Abdominal Pain – Types and Causes
Abdominal pain causes extreme discomfort due to pain experienced anywhere between the lower chest and the groin. Abdominal pain varies from acute to chronic pain. It may be a dull sensation or a sharp, searing pain. There are several causes of the disease and it has many different symptoms. A few symptoms of abdominal pain include ulcers of the stomach, gallbladder disease, food poisoning, appendicitis, cysts, fibroids, STDs, cancer, and vascular problems. If you are suffering from pain in the abdomen for a prolonged period of time, it is absolutely necessary to visit a doctor and get it diagnosed at the earliest. Abdominal pain is generally described on the basis of the location of the pain, the type of pain, and its intensity.
Location of abdominal pain
- Upper abdominal pain
- Lower left abdomen pain
- Right upper and pain in lower abdomen
- Pain in the pelvis
Types of abdominal pain
The type of abdominal pain can go a long way in helping to determine the underlying cause of the pain. At times, it is difficult to categorize the kind of pain thus making it difficult to diagnose the disease. Here are a few common types of abdominal pain:
- Sharp pain
- Dull pain
- A stabbing sensation
- Tearing pain
- Experiencing cramps
- Twisting pain
- Extreme pressure
- Bloating
Causes of abdominal pain
Abdominal pain is quite common, and it can be complicated and caused by a number of factors. To put it into perspective, abdominal pain is one of the top two reasons why Americans visit the emergency room. Here are a few of its most common causes:
- Stomach flu
- Gas
- Acid reflux
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Vomiting
- Gastritis
- Food intolerances
- Constipation
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Stomach or peptic ulcers
- Celiac disease
- Strained or pulled muscles
- Menstrual cramps or endometriosis
- Bladder and urinary tract infections
While pain in the abdomen is a common problem in the country, there is no reason why you should not seek immediate treatment on contracting this ache. It is unpleasant and leads to a variety of different symptoms and aches. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms of the disease, visit a doctor immediately and get it diagnosed. Your health is solely in your hands. On a correct diagnosis, the doctor would recommend a treatment option or prescribe medications to help ease the pain and discomfort.