Discomfort in the abdominal area can occur after overeating or poisoning as a result of infection intestinal infections or a bacterium that settles in the stomach and leads to the destruction of its wall, or due to a malfunction internal organs.
Regardless of the cause of dysfunction, a person always feels pain. It is he who makes it clear that a failure has occurred in a well-functioning system. Based on the nature of the pain, its intensity and location, one can assume the cause of its occurrence. But sometimes radiating or wandering abdominal pain appears, which complicates the diagnosis.
What causes abdominal discomfort
To understand what treatment is needed, you need to understand how your stomach hurts and where it hurts. IN abdominal cavity contains the stomach, intestines, gallbladder, pancreas, liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder. Pathological processes occurring in the peritoneum can cause pain varying in intensity and duration.
So, prolonged aching or Blunt pain, the intensity of which varies depending on the position of the body, may be the result of disruption of the intestines, which leads to fecal retention and gas accumulation.
In this case, a bowel movement will help relieve pain. To help yourself, you need to take a laxative, change your diet by adding more fiber and fermented milk products. Prolonged sharp, burning or cutting pain occurs if inflammation develops in the abdomen. This could be a stomach or duodenal ulcer, cholelithiasis, pancreatitis.
Paroxysmal pain is possible with irritable bowel syndrome, with diarrhea caused by a bacterial or viral infection, as well as with severe stress.
Aching painful sensations, appearing at the bottom of the epigastrium, and extending to the perineum, accompanied by weakness, chills, indicate the presence gynecological problems in women or for intestinal disease in men.
The nature of the pain and the cause of its occurrence are related
If it hurts in the upper abdomen, this may indicate pathological processes in the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen. Pain in the lower abdomen may be a sign of appendicitis, poisoning or gynecological disease.
What is wandering abdominal pain
In order for the doctor to be able to guess what kind of disease the patient has and refer him for treatment necessary tests and studies confirming or refuting his guess, the patient must accurately describe what type of pain appears in the abdomen, where exactly it occurs and how long it has been bothering him.
But sometimes the exact localization of pain is quite difficult to understand, since it can move and occur either on the left or on the right. As a rule, such wandering pain indicates dysfunction of one organ, and not neighboring ones.
In most cases, it hurts precisely in the area where the organ whose functioning is disrupted is located. But it also happens that the pain goes to a completely different place. In this case, the pain is called radiating. For example, the liver does not have nerve endings, so it cannot hurt.
Discomfort in a patient occurs when the size of an organ as a result of inflammation is significantly increased, and it begins to put pressure on adjacent anatomical areas. Another example, a patient complains of severe abdominal pain localized to the left and above, and research shows that the function of the right lung is impaired.
Causes of wandering abdominal pain:
- shingles;
- diarrhea;
- ulcerative colitis;
- blockage of the ureter with a stone;
- acute appendicitis;
- ectopic pregnancy;
- inflammation of the pelvic organs (cyst, tumor of the ovary, uterus).
Disruption digestive tract can lead to malfunction of all body systems
What can cause wandering pain
Acute appendicitis begins with wandering pain, then after a few hours it is already localized in a certain area, namely in the upper right part of the abdomen under the ribs. When the appendix is inflamed, the patient takes a forced position of the body, as this alleviates the condition. One of the signs of appendicitis is that the pain subsides if the patient lies on the right side, and vice versa increases if he lies on the left.
If your stomach hurts on the left and radiates to your lower back, you have problems with urination, swelling and bags under your eyes appear, then this is a sign of the disease excretory system, mainly the kidneys. If there is pain on the left side in the hypochondrium or at the ilium, then the reason is vagal kidney. The peculiarity of the disease is that the pain goes away in a lying position.
Wandering pain that spreads from the lower back to the lower abdomen may be a sign of bladder disease or urolithiasis. With urolithiasis, a stone can form in any organ of the urinary system. These stones are capable of migrating to underlying organs.
For example, a kidney stone can go down into the ureters, bladder, urethra. When the ureter is blocked, it occurs paroxysmal pain, intensifying with active movement, an increase in body temperature is observed. Pain when renal colic may radiate to the lower back, lower abdomen, groin area.
While the stone is “wandering,” the person will experience pain
Diarrhea may begin after various reasons. They can also be relatively harmless (for example, overeating, drinking too much fatty foods), and result from serious poisoning. For diarrhea motor function intensifies, which leads to accelerated bowel movements.
Dangerous this symptom because the body becomes dehydrated and does not enter the blood necessary substances. Diarrhea is considered especially dangerous, in which wandering pain in the abdomen is noted; this may be a sign of a violation of the structure of the intestinal mucosa.
Shingles is an infection that affects the central nervous system. Its symptoms are an increase in body temperature, rashes in the form of bubbles that appear along the perimeter of the affected nerve. The patient feels severe itching and pain at the site of the lesion.
The pain can be of different types. It can be constant, patients describe it as strong burning sensation, or allodynic, when burning, sharp pain appears when the affected nerve is affected.
Abdominal pain without clear localization may appear on nervous soil. Pain does not occur in the area specific body, it is rather “spread” all over the stomach. It is never spicy. In this case, stool disturbances and an imperative urge to defecate may be observed.
Wandering soreness in the navel area is a sign of irritable bowel syndrome. In this case, the patient also experiences bloating, rumbling in the abdomen, and diarrhea, followed by constipation. If the patient is bothered by wandering pain in the abdomen, the doctor will prescribe comprehensive examination.
You will definitely need to take urine, blood and stool tests. Based on them, the doctor will be able to judge the work of the excretory and digestive system. Also, the necessary hardware tests will be prescribed to help identify the causes of malfunction and the appearance of wandering pain in the abdomen.
What to do if your stomach hurts
You should not solve the problem yourself if abdominal pain is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- discomfort for a long time does not go away or the intensity increases;
- body temperature increases;
- blood is visible in the stool;
- pulse is increased;
- if discomfort occurs after injury;
- if the urine is of an unusual color or there is blood in it;
- dark vomit appeared.
