ABDOMINAL PAIN (CAUSES, REMEDIES, TREATMENT)

ABDOMINAL PAIN

Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin   (The groin is an area of your hip between your stomach and thigh) or simply we can say pain in stomach region or belly. You feel pain  in the part of the trunk below the ribs and above the pelvis.

Abdominal pain can range in intensity from a mild stomach ache to severe acute pain.Abdominal Pain is some time non specific and some time specific .Non specific in the sense it is caused if you have gas or stomach cramps caused by diarrheal cramping, or food poisoning.

Abdominal Pain can be specific if it is directly related to particular organ in abdomen such as bladder or ovary.

Other ways to describe pain in your abdomen include:

Generalized pain: This means that you feel it in more than half of your belly. This type of pain is more typical for a stomach virus, indigestion, or gas. If the pain becomes more severe, it may be caused by a blockage of the intestines.

Colicky pain: It very often starts and ends suddenly, and is often severe. Kidney stones and gallstones are common causes of this type of belly pain.

Cramp-like pain: This type of pain is not serious most of the time. It is likely to be due to gas and bloating, and is often followed by diarrhea.

Localized pain: This is pain found in only one area of your belly. It is more likely to be a sign of a problem in an organ, such as the appendix, gallbladder, or stomach.

Causes of abdominal pain -What Are the Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain?

Many different conditions can cause abdominal pain.Some are less serious and some are more serious .

 Causes of abdominal pain which is Less serious are :

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Constipation
• Food poisoning
• Food allergies or intolerance (such as lactose intolerance)
• Stomach flu

Serious causes of sudden severe abdominal pain include:

• Acute cholecystitis:inflammation of the gallbladder, which is often caused by gallstones.
• A bleeding or perforated stomach ulcer 
• Appendicitis: the swelling of the appendix
• Diverticulitis:inflammation of the small pouches in the bowel
• Kidney stones 

Some other cause of Abdominal pain are following 

• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Menstrual cramps
• Stomach virus
• Food poisoning
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Gas
• Food allergies
• Ulcers
• Lactose intolerance
• Hernia
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Kidney stones
• Gallstones
• Crohn's disease
• Endometriosis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Urinary tract infection
• Appendicitis

SYMPTOMS OF ABDOMINAL PAIN 
What Symptoms of Abdominal Pain Are Cause for Concern?

• Fever
• Inability to pass stool
• Any signs of dehydration
• Painful or unusually frequent urination

These symptoms can be an indication of an internal problem that requires treatment as soon as possible.

Seek immediate medical care for abdominal pain if you:

• Vomit blood
• Have difficulty breathing
• Have bloody or black tarry stools
• Have pain occurring during pregnancy

TREATMENT FOR ABDOMINAL PAIN 
Treating abdominal pain depends on its cause.For treating abdominal pain various ways can be adopted depending on cause of abdominal pain .Medications,antibiotics or even surgery in some cases are involved.
 Treatments can range from medications for inflammation, GERD, or ulcers, to antibiotics for infections, to changes in personal behavior for abdominal pain caused by certain foods or beverages. In some cases surgery may be necessary like in appendicitis and a hernia.

Preventions for Abdominal Pain 

You can try the following home care steps to ease mild abdominal pain:

•  Drink plenty of water each day.
• Avoid solid food for the first few hours.
• Eat food which is well-balanced and high in fiber. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Take antacids if pain is high in your abdomen after eating food.
• Avoid citrus, high-fat foods, fried or greasy foods, tomato products, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages.
• Limit foods that produce gas.
• Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications, and narcotic pain pills unless your health care provider prescribes them.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat small meals more frequently.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call or see a health care professional if the affected person has any of the following:

• Are currently being treated for cancer
• Are unable to pass stool, especially if you are also vomiting
• Are vomiting blood or have blood in your stool (especially if maroon or dark, tarry black)
• Have sudden, sharp abdominal pain
• Have chest, neck, or shoulder pain
• Have tenderness in your belly, or your belly is rigid and hard to the touch
• Have pain in, or between, your shoulder blades with nausea
• Had a recent injury to your abdomen
• Are pregnant or could be pregnant
• Have difficulty breathing

Call your doctor if you have:

• Abdominal pain that does not improve in 24 - 48 hours, or becomes more severe and frequent and occurs with nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort that lasts 1 week or longer
• Burning sensation when you urinate or frequent urination
• Bloating that persists for more than 2 days
• Fever (over 100°F for adults or 100.4°F for children) with your pain
• Diarrhea for more than 5 days
• Prolonged vaginal bleeding
• Prolonged poor appetite
• Unexplained weight loss

Alternative Names

Stomach pain; Pain - abdomen; Belly ache; Abdominal cramps; Bellyache; Stomachache