Causes of pain throughout the abdomen. The most common causes of abdominal pain and their treatment

A situation where your stomach hurts for a week can be a real torment. In such a situation, it is necessary to seek help from a qualified doctor as quickly as possible, but this is not always possible - for example, a person may be far from civilization. A difficult situation arises when a tourist gets sick in another country and contacting local doctors is not only expensive, but also difficult due to language barrier.

Should I worry?

If your stomach hurts badly, this probably indicates a serious illness, and it is difficult to predict which one - such symptoms are characteristic of a wide range of pathologies. It is not always the stomach disease that manifests itself as pain; the pathology can be completely different, only indicating itself through this symptom. To understand what the reason is, you need to come to see a doctor and describe in as much detail as possible what the nature of the problem is. pain syndrome worries. It is precisely by the characteristics of sensations that one can often significantly limit the list of possible patient conditions.

If the stomach of a child or an adult is in acute pain, an ulcer is possible. In such a situation, the sensations are sudden, sharp, very strong. The same goes for pancreatitis. Possible strong and sharp pain with chemical burns, poisoning. Sometimes patients describe the sensations, comparing them to a knife wound. This is more typical of ulcer perforation. A peptic ulcer can manifest itself as a burning sensation. The same is true for gastritis. The initial, chronic form of these pathologies often manifests itself as aching, dull, and exhausting pain.

What to pay attention to?

If the pain becomes stronger after eating or while hungry, there is a high probability that the cause is gastritis. Spasms, discomfort resembling contractions, may indicate an ulcer or inflammatory process in the intestine. The syndrome is more often activated during a night's rest or soon after a meal (after an hour or several). It also happens that the pain is acute, but quickly passes, as if shooting, and the duration of the attack is a few seconds. More often this is typical for inhalation or when changing body position. The reason is the spasmodic reactions of the diaphragm, provoked by insufficient blood flow and inflammatory processes.

If a woman or man has a stomach ache, the sensation is weak, aching, and does not stop for a long time, there is a high probability of a malignant neoplasm. Gastric polyps exhibit similar symptoms. If metastases penetrate the pancreas, the nature of the pain changes to girdling. But infection can be suspected by painful sensations of a high degree of intensity, reminiscent of contractions. Colitis and other intestinal diseases often manifest themselves first as severe pain in the upper abdomen. After a couple of days, the pain becomes weaker, but does not disappear completely. When observing such symptoms, it is necessary to make an appointment with a doctor as quickly as possible to formulate an accurate diagnosis.

Problems and manifestations

It's not always easy to understand why your stomach hurts. Abdominal pain of increased intensity, localized near the navel, lasting several hours, shifting to the abdomen on the right, slightly above the original area, suggests appendicitis.

With irritable bowel syndrome, the patient also suffers from stomach pain. Often a child has a stomach ache due to intestinal obstruction. The syndrome is provoked by trauma, aortic dissection, vascular intestinal thrombosis and ischemia, and nervous pathologies. Perhaps the reason is an allergy.

Should we panic?

If you experience pain in the sides of the abdomen, lower or upper, regardless of the nature of the sensations, you should make an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible. Pathologies that manifest themselves as such sensations are, for the most part, quite serious, and medical care is needed very urgently. For example, survival in cases of appendicitis, ulcerative perforation, intoxication, and ischemia directly depends on how quickly help was provided to the patient. Sometimes it is not a matter of hours, but minutes; delay can lead to the most negative results. If the pain is very severe, there is no way to go to the hospital, you need to call an ambulance.

What to do?

If you feel pain in the lower abdomen (and in any other location), you need to see a doctor as quickly as possible. Self-medication for such sensations is strictly prohibited; there is a high probability of the situation worsening, even death. Even an experienced, qualified doctor cannot always clearly formulate just during the initial examination what is the cause of the pain syndrome.

Primary care that can be provided for pain in the lower abdomen (and other localizations) is limited to a fairly small set of measures. You should call an ambulance or go to the clinic if your condition allows it, and for relief you can take a spasm reliever or pain reliever. If heartburn occurs, special drugs from the group of antacids will come to the rescue - they lower the acidity level. Help can be provided by means that relieve secretory function- thanks to them, acid will be produced in a smaller volume. It is necessary to understand that sometimes such measures are not effective, since heartburn is provoked by a variety of factors. There is a risk of worsening the condition when using these groups of drugs.

What will help me?

If you experience abdominal pain (in women, men), you must use medications with extreme caution - taking them is associated with considerable risk. The influence of such a drug can significantly change the symptoms of the disease, which will complicate the diagnosis for the doctor. The most modern remedies are really effective, taking them allows you to relieve pain, and the duration of action is often quite long, so the patient believes that he has recovered. This opinion is erroneous; the absence of symptoms does not indicate the disappearance of the root cause. By resorting to painkillers without consulting a doctor, the patient is wasting his time. Elimination of the effect does not stop the cause, and the condition gradually worsens.