If you have these symptoms, you should contact medical care As soon as possible
Before the doctor arrives, you need to ensure complete rest. If appendicitis is suspected, it is not recommended to give pain medication, as this may affect the validity of tests confirming inflammation of the appendix. If the symptoms are not similar to appendicitis, then to relieve pain syndrome can I have a drink? antispasmodic drug(No-shpu, Papaverine).
Without a doctor's permission, if you have severe pain in the abdomen, you should not drink or eat, take laxatives or do enemas. It is forbidden to warm up the abdominal area, because if the reason is bacterial infection, then this will contribute to its development.
If wandering pain in the abdomen appears, then you should not self-medicate, you should immediately consult a doctor general practice. After conducting the study, he will find out in which organ the failure occurred and refer you to a highly specialized specialist, for example, a urologist, gynecologist, hepatologist, gastroenterologist.
Abdominal pain (med.: abdominal pain) or abdominal cramps occurs at least once in every person. Most often, they go away after some time. However, in some cases the pain is long-lasting and chronic.
The causes of pain are very diverse - most of them are relatively harmless. But there is also serious illnesses which manifest themselves through abdominal pain. It is important to recognize when you need to see a doctor immediately.
Pain can be caused by changes in intraintestinal pressure in the small and large intestines, stretching of the lumen or contraction of the muscularis propria, as well as disturbances in the blood supply.
Abdominal pain should be distinguished by the following symptoms:
- how long does the pain last,
- type of pain
- what area of the abdomen hurts?
- to which areas of the body it irradiates (gives or spreads).
Depending on the duration of the pain, there are:
- acute - acutely occurring, which recurs after some time,
- chronic - persistent abdominal pain for several weeks, which may either increase or decrease,
- chronically recurrent - over a long period of time they either appear or are absent.
Acute abdominal pain that appears suddenly is quite common, for example due to a gastrointestinal infection or stress.
Chronic persistent abdominal pain occurs in rare cases.
Worry much more often chronic pain with relapses. They are characteristic, for example, of irritable bowel syndrome or chronic inflammatory diseases intestines such as Crohn's disease.
The abdominal cavity contains a large number of internal organs. These are primarily the digestive organs, in women the uterus and ovaries, in men prostate. Problems with any of these organs can cause abdominal pain.
The heart and lungs are also in close proximity to the abdominal cavity, and their diseases can cause abdominal pain.
Conventionally, pain in the abdominal cavity can be divided into three groups:
- pain in the intestines,
- pain in other abdominal organs,
- pain that has no connection with the abdominal organs.
Table of symptoms and causes of abdominal pain and first aid
| Causes of abdominal pain | Symptoms | Adviсe (does not replace consultation with a doctor) |
|---|---|---|
| Food intolerance (fructose, lactose, gluten) | After eating the appropriate food: Stomach ache Flatulence Diarrhea | Keeping a food diary Examination by a doctor Exclusion of intolerable products |
| Atypical cardiac infarction | Sudden abdominal pain spreading to the shoulders Nausea Vomit | Calling a doctor |
| Constipation | Stomach ache Difficulty defecating Several days without stool Bloating | Movement in the fresh air Spicy food Prunes, watermelon (chew seeds), sour fruits Coffee beans Abdominal massage |
| Inflammation fallopian tubes(among women) | Cramping pain in the lower abdomen Nausea Vomit Constipation Diarrhea Pain when urinating Blood between periods Discharge | The doctor's consultation |
| Testicular cancer (for men) | Stomach ache Backache Loss of appetite Lethargy | The doctor's consultation |
| Crohn's disease (chronic intestinal inflammation) | Nagging pain Spasms Diarrhea Fatigue Malaise | The doctor's consultation Drink a lot Vitamins and microelements |
| Inflammation of the uterus (for women) | Recurrent cramps during menstruation Blood between periods | The doctor's consultation Warmth, herbal teas |
| Reflux esophagitis | Pain in the upper abdomen Pain in the esophagus Sour belching | Don't eat much in the evening High pillow Avoid stress Avoid alcohol, smoking, fatty foods |
| Inflammation of the cecum (appendicitis) | Pain in the navel area Pain in the lower abdomen on the right Pain when walking Pallor Fever Diarrhea Nausea | Mandatory consultation with a doctor If necessary, surgery |
| Flu | Stomach ache Fever Vomit Diarrhea Chills | Bed rest Drink a lot Medicines on the advice of a doctor |
| Food poisoning | Sharp or dull abdominal pain Nausea Fever Diarrhea | Bed rest Drink a lot If necessary, hospitalization |
| Stress | Abdominal cramps Diarrhea Constipation Flatulence Loss of appetite Nausea | Modern relaxation methods Muscle relaxation Psychotherapy Light food Herbal teas, such as fennel and chamomile Ban on alcohol and smoking Warm Movement in the fresh air |
Intestinal diseases
- The disease is characterized by an increase in pain in the afternoon.
- If the cause of abdominal pain is diseases of the left side, then pain on the left side of the abdomen appears before stool, as a result of bloating and decreases after the passage of gas and bowel movements.
- Quite often there are complaints of abdominal pain and the urge to defecate, which appear immediately after eating. Such symptoms are most often associated with intestinal dyskinesia.
- When abdominal pain worsens with walking, exercise, or shaking, it is dangerous symptom. It indicates the presence of deep inflammatory process in the abdominal cavity. It could be a hernia or chronic appendicitis.
If such symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor, as the spread pathological process may ultimately lead to peritonitis. - If problems arise in the right half of the colon, they manifest themselves as pain after quite a long time. In contrast, changes in the left, narrower part quickly lead to pain.
- Paroxysmal pain can be the result of both a functional intestinal spasm and an attack of partial intestinal obstruction due to scarring or partial closure of the intestinal lumen by a tumor.
