Where To Go For Stomach Pain

How Ers Treat Stomach Pain

Stomach pain and other medical emergencies can happen at all hours of the day. Thats why hospital emergency departments offer 24-hour emergency care. Visiting an emergency room can be a scary experience, but knowing what to expect can help you prepare.

When arriving at your hospitals emergency department, know that you are seen in the order of medical severity. You will first be seen by a triage nurse who will document your symptoms and place you in a priority queue with others receiving care.

Next, the nurse will take you into an exam room, where emergency medical staff will examine you to determine the right course of treatment. They will likely take a medical history, review your medications, go over your symptoms, and perform an exam. At this time, your doctor may order further testing to help diagnose your condition.

Below are some common diagnostic tools to evaluate your stomach condition:

• Abdominal X-ray
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Blood and urine analysis

Once your doctor has determined the cause of your stomach pain, they can begin treatment. Treatments can vary depending on the severity and cause of the pain. You may be offered medication to help treat inflammation, acid reflux, ulcers, or infection. If they are concerned about dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea, they may start you on IV fluids. For more severe conditions involving the internal organs, surgery may be needed.

When To Call A Doctor

Most of the time, the cause of your stomach pain isnât serious, and it will improve on its own. Or you may recognize the reason and treat it at home, like the pain of an upset stomach or heartburn.

But some types of pain point to the possibility of a more serious condition that requires medical treatment.

If youâre experiencing symptoms like the following with your pain, you should visit a healthcare provider.

Schedule an appointment with a physician if your stomach pain:

• Occurs with a fever
• Is significant and doesnât improve in 24-28 hours
• Worsens and occurs frequently

• If you are pregnant or think you might be

Gut Feeling: How To Know If Stomach Pain Is Serious

Abdominal pain is the single leading reason for emergency room visits in the U.S. according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, accounting for more than 12 million of the nearly 139 million annual ER visits. Most people call it stomach pain, but it’s not always a stomach problem. Your abdomen holds many other organs, too, including your intestines , pancreas, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, spleen and appendix.

So its not surprising that, just as with chest pain or a headache, it can be difficult to tell whats really going on in there when your tummy’s not feeling well. Add in other vague symptoms such as nausea and vomiting and you could have the stomach flu, food poisoning, gallstones, kidney stones or any number of other conditions.

Here are some ways to tell what the source of your pain is and when you should seek medical care.

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You Have Preexisting Conditions

Besides pregnancy, other preexisting conditions can make you more susceptible to medical emergencies when experiencing severe abdominal pain.

If you are over 45 years old, upper abdominal pain can be a sign of a heart attack.

If you have had any of the following surgeries, your pain could be a sign of complications:

• Abdominal surgery

• Diarrhea that lasts more than 5 days
• Severe vaginal bleeding

Chamomile Tea To Cure Stomach Pain

Chamomile tea is known to work as an anti-inflammatory along the digestive tract.

If your stomach pain is caused by gastritis or indigestion, a cup of chamomile can offer relief. It does this by relaxing muscles along the stomach and the esophagus, easing the contractions that push food along, and lessens any cramps or spasms you are experiencing.

• Place one teaspoon of dried chamomile in one cup of boiled water.
• Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
• Strain tea and add lemon or honey for taste.
• Drink up to three cups daily

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You Have Intense Stomach Cramps In Your Lower Abdomen But You Feel Better After You Poop

This can be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome , a disorder thats related to how your brain and gut work together , the NIDDK says. Basically, IBS can cause your gut to be more sensitive and change how the muscles in your bowel contract, the NIDDK explains. That can lead to myriad issues, like persistent stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and more. With IBS, the abdominal cramping is usually in the lower abdomenand often improves after completing bowel movements, Dr. Tripathi says. IBS is a chronic disorder, but its symptoms can come and go, the NIDDK says.

Stomach cramps that recede post-poop can also sometimes be a sign of good old-fashioned constipation. Since IBS can cause constipation , the lines are a little blurred here. If these symptoms havent been an issue for you in the past, theres a chance youre just dealing with regular constipation, Dr. Tripathi says. But if this is a recurrent thing for you, definitely mention that to your doctor and ask if it could be a sign of IBS based on other symptoms you may or may not have.

How Do You Know When Abdominal Pain Is Serious

Serious abdominal pain can show up in all sorts of ways. But some signs that there might be a more serious problem include:

• Severe pain: This is one of the main ways the body tells you something is wrong. When it comes to abdominal pain, its more concerning if you feel like you dont want to move or be touched because that would make the pain much worse.

• Bleeding: Vaginal bleeding, rectal bleeding, bloody stool, bloody vomit, or bloody urine are all concerning especially when paired with abdominal pain.

• Whole-body effects: If your stomach pain starts to feel like its affecting your whole body, this can be a red flag. Examples include fever, shaking chills, sweating, chest pain, shortness of breath, or severe weakness.

