain without any apparent reason, get it checked by a healthcare provider. Abdominal pain and its symptoms can tell you a lot about your health and any underlying conditions it may be resulting from.

Many health conditions can lead to abdominal pain. They may include:

• Constipation
• Stress
• Gallstones.

Doctors determine the causes of abdominal pain by relying on the characteristic of the pain, collecting the patients medical history, conducting a physical exam and blood tests. They may suggest endoscopy if they are unable to detect the source of pain.

Crampy Pain With Diarrhea Or Constipation

Lower “crampy” abdominal pain accompanied by bloating and diarrhea or constipation can be signs of irritable bowel syndrome , says Singh. “It’s exceptionally common and affects 15% of the U.S. population, particularly younger women, although it can happen at any age.” Symptoms of IBS can usually be controlled by managing diet, lifestyle, and stress. Medication and counseling may be needed in some cases.

Also Check: Why Does My Stomach Feel Bloated After I Eat

A Stomachache Worries Doctors When

1. The pain is severe. By severe, I mean that the child cannot be distracted from it and is crying or otherwise showing that they are extremely uncomfortable. Any severe pain warrants a trip to the doctor, whether its unrelenting or it comes and goes.

2. There is blood in the stool. Most of the time, we see blood in the stool with constipation, which is usually not serious and can be easily treated. But a bad stomachache with blood in the stool can be a sign of a serious infection, inflammatory bowel disease, or another intestinal problem. So, any time your child has a stomachache and blood in the stool, give your doctor a call to be on the safe side.

3. The child vomits blood. As with blood in the stool, this isnt always a sign of something serious. Children who have been vomiting a lot can sometimes vomit some blood, and children who have nosebleeds, or bleeding from a lost tooth or some other problem of the mouth, may vomit that blood back up. But as with blood in the stool, any stomach pain with vomiting blood requires a call to the doctor.

4. There is green vomit. Green vomit can be a sign of a blockage in the intestine. Sometimes people vomit some yellow-green material when they have vomited up everything else, but stomach pain and green vomit should never be ignored.

8. The child says it hurts to urinate. Sometimes a stomachache can be a sign of a urinary tract infection.