Other causes not related to the abdominal organs
- Abdominal pain may be associated with brain damage and other diseases of internal organs located outside the abdominal cavity. However, in these cases it is rarely the main or primary symptom of the disease.
- Spinal diseases such as curvature, arthritis, arthrosis, tuberculosis, spinal tumors and spinal cord, offset intervertebral hernias can also cause abdominal pain in combination with spinal pain, and sometimes without spinal pain.
- Severe abdominal pain can also be felt as a result of pain in the abdominal muscles, abdominals when they are overstrained during physical activity.
- Sometimes sore skin may also be perceived as abdominal pain.
- Pain around the navel may be associated with hypersensitivity nerve plexuses and mesenteric plexuses.
- If you are worried about constant It's a dull pain in the abdomen, which continues for months and years, and it is not related to the physiology of the intestines, and if there are no organic changes in the intestines, then such pain can be psychogenic. It is often difficult to distinguish psychosomatic gastrointestinal pain from gastrointestinal flu, or from pain for other reasons, because the symptoms may be the same. If the examination does not reveal problems with the intestines and other organs, then the cause of these pains may be discomfort psychological nature. Feelings such as fear, stress or grief have a destructive effect on the nervous system. It’s not for nothing that experts call the abdominal cavity the “second brain.” Gastrointestinal tract has its own nervous system, consisting of 100 million nerve cells. That's why psychological problems can cause not only pain, but also diarrhea, flatulence and bloating.
It is difficult to objectively assess pain sensations.
Their intensity depends on a number of factors: the type of higher nervous activity, emotional background, environment in which the patient is located.
Pain in the upper abdomen
The cause of this localization of pain may be the spleen (left), liver (right) or stomach (center). The pancreas is also located in the upper abdomen.
- Gastritis of the stomach. Gastritis of the stomach is characterized by cramping pain belly. Other symptoms of gastritis include loss of appetite, flatulence and a feeling of fullness.
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). When the pancreas is inflamed, there may be abdominal cramps, but more often there are shingles colic (radiating to the back).
During exacerbations, nausea, vomiting, bloating and fever are possible. - Heartburn. With heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease, ascending burning pain occurs. In most cases, they occur after eating fatty foods. The pain goes behind the sternum, but is also possible in upper area stomach and partly even in the throat. Belching often appears.
- Gallstones. With gallstone pain, pain can also occur after eating fatty foods and is in the nature of severe spasmodic colic. Sometimes there is a girdle pain in the upper abdomen. The pain, appearing on the right, can sometimes radiate to the shoulder, in addition, fever, vomiting and chills often occur.
- Hepatic porphyria. Severe abdominal cramps can also be a sign of porphyria. This group various diseases metabolism, which results in the formation of toxic intermediate products that can lead to liver damage.
- Liver diseases. Pain appears in the right hypochondrium and up to the middle of the abdomen, for example, with cirrhosis of the liver or hepatitis. In this case, the pain is not localized to a specific point. Additional symptom is loss of appetite.
- Stomach ulcer. Pain in the upper abdomen may also indicate a stomach ulcer. Cutting pains are felt on the left or in the center and occur immediately after eating or some time after eating.
- And. This pain occurs on an empty stomach. At empty stomach suddenly appears strong pain in the middle of the upper abdomen, most often occurring at night. If you eat something, the pain subsides.
- Cancer. Sometimes cancer can cause severe stabbing pain in the upper abdomen, such as stomach cancer, colon cancer or pancreatic cancer. This pain is accompanied by a feeling of pressure, weakness, severe weight loss and other symptoms.
Pain in the lower abdomen
There are also many reasons that can cause pain in the lower abdomen. In addition to bowel-related causes, such as inflammation of the colon and cecum, pain can also be caused by urinary tract diseases and gynecological diseases or prostate disease in men.
- . Pain during inflammation of appendicitis begins, as a rule, in the navel area, then descends to the lower right side belly. The pain occurs suddenly and acutely. Symptoms such as fever, nausea, and vomiting are also typical.
- . The pain begins sharply, often in the right lower abdomen. Accompanied by vomiting, fever, nausea.
- - another reason for cramping intestinal pain, almost always accompanied by vomiting, nausea, diarrhea (diarrhea).
- . Increased accumulation of intestinal gases can lead to bloating and pain.
- . In irritable bowel syndrome, pain is associated with disturbances in the tone of the small and large intestines. The pain is perceived as dull or cramping. It occurs in different time after eating, often provoked emotional stress. The pain does not occur at night, but often interferes with falling asleep. The pain usually continues long years and come in varying intensities and durations on different days. Pain points on the stomach coincide with the projection of the rectum.
- . Pain in Crohn's disease occurs primarily in the lower right abdomen, but it can also radiate throughout the abdomen. This disease is characterized by diarrhea, intestinal cramps, and fever. Another symptom is weight loss.
- Hernia. Men are more likely to suffer from hernias. They cause bloating and aching pain in the groin.
- Gynecological diseases. In women, diseases such as endometriosis, ovarian inflammation or ectopic pregnancy lead to nagging pain in the lower abdomen. In this case, vaginal discharge is observed.
Many women suffer from menstrual pain. - . When intestinal diverticula become inflamed, severe intestinal pain occurs, manifesting as colic.
- Renal colic. The pain occurs in attacks in the lumbar region. Severe pain can be caused by kidney diseases such as pyelonephritis or kidney stones. The pain comes in jerks and can radiate down the leg. Nausea and vomiting often occur.
Pain throughout the abdominal area
Sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint the location of abdominal pain.
Among possible reasons such pains:
- gastrointestinal infections,
- stress,
- peritonitis,
- circulatory disorders,
- intestinal obstruction.
Acute stomach. Is a sign of medical emergency and requires an urgent call for an ambulance. Typical symptoms wherein hard belly, pressing pain, sweating and weak pulse.
