Abdominal pain may arise from a lot of reasons. Typically, we think that it happens due to flatulence. However, if such a pain occurs intermittently or grows over time, it indicates a potential underlying issue. Therefore, one must seek for timely medical help to obtain early diagnosis. This blog hereby explains the possible causes of a severe abdominal pain. Also, it suggests treatment options for mitigating such an issue.
Abdominal pain – what you need to understand?
It starts from the region between the thoracic and pelvic area. Such a pain is often associated with cramps or aches. Generally, an abdominal pain caused due to gas resolves after sometime. However in certain cases this pain may intensify, indicating a chronic issue. If left untreated, it may lead to serious health complications in future.
How many types is abdominal pain categorized into?
There are four distinct categories of abdominal pain. They are as follows:
- Acuteabdominal pain: This extends up to a minimum of 7 days.
- Chronicabdominal pain: Such a pain persists till 3 months or sometimes more than that.
- Progressiveabdominal pain: It deteriorates gradually with time and is often associated with other issues.
- Intermittentabdominal pain: Such a pain retreats and recurs. It is more than frustrating for an individual. This is because one moment everything feels fine, but again the same discomfort appears after sometime.
What are the common causes for an abdominal pain?
Some possible causes of abdominal pain are
- Overeating
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Gastrointestinal infection
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Acid reflux
What causes acute abdominal pain?
Acute abdominal pain is typically caused due to the following reasons:
- Appendicitis (when the appendix becomes inflamed)
- Stones in kidneys
- Gall stones
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Pneumonia
- ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Gastric ulcer
- Obstruction in bowels
- Infection of pancreas
- Cholecystitis
- Diverticulitis
What causes chronic abdominal pain?
Certain abdominal pains may turn chronic. Some common reasons involve:
- Ulcer in stomach
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) like Crohn’s diseaseand ulcer-forming colitis
- Inflammation of liver (hepatitis)
- Gastritis
- Chronic inflammation of pancreas
- Hernia
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (commonly termed as GERD)
- Cancers in the abdominal region (For example: stomach cancer, liver cancer, colorectalcancer, uterine cancer etc.)
- Intolerance towards certain foods. (For example: foods containing lactoseand gluten)
Other causes of abdominal pain
Apart from the above causes pertaining to digestive system, there are many other reasons too. These are generally associated with reproductive organs constituting the lower abdominal region. Some of them are listed below.
- Menstrual cramps (medically termed as ‘dysmenorrhea’)
- Cysts in the ovaries
- Abortion
- Fibroid tissue outgrowth
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Obstruction in the fallopian tubes
If you experience abdominal pain that doesn’t go away, speak with a healthcare professional. They could provide a proper diagnosis and develop a treatment plan for you.
When you need to visit a doctor?
A mild pain resolves on its own and normally does not need medical intervention. However, if it persists for longer than usual or suddenly becomes severe, do not delay. The symptoms which one must not ignore are as follows:
- Stools associated with blood and mucus
- Black-coloured faeces
- Unusual chest pain
- Blood coming out while vomiting
- Constant feeling of nausea
- Prolonged constipation
- Pain while urinating
- Inability to eat
- Losing weight abnormally
- Experiencing difficulty during breathing
The Healthline FindCare tool can help you find a primary care physician in your area.
What questions one may expect during an appointment?
The doctor will enquire about specific symptoms which you may be facing for a long period of time. Some commonly asked questions are:
- Where exactly the pain is?
- Does the pain sticks to one region or moves towards any other part?
- If the pain is intense or not?
- Does the pain remain constant, or retreat after sometime?
- Was there any physical injury in the abdominal region?
- If any surgical procedure was involved earlier?
- Whether the pain worsens during any particular moment of the day?
- When did one last clear the bowels?
- If bowel movements occur timely or not?
- Does anyone observe changes during urination?
- Is there any pain while peeing?
- Whether there have been any changes in regular diet?
- Do periods occur timely or not?
How the doctor diagnoses an abdominal pain?
For a detailed diagnosis, the physician follows a step-by-step process. Firstly, a physical assessment is performed. The doctor gently applies pressure on various sections of the abdomen to look for any type of swelling. After that a list of diagnostic tests are implemented (as per requirement). Typically, the doctor prescribes blood test, stool and urine analysis, USG, X-ray to name a few. Other sophisticated tests like endoscopy and colonoscopy may also be incorporated (in some critical cases).
How to treat an abdominal pain?
Treatment of abdominal pain depends on the type of symptoms one experiences. Typically, it involves a combination of home remedies and medicines. However, in extreme cases surgical procedures are needed. For example, an abdominal pain caused due to flatulence or acidity does not need any medical intervention. In such cases, taking an antacid helps more than enough. But, if the pain is acute, antibiotic treatment may be required. Moreover, it is always best to consult a professional doctor for diagnosis.
Tips to prevent an abdominal pain
One can prevent a potential abdominal pain by following some simple tips. They are as follows:
- Having a nutritious and balanced diet
- Hydrating the body sufficiently
- Doing regular workouts
- Eating smaller portions
- Including probiotics to increase good bacteria in the gut. This helps in proper digestion
- Avoiding oily foods
- Not eating stale and junk items
- Going for a walk post-meal
Conclusion
Abdominal pains are not always scary. Still, if any underlying condition is diagnosed, talk to the doctor for suitable treatment methods. You can easily book an appointment with a private general practitioner in London now for diagnosing your cause.
