Abdominal Pain

Overview

Abdominal pain is a common discomfort that could be the warning sign for various health conditions. Many people who suffer from this symptom tend to disregard it because it is very common and may have occurred due to familiar reasons such as overeating and viral infection. However, the level of discomfort caused by abdominal pain cannot always indicate what may be wrong in your body. Any delay in treatment for the same could aggravate the condition or cause further pain. Prolonged and acute abdominal pain could also instigate life-threatening problems. Conditions such as colon cancer and appendicitis would not even be painful in the beginning, thus stopping you from initiating any therapy.

Pain that is centered on the bellybutton often indicates intestinal problems or even the inflammation of appendix (appendicitis). Similarly, pain in the upper left-hand side of the abdomen, may indicate a colon, spleen or pancreas disorder. On the other hand, pain on the upper right-hand side of the abdomen indicates an inflammation of the gallbladder, or the pancreas and colon. Pain in the lower part of the abdomen can often be discerned as an indication of appendicitis, an inflammation of the bowels or hernia. In addition, abdominal pain can often travel through the nervous system and exhibit themselves in locations other than the abdominal area, such as chest, back, and shoulders. This is termed as the "referred pain," which often slows down the diagnosis of the actual problem.

Abdominal pain can be caused by an ulcer, appendicitis, colic, hepatitis, and obstruction of the bile duct or inflammation of the bowels or a hernia. It is important to understand the indicators of abdominal pain to prevent it from becoming a severe problem. It could be fairly difficult to identify the exact location of the pain and its causes, because of the many organs that are packed in this part of the body. Abdominal pain can be treated easily, if the symptoms are sensed in a general area. However, most often this symptom is better diagnosed by a doctor, especially when the pain is experienced in specific body parts. Diagnosis differs depending on the abdominal part that is affected. If there is bleeding with abdominal pain, emergency treatment must be given immediately.

Treatment

Not all instances of abdominal pain are severe or life-threatening. Indications of food poisoning or flu can be gradually treated by the in-take of bland foods such as toast or apple-sauce. For extreme cases of food poisoning or flu, ice chips are often used to replenish the water content of the body. If the pain persists and worsens with the passing of time, it is important to consult a doctor to rule out life-threatening issues. If any blood is discharged along with abdominal pain, seek emergency help. In cases when abdominal pain is a symptom of an ulcer, then in-take of antacids may relieve the pain.