For more information on the topic of abdominal pain, see the following articles:
When do you need to see a doctor urgently?
If abdominal pain is accompanied by the following symptoms, you should immediately call a doctor:
- blood in stool or urine
- severe abdominal pain and nausea
- high or low blood pressure
- hard belly
- heat
- yellow skin color
- tingling in the chest cavity
- dyspnea.
Any pain in the abdominal cavity deserves the attention of a doctor and requires an examination to identify the causes.
Attention! Our site provides you primary information on the topic of abdominal pain on the left. However, this information cannot replace consultation with a doctor. Any abdominal pain requires medical examination.
Severe abdominal pain may indicate a serious problem, so it is very important to determine the reasons why painful cramps may occur.
From the article you will learn about the most common diseases that can cause severe pain in the upper and lower abdomen and other unpleasant symptoms - bloating, nausea, diarrhea, etc., and you will understand what to do when they appear.
Diseases of internal organs
Before deciding what to do, you need to determine the cause of the pain. Quite a few diseases can cause spasms in the upper abdomen.
Depending on its location, we can guess which organ is damaged.
If it hurts in the upper abdomen in the middle, then the causes may probably be diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
In some cases, heaviness and cramping in the abdomen appears after overeating, alcohol abuse or consumption of harmful foods.
In this case, in addition to pain, a person often experiences bloating and gurgling in the abdomen. Diarrhea may occur.
If similar symptoms accompanied by nausea and heartburn, we can assume the presence of pathologies, for example, gastritis. A peptic ulcer also causes severe cramping in the upper abdomen.
Quite severe pain can also be caused by problems with the intestines, but in this case the stomach hurts not at the top, but at the bottom; very often the pain is accompanied by diarrhea or constipation, bloating.
Such sensations can also occur after inappropriate food, but sometimes occur without visible reasons- this indicates more serious problems.
If your stomach hurts in the upper part and on the right, this is most often due to problems with the pancreas and liver.
Hepatic colic causes a very strong spasm, which is felt not only in the upper side, but also in the center of the abdomen, and may not go away for quite a long time.
Pancreatic diseases such as pancreatitis can also cause severe cramping.
A person feels pain not only in the upper abdomen - often it has a girdling nature, the spasm is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
All these are signs acute pancreatitis, the only thing worth doing in this case is to call a doctor.
The chronic form of the disease and other pancreatic diseases are not so severe - pain in the upper right appears from time to time, often accompanied by bloating, nausea and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Other causes of pain
Both adults and children experience stomach pain when poisoned. Pain can be felt both in the upper part, in the stomach, and in the lower part, in the intestines.
Poisoning is usually accompanied by bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, weakness, and pale skin.
In most cases, the pain goes away on its own as soon as all the toxins that led to its appearance are removed from the body.
Women often experience pain in the lower abdomen during or before menstruation. It may be accompanied by bloating and diarrhea.
Such symptoms, although inconvenient, are not usually considered pathological. Sometimes this goes away with age - women have severe stomach pain, mostly at a young age.
Such pain can be very intense, but even if you do nothing about it, it noticeably weakens by the second day of menstruation.
You need to pay much more attention to pain that appears suddenly - it may indicate a really serious problem.
For example, the reasons for severe pain in the peritoneum in women may be problems with the reproductive system.
Sharp pain in the lower abdomen often indicates the presence of ectopic pregnancy. This condition is dangerous due to the risk of rupture of the fallopian tube.
When an internal organ ruptures, the pain will be very severe, it can be felt in both the upper and lower abdomen, and is often accompanied by nausea and fever.
In this condition, you cannot do anything on your own - you need to immediately call a doctor.
Sometimes the cause of a very strong spasm in the peritoneum is an attack of appendicitis. It happens to people at any age and regardless of gender.
With appendicitis, the spasm begins in the upper abdomen, gradually spreading to the entire area.
Nausea, bloating, and fever often occur. Characteristic sign appendicitis – inability to lie on the left side for a long time.
If you notice such symptoms, you should immediately call a doctor, since an attack of appendicitis carries a risk to life.
Anti-pain pills
You need to choose pain relief pills based on the reason that caused them.
If the spasm is felt in the upper and lower abdomen, it is sharp, it is accompanied by diarrhea, nausea, bloating and often vomiting, most likely the cause of this condition is poisoning. In this case, the most important thing is to remove toxins from the body.
To stop diarrhea and vomiting, you can use sorbents, the most famous of which is activated carbon.
In case of poisoning, you need to take at least 10 tablets, which are washed down with plenty of water.
If there is nausea, then you need to induce vomiting to clear the stomach. To induce diarrhea and cleanse the body, you can take laxative tablets.
For intestinal disorders that cause nausea, bloating, gurgling, spasms and a feeling of fullness in the stomach, you can take medications such as Mezim, Smecta or Espumisan.
They normalize digestion, relieve irritation from internal organs and eliminate discomfort.
If diarrhea occurs, you can take Imodium - it not only helps stop diarrhea, but also has an antibacterial effect.
If a spasm in the upper abdomen is caused by pathologies of internal organs, then the remedy must be chosen based on which organ is affected.
If the pain is localized at the top in the right hypochondrium, then we can talk about damage to the gallbladder. Often the spasm is accompanied by nausea, belching, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
In this case, you can take choleretic agent, for example, “Allohol” and “Hologon”. These drugs improve the flow of bile, which makes the discomfort go away.
With hepatic colic, which manifests itself as severe pain in the upper and lower abdomen with right side, you can take “No-shpa” and nitroglycerin (it is placed under the tongue and not taken orally).
If it is unknown why the pain appeared, but it is very strong and is felt in the upper and lower abdomen or has a girdling nature, and is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and fever, then you should not try to solve the problem yourself.
To alleviate the condition, you can take an antispasmodic (for example, “Spazmalgon”), if there are no contraindications to this, and then call a doctor.