• Low blood pressure: This can be a sign of dehydration, internal bleeding, or worsening infection. People with low blood pressure often feel faint, dizzy when they sit or stand up, or extremely weak.

With this in mind, signs that you should get into the ER for stomach pain are:

• Severe, prolonged, or worsening abdominal pain

In many cases, healthcare providers in urgent care settings send people to the ER if they see that the abdominal pain is severe or worrisome.

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In The Meantime Are There Any Medications To Relieve Symptoms

Your doctor may be able to prescribe medication to relieve symptoms even before theres a diagnosis. Or they may recommend over-the-counter medications that can help.

Ask about common side effects, drug interactions, how long you can take them, and if there are particular OTC medications you should avoid.

Stomach Pain On The Left Side Of The Abdomen

If your child is complaining about pain on the left side of their stomach, it could be caused by something as simple as constipation to a more severe condition like pancreatitis. Dr. Mehta reminds parents not to panic just because their child is experiencing pain.

“Most of the time, stomach pain on the left side is caused by something mild, like constipation. Rarely, it can be a sign of something more serious,” she says. “Your child’s pediatrician can work with you to better understand the pain and symptoms your child experiences to ensure they receive an accurate diagnosis and more importantly, find relief.”

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Serious Recent Procedures Or Diagnoses

Some abdominal issues causes may result from recent abdominal medical procedures such as surgery to the appendix or severe medical conditions such as a ruptured appendix, cancer, cardiac conditions, or organ failure. For instance, if you experience abdominal pain after a recent surgery, then constipation or infections may be the immediate problem. But the severity of the symptoms that you experience will determine whether you should visit the ER.

If you experience abdominal discomfort and youve undergone the following procedures or diagnoses, then it may be prudent to promptly visit the ER instead of going to an urgent care clinic.

• Recent surgery in the abdomen
• Upper abdominal pain and chest tightness, especially if youre over 45 years old
• If you have a history of cardiac problems such as stroke and heart attacks
• If youve undergone a recent gastric bypass surgery
• If youve undergone a recent upper endoscopy or colonoscopy

Other Indications To Go To The Hospital

• Severe abdominal distension, frequent vomiting, and constipation .
• Severe upper-middle abdominal pain referred to the midback .
• Arrange a routine visit to your surgeon or gastroenterologist if you experience frequent uncomplicated biliary colic.
• Severe diarrhea or constipation. Blackish stool, vomiting of blood.

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Symptoms Of Abdominal Pain In Adults

The type of pain can vary greatly. When abdominal pain occurs, it can:

• be sharp, dull, stabbing, cramp-like, twisting or fit many other descriptions
• be brief, come and go in waves, or it can be constant
• make you throw up
• make you want to stay still or make you so restless that you pace around trying to find âjust the right positionâ
• vary from a minor problem to one needing urgent surgery.

What To Do When You Have Stomach Or Abdominal Pain

Stomach or abdominal pain can signal a wide range of conditions, some serious and others less so. It is best not to ignore stomach pain but rather to check with your doctor or medical professional. In a number of situations, you should go immediately to the emergency room for evaluation. Stomach or abdominal pain can have many causes, so careful assessment of any nausea, aches, or discomfort is important. Below are some of the issues that might cause abdominal distress, vomiting, or stomach pains. In some cases immediate attention is needed, in others, a talk with your doctor might be sufficient.

You should call 911 or go immediately to an emergency room if your stomach pain is connected in any way to an accident, injury, or other similar trauma. Stomach or abdominal pain following an accident may be caused by internal bleeding from the liver, spleen, or other organs and, if this is the case, will require immediate attention. In some cases, stomach discomfort associated with chest pain might be a result of an ongoing heart attack. Although there may be other causes for a combination of stomach/chest pain, it is best to err on the side of caution and seek immediate medical attention.

• Persistent nausea and vomiting
• Extreme tenderness in the abdominal area
• Unusual abdominal swelling

• IBS or inflammatory bowel disease
• Bacterial, viral, or parasite infections
• Crohns disease,

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When Should I Worry About Side Pain

Even if it isnt anything dangerous, its still better to be sure. Importantly, if you notice youre having severe pain, fever, swelling and tenderness of the abdomen, bloody stools, yellowing of the skin or persistent nausea and vomiting, see a doctor immediately.

What are the three types of abdominal pain?

There are three main types of abdominal pain: visceral, parietal, and referred pain. Visceral pain happens when the nerves that run through the walls of an organ get stretched. The pain isnt usually well localized and feels like a dull ache or cramp.

Can sperm cause abdominal pain?

