ABDOMINAL PAIN IS PAIN THAT OCCURS BETWEEN THE CHEST AND PELVIC REGIONS. COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A STOMACH ACHE, ABDOMINAL PAIN CAN BE CRAMPY, ACHY, DULL, INTERMITTENT, OR SHARP.
Whether it’s cramps, a mild stomach ache, or a sharp throb, abdominal pain can have numerous causes. Most of the causes are not serious and can be easily diagnosed and treated. However, pain in your abdomen can also be a sign of a more serious illness.
It is imperative to be able to recognize symptoms that are severe and know when to call a doctor. Severe symptoms of abdominal pain are typically accompanied by:
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Inability to keep food down for more than 2 days
- Inability to pass stool, especially if you are also vomiting
- Painful or unusually frequent urination
- The abdomen is tender to the touch
- The pain is the result of an injury to the abdomen
- The pain lasts for more than a few hours
IF YOU ARE VOMITING BLOOD, HAVE BLOODY STOOL, HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING, OR EXPERIENCING ABDOMINAL PAIN WHILE PREGNANT, SEEK MEDICAL CARE IMMEDIATELY!
Treating abdominal pain really depends on the cause and severity of the pain. Some common causes include:
- Gas/Indigestion
- Constipation
- Stomach virus
- Menstrual cramps
- Food poisoning/allergies
- Lactose intolerance
- Ulcers
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Hernia
- Gallstones/Kidney stones
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Appendicitis