If the spasm goes away after taking the pill, you still need to go to the hospital, because severe pain often indicates pathologies of the internal organs.
Folk remedies
If you know why your stomach hurts, and the cause is pathologies of internal organs or banal poisoning, then you can try to relieve unpleasant symptoms using traditional methods that will successfully cope with bloating and other unpleasant symptoms.
Moreover, compared to medications, folk recipes do not have such a destructive effect on the human body.
It is best to use traditional methods if a spasm in the upper or lower abdomen (stomach and intestines) appears after overeating, junk food, etc.
In this case, bloating and a feeling of heaviness often occur in the abdomen, nausea appears, and diarrhea may begin.
To stop diarrhea, you can use regular rice - its decoction will calm the intestines and restore its function, and also protect the organ mucosa.
To prepare the infusion, you need to boil half a glass of rice, which is poured with 6 glasses of water.
After the rice is ready, the broth needs to be strained and cooled, then add honey to the drink and drink. This will not only remove unpleasant symptoms, but also help relieve pain in the stomach.
If there is no diarrhea, but there is a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, it growls, hurts and seethes, then this condition usually indicates excess gas formation, which is also caused by overeating and other bad eating habits.
If you don’t have a tablet at hand, then ordinary soda can help relieve the condition - it destroys gases in the intestines, alleviates the condition and removes pain.
Soda (half a teaspoon) should be dissolved in a mug with water and drunk. There are more complex recipe- baking soda with lemon water.
Instead of water, in this case, freshly squeezed lemon juice is used, in which two teaspoons of soda must be dissolved. You can add a pinch of salt here and then drink the drink.
If the pain is very severe, then folk remedies will not help - you need to take a pill and call a doctor or go to the hospital to establish the reasons why it appeared.
Natural remedies can really stop diarrhea, neutralize the spasm caused by increased gas formation, and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but are not a therapeutic agent.
What to do if your stomach hurts? If a person periodically or constantly experiences cramping pain in the abdominal area, then this is a clear reason to seek help from a doctor.
The pain syndrome can be of a completely different nature, because the abdominal cavity contains many organs (gall bladder, stomach, liver, intestines and pancreas). The kidneys are located very close. Any of these organs can cause the above-described symptom. When different organs are affected, different symptoms will appear. That is why, before you start fighting attacks of pain in the abdominal area, you need to go through full examination see a doctor and find out what exactly caused it feeling unwell, that is, which organ was damaged.
There are quite a few ailments that can cause the pain described above. Also, discomfort in the abdominal area may appear after any injury or poisoning. Pain syndrome can occur in both adults and children. You should immediately take your baby to the doctor if severe abdominal pain is accompanied by elevated temperature and vomiting.
First aid
If severe pain occurs in the abdominal area, you must first call an ambulance. While the doctors are traveling, you should follow the rules that will help you feel better:
- First you need to completely give up food. Some people mistakenly believe that a little liquid porridge or milk will help improve their condition. Under no circumstances should you follow this advice. Unpleasant sensations are not necessarily associated with the stomach. For example, pain can be the result of serious illnesses such as appendicitis or pancreatitis. In this case, any food will only aggravate the situation and worsen the patient’s well-being.
- If your stomach itself hurts a lot, experts advise lying down and taking the most comfortable position. Most often, the pain subsides in the fetal position (you need to curl up and press your knees to your stomach). You should try to move as little as possible.
- Do not take painkillers or any other medications. They will make it difficult to make a correct diagnosis. In addition, incorrectly chosen medications can cause internal bleeding and other complications.
- Doctors prohibit applying heat to the stomach area if pain occurs. This can contribute to increased inflammation and rapid spread of infection throughout the body. To reduce pain, it is better to use cold compresses.
Drug treatment
Treatment of pain in the stomach directly depends on what exactly caused it. For example, quite often these unpleasant symptoms appear due to heartburn. Heartburn refers to pain and an acute burning sensation behind the sternum and in the epigastric region. Heartburn is caused by the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus.
To normalize gastrointestinal motility, doctors prescribe antacids and enzymatic medications.
These medications can help cope with occasional symptoms of discomfort when a person has eaten too much fatty or spicy food.
For heartburn, experts advise eating often, but in small portions. During treatment you must avoid carbonated drinks. You should limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages, anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin. These medications may cause stomach irritation. Smoking increases the production of stomach acid, so you should also give up cigarettes.
Many women experience abdominal pain in the ovarian area during menstruation. These unpleasant sensations are associated with contraction of the uterus, which is trying to get rid of the inner layer. Uterine contractions are provoked by a special hormone - prostaglandin. The more prostaglandin is released, the stronger the pain syndrome. Sometimes because large quantity of this hormone, pain in the lower abdomen appears even after menstruation.
The easiest way to get rid of abdominal cramps during menstruation is to take an antispasmodic. Medicines such as No-shpa, Spazmalgon, Analgin and Ibuprofen have proven themselves well. These drugs reduce the level of prostaglandin production, which, in turn, will reduce pain. Very useful for the above problem oral contraceptives. Such products contain hormones that restore female genital imbalance.
A warm bath or heating pad can help reduce discomfort during menstruation. Water procedures have a very positive effect on the central nervous system and help relax tense abdominal muscles. A warm heating pad applied to the lower abdomen will help reduce contractions of the uterus and relax it.
What else is prescribed
Very often, when the stomach hurts, the reasons are quite serious illnesses. Doctors often diagnose appendicitis. This disease refers to inflammation of the vermiform appendix of the cecum (appendix). At the beginning of the development of appendicitis, the patient's entire abdomen hurts. But after 5 hours the pain syndrome is localized only in the right iliac region. In addition to severe pain, patients complain of vomiting, diarrhea and white coating on the tongue. Treatment acute appendicitis carried out only surgically. During surgical intervention The appendix is removed and the hole in the intestine is sutured.
