All That You Need To Know About Abdominal Pain
You might have experienced that awful feeling, you are nauseous, and your stomach feels like it is tied in a knot, and you do not want to move. What does this pain mean? Well, let’s discuss today’s abdominal pain. What are some of its causes? Almost everyone has pain in their belly at one time in their lives. Most of the time, it may not be due to a serious medical problem; however, experts recommend getting a check-up.
Abdominal pain has many causes, some more severe than others. What feels like a stomachache may be coming from another organ in your abdomen or outside your digestive system. Always seek medical treatment if your abdominal pain persists, is severe, or is unexplained.
What is Abdominal Pain?
Abdominal pain is a discomfort felt in your belly, the region between your pelvis and ribs. Many people think that abdominal pain results from a stomachache or stomach indigestion, but the pain in your abdomen may be caused by abnormalities from other organs of the digestive system like the pancreas, gall bladder, and large and small intestine.
These organs are all in the digestive system but can cause pain that radiates to the outer shells, the skin, and the muscle of your abdomen or abdominal wall. Sometimes the pain you may feel in your abdomen may be from somewhere else, like your pelvis, back, or chest.
Abdominal pain can exist in many forms and can mean many things. For instance, it may feel severe or mild, sharp or dull, achy or burning, colicky or crampy, intermittent or constant, or generalized, all over or localized (in one spot).
Abdominal pain is a subjective symptom you can describe where and how it feels. Our doctor at Express Emergency Room Waco will help relieve your pain and diagnose its original cause.
What Are Some of The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain?
The causes of abdominal pain are temporary, but sometimes it could be a result of a serious illness. Some have to do with indigestion or parasitic infestation, while others may be due to menstruation. For instance:
- Digestive issues
Experiencing abdominal pain after taking meals may be due to:
- Gas and gas pain
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Food poisoning
- Constipation
- Food allergies and intolerances
- Inflammation
Infection or irritation in your organs can cause a temporary inflammation such as
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Viral gastroenteritis, a stomach flu
- Urinary tract infection
- Chronic acid reflux
Female Reproductive Cycle
Abdominal pain may also result from:
- Menstrual cramps
- Ovulation pain
When to Contact a Medical Professional?
You should get help right away from emergency care near you or call an emergency number like 911 if you:
- Are you unable to pass your stool, especially if you are vomiting
- Are you vomiting blood or notice blood in your stool
- Have neck, chest, or shoulder pain accompanied by sudden sharp abdominal pain
- Have tenderness in your belly or if your belly is hard and rigid to your touch
- Have pain in your shoulder blades with nausea
- Experience difficulty breathing
- Have a recent injury to your abdomen
How Can You Ease Abdominal Pain At Home?
Your doctor at an ER near you will advise you to try the following home care steps to ease your abdominal pain:
- Sip water or take any clear fluids. You may also have sports drinks in smaller amounts. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar often and adjust your medicines as needed.
- Avoid solid foods for a few hours.
- If you have vomited, wait six hours, then eat small amounts of mild food such as applesauce, crackers, or rice. You should avoid dairy products.
- Avoid taking any medicine without asking your doctor.
- If your pain is high up in the abdomen and occurs after you handle meals, antiacid may help, especially if you feel indigestion or heartburn. You should avoid high-fat foods, citrus, greasy or fried foods, caffeine, tomato products, alcohol, and carbonated beverages.
If these symptoms persist, you should visit our Waco emergency room or the nearest er that has a 24-hour ER service. This will ensure the avoidance of serious health conditions.