Health experts say that as sperm is an irritant to the uterus, the uterus can react when in contact with sperms. This can result in uterine contractions, which in turn causes stomach pain and cramps.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurism Rupture

The aorta is the large artery that leaves the heart and travels down the center of the body. If there is a weakened spot âan aneurysm â in the wall of the aorta where it runs through the abdomen, the condition is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Most susceptible are men over age 65. Other risk factors include family history high blood pressure using any form of tobacco hardening of the arteries infection and trauma, such as a car accident.

Symptoms include a deep, painful pulsating sensation in the abdomen near the navel, and back pain.

If there is also sudden pain, sweating, and nausea, it may indicate that the layers of the aorta have begun to come apart or torn through This is a life-threatening medical emergency. Take the patient to the emergency room or call 9-1-1.

Diagnosis is made through abdominal ultrasound. If there is no dissection or rupture, surgery will be planned so that repair of the aneurysm will not have to be done as an emergency.

Rarity: Rare

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What To Do If You Have A Stomachache

When you tell a doctor you have a stomachache, the doctor will consider everything from the esophagus to the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas to the bladder and kidney . Plus intestines. And reproductive organs.

Many things get clumped in to stomachache, says gastroenterologist Suneeta Krishnareddy, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. So preliminary assessmenttriageis key.

Usually, says Krishnareddy, doctors break stomachaches down by time: How long has it being going on? Is it something new, acute, started in the past few days? Or is it a lifelong, chronic condition? Is this normal?

A patient knows their body. The history of a patient is important and provides clues for a doctor, says Krishnareddy, and the more details you can give your provider, the better.

Conditions That Require Er Visit

Not sure what to do if you have abdominal pain? Would you know when it is time to visit an emergency center or if your abdominal pain is an emergency? Some pain may go away without treatment, but there are instances when you are experiencing severe abdominal pain.

If you have the following abdominal pain symptoms, It is time to visit the closest emergency room.

• Fever greater than 101

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How Is Abdominal Pain Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will ask you detailed questions about your pain. Theyll want to know:

• Where you feel it.
• How long youve had it.
• If it comes and goes.
• If its getting worse.
• If it stays in one place or moves.
• What makes it better or worse.
• What other symptoms you have.

From your answers, your healthcare provider will try to determine if you need emergency treatment. Sometimes your healthcare provider will be able to tell right away that your pain is temporary and not serious. Sometimes they may suspect a more serious condition and may want to run some tests. And sometimes they wont be able to solve the mystery on the first visit. Your pain may subside, or you may have to return for further investigation.

Could It Be Norovirus

The difficulty when dealing with stomach painespecially in the upper abdomenis knowing whether it’s heartburn or something more serious.

Norovirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, according to the CDC, so it’s very common but sometimes hard to diagnose. Members of the same family can have the same disease process but different symptoms and duration.

Dr. Hanscom agreed, adding that there is no point-of-care test for norovirus.

We don’t have a test for norovirus in the ER, he says. Diagnosis is done by looking at the patients symptoms and other clues, such as if theres a local outbreak, if the patient has been on a cruise or if it’s during the colder parts of the year when people congregate indoors and spread germs.

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When Should You Go To The Er For Heartburn

Heartburn is a common health problem for millions of Americans. In fact, the American College of Gastroenterology estimates that more than 60 million people in America have acid reflux at least once during the month, and around 15 million people get it on a daily basis.

It is most common in obese people, the elderly, and pregnant women, although it can affect anyone including children and babies.

In most people, acid reflux is a mild, temporary feeling of discomfort that comes on occasionally after eating a big meal or foods that are rich and spicy. Over the counter medications can help ease the discomfort, and the body usually corrects itself within relatively short order.

Occasionally, however, it can develop into a potentially more serious problem called gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or GERD. People who have GERD generally experience acid reflux more than twice a week. If the condition is allowed to go untreated, it can cause inflammation in the esophagus, leading to a condition known as esophagitis. This is a potentially serious condition that causes difficulty and pain when swallowing. It can also cause a narrowing of the esophagus, bleeding, and can lead to Barretts Esophagus, which is a precancerous condition.

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Prevention Of Abdominal Pain

In many cases, abdominal pain can be prevented by adopting lifestyle and dietary choices that address the cause of your pain. Constipation, digestive upset, and even abdominal injury can often be prevented.

The following steps may help you prevent abdominal pain:

Drink plenty of water.

Develop regular bowel habits. Many people can train themselves to have regular bowel movements to help avoid constipation.

Follow a balanced, fiber-filled diet. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and fiber-rich foods, like whole grains, can help support healthy digestion and reduce constipation.

Eat regularly and slowly. Eating moderately-sized meals, instead of waiting until youre very hungry and stuffing yourself, can help avoid pain from overeating or eating on an empty stomach.

Exercise regularly. Getting enough physical activity can help prevent constipation and strengthen your abdominal muscles, which may help prevent straining.

Wear a seatbelt properly.

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