When a stomach ulcer or gastritis occurs, doctors prescribe proton pump inhibitors. If the cause of these ailments is Helicobacter pylori, then doctors carry out eradication therapy, which includes taking proton pump blockers and antibacterial agents. During the treatment period, the patient must adhere to special dietary nutrition. Patients need to completely avoid coarse, smoked, fried, too hot or cold foods for a while. You cannot eat fresh bread, a lot of salt, pepper, seasonings, animal fats and spices. During treatment, it is necessary to exclude coffee from the diet. strong tea and alcoholic drinks. If you strictly follow all the doctor’s instructions, then dealing with a stomach ulcer or gastritis will be very easy. short time.
The child got sick
What to do if your baby has a stomach ache? This is the question that worries everyone caring parents. In very young children, discomfort in the abdomen is often caused by new foods that the child’s stomach is not yet accustomed to.
Often, when eating new foods, the baby swallows a large amount of air along with food. This causes colic. They can be easily dealt with if the child is kept upright for some time immediately after eating. In this position, air will escape from the stomach when regurgitating.
Often, unusual foods cause constipation in babies. Stagnant feces cause pain in the stomach area. In such a situation, experts advise parents to feed the baby foods with high content vegetable fiber, which helps to enhance intestinal motility. Prunes, dried apricots and raisins are very useful.
If a child has a stomach ache due to new foods, what should he do? The answer to this question is quite simple. Immediately after eating, the baby should be given a drug containing those substances that are not enough for normal operation intestines. This worked well medicine like Creon. This drug Contains pancreatic enzymes that aid digestion.
If the cause of discomfort in your baby is the accumulation of too much gas in the stomach area, then you can resort to the following tips:
- If gases have accumulated in the baby’s tummy, a stroking massage can help him get rid of the pain. The mother should stroke the baby's belly clockwise.
- You can try doing the “bicycle” exercise with your child. The baby must be placed on his back and one by one begin to press his legs to his stomach.
- You can “release” gas from a child using a special vent pipe. However, experts do not advise using this device too often. The baby must learn to “fart” on his own.
- As mentioned above, pain in the stomach in children often occurs due to constipation. In such a situation, you can try giving the baby an enema.
If severe pain in the stomach in a child does not go away over a long period of time and is accompanied by fever, headache and diarrhea, then you should immediately call an ambulance.
ethnoscience
You can cope with the unpleasant symptoms described above not only with the help of medications, but also traditional medicines. At home, you can prepare not only effective, but also very useful remedies that will help get rid of the feeling of discomfort in the stomach in the shortest possible time. Every person who often experiences abdominal pain should know what to do at home so that these pains disappear as quickly as possible. In most cases, preparing homemade medicines does not require a lot of effort and time.
- 2 tbsp. l. Caraway seeds should be poured into a bowl with 4 glasses of water. The resulting liquid should be cooked over medium heat for 5 minutes. As soon as the cumin water has cooled, it should be filtered and drunk on an empty stomach until the unpleasant symptoms disappear.
- Severe abdominal pain can be treated with lemon juice. 1 tsp lemon juice should be dissolved in 1 glass warm water along with 1 tbsp. l. natural honey. The resulting drug should be drunk warm after each meal.
- For next recipe in 200 ml of warm water you need to dissolve 50 ml of fresh lemon juice and ¼ cup of kitchen salt. This drink should be drunk three times a day.
- If your stomach hurts very badly, you need to mix 2 tbsp. l. yogurt, 3 tsp. coriander juice, a pinch of salt and ½ tbsp. l. cardamom powder. All ingredients must be poured into 500 ml of water and mixed thoroughly. The finished drink should be drunk 1 hour after a meal.
- 50 g of fennel seeds must be brewed in 350 ml of hot water for 10 minutes under a closed lid. Ready tincture should be strained and drunk throughout the day instead of tea.
- If the cause of severe pain is diarrhea, then you can prepare a very useful one at home. congee: ½ cup of washed rice should be poured into a pan with 6 cups of boiling water. After this, cover the pan with a lid and keep on fire for 15 minutes. The resulting mixture should be filtered, the broth should be cooled and drunk warm, ½ cup three times a day.
Treatment of abdominal pain with folk remedies must be agreed upon with the attending physician. This precaution will help avoid many complications.
It can be completely different - after all, in the abdominal cavity there are many organs next to each other: the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, and very close to each other - the kidneys and ovaries. Each of them hurts in its own way and requires its own treatment. In some cases, you can get by with home remedies, but sometimes you need to urgently call an ambulance. Family doctor Polina Zagorodnaya spoke about how to deal with abdominal pain.
How to properly examine yourself
1. Determine where it hurts the most
To understand this more precisely, place your palm on the abdominal wall and gently, but trying to push deeply, use your fingers to press on the stomach. Note where the pressure causes the most pain. It is best to carry out such palpation while lying on your back. In this position the muscles abdominal wall relax and feel yourself easier.
2. Determine the nature of the pain
It can be dull, aching, squeezing, sharp, dagger-like (as if struck with a knife with a swing), bursting (as if a balloon has been swallowed and it is inflating).
3. H it is accompanied by pain
Does the pain radiate somewhere, does it intensify with movement, coughing, bending, is it accompanied by nausea, fever, diarrhea, etc. - all this is important for making a diagnosis.
4. Remember how pain appeared and developed
She could appear suddenly, after physical activity, after stress, hypothermia. Approximately how much time has passed since the onset of the painful attack. What kind of pain was there at first: mild, then intensified, immediately sharp, dull. Did the pain intensify later and how did it happen, quickly or gradually? Has the pain changed its location: for example, with appendicitis, pain in the abdomen first appears in the epigastric region - where the stomach is, and then goes down to the right.
9 PICTURES OF ABDOMINAL PAIN
Pain in the epigastric region
Character.
Dull or sharp, bursting or aching.
Where does it give?
They can radiate behind the sternum along the esophagus.
