What Is Abdominal Pain?
Stomach pain, or abdominal pain, happens to us all. But, how do you know when it’s an everyday complaint versus something more serious? Symptoms of pain or discomfort occurring within the area of the body near the thorax (i.e., the chest) and the top of the pelvis can be broadly classified as abdominal pain. If you suffer from pain, it could be from a number of sources of abdominal pain. Read on to learn how to diagnose this condition, find stomach pain doctors near you, and get treatment for this condition.Pain or discomfort localized to the area of your abdomen is generally indicative of an underlying problem. Indeed, abdominal pain can be caused by several different factors, which may range from more mild and non-severe problems, such as excess gas, to more serious conditions, such as appendicitis.
Just as the conditions associated with abdominal pain can widely vary, individual complaints of pain or discomfort within the abdomen are similarly diverse. This is not surprising. There are a number of organs and other structures located within your abdomen. As such, it can be somewhat difficult for your pain doctor or health care provider to be completely sure about the precise cause of pain within the abdominal region.
What Is Abdominal Pain? (Video)
The following video gives a brief introduction into abdominal pain and its causes.
Causes Of Abdominal Pain
Pain within the abdominal region is common among both adult and pediatric populations. Further, there are a wide variety of conditions that may be linked with symptoms of pain or discomfort within the abdomen. Chances are, you’ve suffered from bouts of abdominal pain in the past. However, if you’re reading this post, it’s likely that you’re experiencing something far out of the norm.Talk to a doctor first. Your physician or stomach pain doctors will utilize information gathered while speaking with you about your episode of abdominal pain, including any notable abnormalities found during the physical exam and results from any testing performed. They’ll use this information to pinpoint the exact cause of your stomach pain, so you can find the treatments that work.
Several of the more common sources of abdominal pain include:
- Strained muscles
- Indigestion
- Cramps occurring during menstruation
- Stomach virus
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Urinary tract infection
- Excess gas
- Constipation
- Food-borne allergies
- Lactose sensitivity/intolerance
- Gall or kidney stones
- Gastropareisis
- Stomach ulcer
- Hernia
- Endometriosis
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Appendicitis