The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain and when to Seek Medical Attention
Below are the most common causes of abdominal pain, as well as the signs and symptoms of abdominal pain that requires medical attention.
The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Indigestion
Indigestion refers to a discomfort felt during or after eating, ranging from feeling full to actual pain. Indigestion can be a sign of a health problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or cancer, but is frequently due to simply eating or drinking too much. Medications that irritate the stomach, stress, fatigue, and anxiety can also lead to indigestion.
Symptoms of indigestion include abdominal pain, bloating, belching, gas, nausea, vomiting, acidic taste, and burning in the stomach or upper abdomen (not to be confused with heartburn, which is felt in the chest and throat).
The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Constipation
Whether they want to discuss it or not, most people experience constipation at some point in their life. Constipation is the inability to have a normal bowel movement. This can be in the form of having to strain to have pass stools or not being able to have a bowel movement at all.
Constipation can be brought on due to simple things, such as a change in diet or routine, or an underlying health problem. Symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal pressure, swollen abdomen, difficult bowel movements, a lack of bowel movements, and vomiting.
The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Gastroenteritis (Stomach 'flu')
Many people call it stomach flu, but they are really referring to gastroenteritis. The pain associated with gastroenteritis is due to the irritation and inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, which can be caused by a virus or bacterial infection.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis include abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph glands, fatigue, and fever.
The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Menstrual Pains
Abdominal pain felt during menstruation is commonly due to menstrual cramps, which are caused by the contraction of the muscles of the uterus brought on by hormone changes. Menstrual cramps may range from mild annoyances to strong pains that interfere with daily activities.
For some women, the pain is severe or continues after menstruation. In these cases, there may be other health conditions involved, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis or fibroids.
The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Food Poisoning
Food poisoning may cause mild abdominal pain or a severe life-threatening infection, depending on the type of bacteria or parasite involved. There are over 250 food and water borne illness that can cause food poisoning symptoms, including the commonly known Salmonella, E. Coli, and botulism.
Symptoms of food poisoning include abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, weakness, and fever. The severity of the symptoms will vary depending on the bacteria or parasite involved with the infection.
The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Food Allergies and Food Intolerances
A food allergy is an immune system response to a certain compound in food, usually a protein. Between 2 to 4% of adults and 6 to 8% of children have true food allergies. Food intolerance, which is much more common, is a digestive response to foods, often due to the digestive system being low in a needed enzyme or sensitivity to a chemical additive. Both food allergy and food intolerance can lead to abdominal pain.
Symptoms of a food allergy occur every time the food is consumed and include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, rash, hives, shortness of breath, chest pain, and anaphylaxis.
Symptoms of food intolerance increase depending on how much of the offending food is consumed and include abdominal pain, nausea, gas, abdominal cramps, bloating, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, headache, and irritability.
The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Gas
Every human being produces and passes gas, though usually only men want to discuss it. Gas is naturally formed as the digestive system breaks down food. Some foods, though, are known to produce more gas than others as the body works on them. These include high fiber foods such as beans, vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products. Other foods that can increase gas in the body include dairy products, soft drinks and fruit juices. An excess of gas in the system can lead to bloating and abdominal pain.
Frequent painful gas (belching or flatulence) can be a sign of health problems, such as ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and colon cancer.
The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose (the sugar found in dairy products) due to the body not making enough of the enzyme lactase. The abdominal pain and other symptoms of lactose intolerance generally start anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours after consuming dairy products.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, nausea, painful gas, bloating and diarrhea.
Abdominal Pain: When to Seek Medical Attention
Some of the common causes of abdominal pain will clear up on their own, while others require medical attention. How can you know the difference? When should you be concerned?
Seek medical attention if any of the following describes your abdominal pain:
- The pain is severe
- The pain has continued for over six hours or is getting worse
- The pain prevents you from eating
- The pain worsens when you move
- The pain wakes you up at night
- The pain makes your abdomen too tender to touch
- The pain started in the general area of the abdomen, but has now localized to one section (especially the lower right abdomen)
- The pain is occurring during pregnancy
- The pain feels connected to the chest
- The pain feels connected to the testicles
- The pain was preceded by an injury to the abdomen
Seek medical attention if your abdominal pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- Fever (101F or higher)
- Inability to urinate
- Frequent urination
- Painful urination
- Inability to have a bowel movement (especially if you are vomiting)
- Inability to pass gas
- Vomiting blood
- Bloody stools
- Difficulty breathing
- Inability to keep food down for several days
Sources:
WebMD:
Digestive Disorders Health Center - Abdominal Pain
Heartburn/GERD Guide - Indigestion
Digestive Disorders Health Center - The Basics of Constipation
Stomach Flu or Influenza?
Food Poisoning Health Center - Food Poisoning
Digestive Disorders Health Center - Lactose Intolerance
Digestive Disorders Health Center - The Digestive System and Gas
Allergies Health Center - Is It a Food Allergy or Intolerance?
NetDoctor:
Painful menstruation (dysmenorrhoea)
eMedicine Health:
Abdominal Pain in Adults - When to Seek Medical Care
Published by Amanda C. Strosahl
Born and raised on the banks of the Mississippi river, Amanda moved to the Greater Indianapolis area in 1994, where she worked alongside her husband in the newspaper industry until 2008. She now works as a f... View profile
- Coping with Acute Abdominal Pain Since my diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, I have come to redefine the words "chronic pain". When you deal with acute abdominal pain on a near-daily basis, you have to think of ways to ease the pain and to continue wit...
- What Are the Causes of Abdominal PainDisturbances of the organs and tissues within the abdomen often produce pain. Digestive system disorders are the most frequent cause. This article will give some details of the other causes of abdominal pain.
Causes and Treatment of Gas PainLearn the common causes of excess gas, and what you can do to prevent it. Treatment of gas pain can include herbal treatment, over the counter medication, or learning which foo...- Complications of Abdominal Pain in the Elderly PopulationBecause many health complications are attributed to aging, the elderly population often suffers delayed diagnosis of abdominal pain
- Identifying the Cause of Lower Left Abdominal Pain If you're suffering from lower left abdominal pain, the cause will be different than if the discomfort were centered in your upper right abdomen. Lower left abdominal pain is associated with several illnesses, many of...
- Common Causes of Abdominal Pain
- The Causes of Abdominal Pain in Children
- Managing the Acute Abdominal Pain That Comes with Crohn's
- Acute Abdominal Pain & Crohn's: How I've Learned to Deal with It
- Having Abdominal Pain and Discomfort
- Right Side Abdominal Pain: How Serious Is It?
- Solutions to Abdominal Pain