What are they accompanied by?
Vomiting may occur at times of particularly intensified pain. After vomiting, the pain usually disappears.
Then.
Do not depend on previous physical activity, but may be associated with eating spicy, acidic foods, strong coffee, severe stress over the past year.
What could it be.
Gastritis or peptic ulcer stomach.
What to do?
Be examined by a gastroenterologist. If the diagnosis is confirmed, gastritis or an ulcer can be cured in 7-14 days. To alleviate the condition during an attack, apply a warm heating pad to the sore spot, you can drink hot, weak tea or just hot water. If vomiting is mixed with blood (in this case the masses look like coffee grounds) - call an ambulance.
Pain in the right hypochondrium
Character.
Sharp, squeezing.
Where does it give?
In the lower back on the right, right half chest, right shoulder, under the right shoulder blade.
What are they accompanied by?
A feeling of bitterness in the mouth, there may be vomiting of bile, after which relief comes, possibly an increase in temperature.
Then.
After consuming fatty spicy foods or after shaking in transport.
Diagnosis.
Cholecystitis.
What to do?
Take an antispasmodic (a drug based on drotaverine or papaverine) and any drug containing digestive enzymes (this will provide the body with complete rest). Go for an ultrasound to make sure there are no stones in your gallbladder. If not, then prevent attacks with blind probes (tubages). To do this, slightly warm up, stirring until all the bubbles come out, a glass of choleretic mineral water(Luzhanskaya, Polyana Kvasova, Polyana font). Drink in small sips over two to three minutes. After this, apply a warm heating pad to the right hypochondrium and lie on your right side for 40-60 minutes. After this there should be some relief. If it doesn't happen, repeat. If there are stones, then consult a surgeon about surgery to remove the gallstone.
Pain around the entire abdomen
Character.
Encircles by upper sections belly.
Where does it give?
In the lower back.
What is accompanied by.
Dryness and bad aftertaste in the mouth, repeated vomiting, after which there is no relief, an increase in blood pressure is possible.
Then.
After drinking alcohol, spicy or fatty foods the day before.
Diagnosis.
Acute pancreatitis.
What to do?
You should immediately seek medical help. Without it, necrosis of the pancreas may occur - pancreatic necrosis, and this is already a life-threatening condition.
Pain near the navel
Character.
Appeared suddenly, sharp, cramping, strong.
Where does it give?
There is no return.
What is accompanied by.
Weakness, chills.
Then.
After eating foods rich in fiber, strong coffee, chocolate.
Diagnosis.
Intestinal colic.
What to do?
Take an antispasmodic tablet (for example, based on drotaverine or papaverine) and take a lying position. The pain goes away on its own after a few 15-20 minutes. (sometimes after relaxation), but they may appear again later - then the tactics can be repeated. To prevent them from appearing again, do not abuse coffee, chocolate or overeat.
Pain in the middle of the abdomen on one side
Character.
They appeared suddenly. They can be so strong that patients rush about in bed, unable to find a place for themselves, and moan.
Where does it give?
In the lower back, perineum.
What are they accompanied by?
Frequent urge to urinate.
Then.
After drink plenty of fluids mineral water, overeating watermelon.
What could it be.
Passage of a kidney stone.
What to do?
Treat with a heating pad, hot bath, antispasmodics. If there is blood in the urine or the pain reaches shock strength, call an ambulance.
Pain in the lower right
Character.
They first appear in the epigastric region, then gradually intensify and descend to the right lower (iliac) region of the abdomen.
Where does it give?
Into the rectum, worsens when walking (patients move bent to the right), worsens when trying to lie on their left side.
What are they accompanied by?
There may be fever and nausea.
Then.
There is no exact relationship.
What could it be.
Appendicitis.
What to do?
Call an ambulance.
There were pains all over my stomach
Character.
My whole stomach hurts at the same time, constantly.
Where does it give?
To other parts of the abdomen (any).
What is accompanied by.
Dry mouth, nausea, fever, weakness.
Then.
After previous pain, for which no medications helped for 24 hours.
What could it be.
Inflammation of the peritoneum (peritonitis).
Deadly disease!
What to do?
Call an ambulance.
PAIN IN WOMEN IN THE LOWER ABDOMINAL
Above the pubis in the center or on both sides
Character.
Drawing, fickle.
Where does it give?
In the perineum and (or) in the lower lateral sections of the abdomen.
What are they accompanied by?
There may be discharge from the genital tract. They get worse when walking.
Then.
After hypothermia, spicy food, severe stress.
What could it be.
Disease gynecological sphere, for example, adnexitis, endometriosis, fibroids.
What to do?
Go to the gynecologist for an appointment.
Right or left above the pubis
Character.
They appeared suddenly, sharply, very strong.
Where does it give?
IN anus or nowhere (local pain).
What are they accompanied by?
Dizziness, weakness, and possible fainting.
Then.
Most often after sexual intercourse (if a cyst ruptures) or 1-2 weeks after a missed period (if there is an ectopic pregnancy).
What could it be.
One of the symptoms of a ruptured ovarian cyst or ectopic pregnancy.
What to do?
Call an ambulance.
“Life” and “belly” were denoted by one word among the ancient Slavs. And this had its own logic: everything that is most important for life is really stored in the stomach... Not counting, perhaps, the brains: they would not have withstood the load that usually falls on the digestive system.
The Slavs (as well as other peoples living in our climate) love to eat. They always loved it and, by and large, they were right: they had to work hard and a lot to keep warm own body also required additional calories and protective fat layers. Therefore, abundant nutrition was perhaps the main condition for survival.
But if in ancient times this healthy appetite was somehow restrained by the zone of risky agriculture, taxes, dues and raids of nomads, then in modern world The load on the stomach has increased significantly. A healthy appetite remains, but there are no restraining factors (well, except conscience).
