Abdominal pain can have various causes and locations within the abdominal cavity, including organs such as the intestines, liver, stomach, pancreas, and gallbladder. Pain can lead to conditions such as colitis, diverticulitis, and appendicitis. Women may experience pain due to menstruation, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Not all pain requires medical attention, but persistent or severe pain should be evaluated by a doctor.
Abdominal pain can be caused by a number of things and can be located in various areas within the abdominal cavity. The abdominal cavity includes the area from the ribs down to the pelvic bone, extending on both sides of the body. Pain can radiate from anywhere within this area and be called “abdominal pain”. Organs in this area include the small and large intestines, liver, stomach, pancreas, and gallbladder.
Abdominal pain caused by inflammation of an organ can eventually lead to colitis, diverticulitis or appendicitis. An organ that is stretched, blocked or obstructed will lead to conditions such as a hernia or gallstones. Spasms in the intestinal muscles with no real cause usually end up being diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). All of these conditions start with pain in the abdominal area.
A peptic ulcer, a hole in the lining of the stomach or esophagus, can cause severe pain. Antacids can help, but they only provide temporary relief. Once antacids are stopped, the pain usually returns. Several types of liver, ovarian, pancreatic, stomach, and colon cancers can cause pain but are rare.
Women can experience abdominal pain for several reasons. Menstruation can cause cramping in the lower abdominal area. Other conditions such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can cause pain in women. Food poisoning can cause severe abdominal pain associated with vomiting and diarrhea. Somatization disorder is a type of emotional disorder with physical symptoms that include pain in the abdomen area.
Not all pain in the abdominal area is serious or needs to be treated by a doctor. Constipation can cause pain in the abdomen. A person becomes constipated when hardened stools have trouble passing through the body. Excessive air in the stomach and intestines can be painful, but these temporary conditions are usually resolved by a person belching or passing gas. There are several over-the-counter remedies available to relieve constipation and excess gas.
Abdominal pain can come on suddenly or start out mild and get progressively worse. The pain can be sharp, as if a person is being stabbed, or dull, similar to cramps. Sometimes this pain is just the body’s way of dealing with a temporary problem and taking care of itself. Persistent or severe pain should always be evaluated by a doctor. The location of the pain, the type of pain, and the duration of the pain will help in diagnosis and treatment.
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