So there is nothing strange if every day in some place in the abdomen something gurgles, bursts and hurts from overload. And it’s not a fact that it’s the digestive organ that hurts. Someone out there is giving signals, trying to remind you that, Without sparing your belly, you are literally risking your life. Marina Yakusheva, a network therapist, helped us decipher these messages medical clinics"Family".
Pain in the pit of the stomach, at the very top in the center (1)
What do you feel: piercing, cutting sharp pain, sometimes radiates to the chest area. She is accompanied by a feeling of fullness in the abdomen and flatulence.
Most likely it is gastritis. Unless, of course, you rule out the possibility that someone punched you in the gut. The most common cause of disease is microorganisms Helicobacter pylori. They torment the stomach lining worse than hot pepper or alcohol (by the way, also provoke gastritis).
Stress hormones stimulate excessive release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach - and here is another factor for the development of inflammation. That’s why there is a belief among people that “ulcers come from nerves.” With severe and prolonged pain, one can indeed suspect not just gastritis, but a stomach or duodenal ulcer.
By the way, There are two types of gastritis:
- Hyperacid occurs with increased acidity, everything is clear with it: the acid irritates the walls of the stomach, and inflammation results.
- It still happens hypoacid. The fact is that a low level of acidity, firstly, promotes well-being Helicobacter bacteria pylori, and secondly, does not ensure normal digestion of food, allowing it to rot.
Is it true, the same pain and associated symptoms can also cause myocardial infarction, which is often disguised as “something with the belly.” If the pain also radiates to your left arm, call an ambulance immediately!
Another option is appendicitis. It often begins with a vague pain in the pit of the stomach, and only then the pain signal moves to the right side and becomes very distinct. This is why it is usually not recommended to take painkillers for abdominal discomfort: this will complicate the diagnosis. Maybe an ambulance after all?
What to do?
Well, if there was no emergency hospitalization, still make an appointment with a gastroenterologist or therapist as soon as possible. And do not refuse gastroscopy: only this procedure will allow you to make a clear diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Read also How to stop overeating: changing your eating habits
Right hypochondrium hurts (2)
What do you feel: sharp, acute pain that occurs suddenly, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Gives to the right shoulder. Lasts for an hour.
Most likely, you have biliary (liver) colic. The reason for this is stones that lead to stagnation of bile. Can provoke an attack severe stress, a festive feast (spicy, fatty, alcoholic), a long car ride on a bumpy road and a bent over position (when washing floors, sex or stretching exercises).
But, again, maybe it’s a myocardial infarction, especially if you have cardiovascular pathologies.
What to do?
Call a doctor, do not refuse hospitalization (doctors will most likely insist on it). You need to be examined by a surgeon, gastroenterologist, or urologist. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking birth control pills - they may cause another attack.
Eliminate fatty, salty foods and baked goods from your diet. Don't eat for 12 hours after an attack. Try to control your weight - if you have any overweight, start getting rid of them.
Read also Liver: why it is important to know how it works
What do you feel: noticeable discomfort or dull pain, loss of appetite.
Most likely, this is biliary dyskinesia. That is, a violation of their motor skills. Because of this, problems arise with the flow of bile into the duodenum, as a result of which the entire digestion process is disrupted (primarily the digestion of fats).
Less likely, but also May be - acute hepatitis A or B, exacerbation chronic hepatitis C, or even cirrhosis of the liver. It is especially worth thinking about this if one of the symptoms is light-colored stools.
What to do?
Immediately contact a hepatologist and gastroenterologist. Even if the most terrible suspicions are not confirmed, you are still strictly forbidden to overeat (even on major holidays), the diet should be fractional: five to six times a day, in small portions, without fatty, smoked and spicy foods. And, of course, without alcohol.
Right side hurts at waist level (3)
What do you feel: severe cutting pain radiating to the lower abdomen and genital area. It has a wave-like flow, then fades, then intensifies.
Most likely, you have renal colic. The reason for this may be urolithiasis disease, kinking of the ureter, inflammation. Be careful when trying to lose weight. Excessive thinness is one of the provocateurs of kidney prolapse in nulliparous women. There is a lack of retroperitoneal fat, which helps the organs stay in place.
Similar symptoms include inflammation of the ovaries (adnexitis), osteochondrosis (especially if the pain radiates to the lower back) and appendicitis.
What to do?
If you have already encountered a similar situation, then take a painkiller or a drug that relieves spasms. Be sure to schedule a visit to the urologist the next day.
Is the pain new? Gritting your teeth, without taking medications, wait for the ambulance to arrive. To make an accurate diagnosis, make an appointment with a gynecologist, neurologist and surgeon.
Read also Kidney stones: how do you know if you have them?
Left hypochondrium hurts (4)
What do you feel: aching pain that increases in intensity over time. Sometimes it seems to encircle the body. She is accompanied by nausea, dyspepsia, and bloating. It gets especially bad after eating fatty foods or strong alcohol.
Most likely, this is pancreatitis - acute or chronic. The pancreas suffers. The outflow of juices containing digestive enzymes is disrupted. They begin to affect not the food, but the organ itself, leading to its destruction.
In the worst case, this is bleeding from a stomach and/or duodenal ulcer.
What to do?
Start sticking to a diet. Eat small meals five to six times a day. Alcohol is strictly prohibited, no butter and rich broths. If symptoms increase quickly, getting worse every minute - call an ambulance, you need emergency help surgeon
The very middle of the abdomen hurts (5)
What do you feel: flatulence, bloating, churning in the stomach, short-term aching pain.
Most likely, you overate. The stomach, liver, intestines and pancreas simply could not cope with the loaded volume - and now gases move through the intestines, causing discomfort.
Other options: dysbiosis (wait if you were sick and took antibiotics) or lactase deficiency (pay attention to whether the symptoms described are related to the consumption of dairy products).
What to do?
Go to the nearest pharmacy and buy drugs that eliminate flatulence and enzymes that help digestion.
Loading...