It is generally accepted that abdominal pain can be eliminated with a heating pad. With the exception of some isolated cases, this method of solving the problem is strictly prohibited. For example, if the cause of the syndrome is inflammation associated with the separation of pus, additional heating will significantly worsen the patient’s condition. The heating pad will also have a strong negative effect in case of internal bleeding. The disease will progress faster, the condition will deteriorate rapidly.

What to tell the doctor?

When you see a doctor and wait for the ambulance to arrive, you should describe your condition in as much detail as possible. To begin with, they localize the sensations, saying, for example, that the lower abdomen hurts (or upper, right, left). The better the doctor understands what the patient is feeling, the more effectively he will help. It will not be superfluous to remember what circumstances preceded the appearance of sensations - what was eaten, done, at what time of day the pain occurred, how much time has passed since the last meal. The doctor must imagine what the nature of the sensations is, how strong they are, whether the focus is moving, how the syndrome is corrected over time.

So that the doctor can determine as accurately as possible why abdominal pain is bothering him, the patient should remember everything he ate in the last couple of days. This applies to both food and all drinks, as well as medicines, including vitamins, biological additives. If there are additional symptoms, they should also be stated as accurately as possible. The doctor is notified if the pain is accompanied by nausea, stool disorders, vomiting, bleeding, gas formation, or belching. Sometimes a rash, fever, dizziness, and heart rhythm are additionally observed. You also need to notify your doctor about this to formulate an accurate diagnosis.

What is important?

If you are worried about abdominal pain, information about the accompanying pain syndrome will help your doctor make a correct diagnosis - for example, muscle tissue or joints. If the patient has recently experienced natural pathological changes health, this should also be warned. To the number important nuances include menopause, childbirth, feeding a child, and gestation. Illness, nervous feelings, overwork, sudden changes in weight - all this will help the doctor determine the cause of the pain syndrome. Anxiety, depression, and lifestyle adjustments can play a role.

In order for the doctor to quickly determine where all the important information needs to be submitted systematically. When going to an appointment at the clinic or waiting for an ambulance to arrive, you need to think through all the important aspects, you can even write them down on paper so that nothing escapes your attention.

Correct diagnosis

Just knowing that the lower abdomen hurts, no pathology can be established. Correct diagnosis is a complex undertaking. First, the doctor collects anamnesis, interviewing the patient, examining him externally, palpating, listening to the heart and lungs. Based on the information received, a preliminary diagnosis is formulated and which instrumental, laboratory research necessary to clarify the status. Usually a test of urine, feces, blood, and stomach juices is prescribed. To ensure that the results are as accurate as possible, ultrasound, CT, MRI, and contrast X-ray are prescribed.

These measures in most cases make it possible to understand why pain in the lower abdomen developed in women and men (as well as with other localization options). In rare cases, there is a need for additional measures, for example, laparoscopy. This is a technology for examining the insides of a person through a small probe inserted through an incision into the internal organs. The probe is equipped with a camera that transmits an image to a monitor where the material is recorded.

How to treat?

If your stomach hurts (during pregnancy, during menstruation, at any other time), treatment should be selected based on the reasons that provoked the sensations, which means that only a doctor can select adequate measures. However, some well-known and widely applicable techniques are worth considering.

Heartburn

Pain in this condition is most often felt in the upper abdomen, near the sternum, slightly behind. The syndrome is caused by substances in the stomach entering the esophagus. This often occurs shortly before a meal. Heartburn is not an independent disease, but only signals other pathologies. Perhaps the reason is gastritis, peptic ulcers, cholecystitis. To determine a specific source, it is necessary to undergo specialized research.

As can be seen from medical statistics, ordinary people often mistake manifestations of heart pathology for heartburn. This type of abdominal pain may include angina pectoris, high blood pressure. The symptoms, despite all the similarities, have nothing to do with the digestive system. To get rid of heartburn, you should treat the underlying disease, and also switch to correct mode nutrition, eating food up to five times daily in small quantities. Spicy, fatty, alcoholic, spices, smoked, salty, carbonated, and legumes are completely prohibited. Avoid eating fiber-rich foods.

Appendicitis

Sometimes severe pain in the lower abdomen in women and men is caused by inflammation of the appendix. This pathology develops very quickly, and the best results come from timely treatment. Currently, appendicitis is one of the most common problems with which people present to emergency department surgeons. At the very beginning, this disease can be easily cured medications, surgery is not required, but many simply do not pay attention to the symptoms, so they have to go through the operation. However, the forecasts are mostly favorable. Often, patients seek medical help a day after the start of the acute phase and even later. Slightly less than one percent of these situations result in death.

If your stomach hurts during pregnancy due to appendicitis, you should immediately seek qualified help. It must be remembered that the disease progresses very quickly, only three days are needed from primary manifestation to gangrenous foci. Symptoms are often vague; a fifth of all patients, even with tissue necrosis, feel only weak pain, which are not paid attention to until the situation becomes critical.

Responsibility is the key to health

If your stomach hurts during menstruation, during pregnancy, suddenly, without any obvious reason, you should seek specialized help as quickly as possible. Delay in such a situation can end disastrously, especially if the cause is toxicosis, peptic ulcer disease, or infection. There are known cases of death caused by such reasons.

Sometimes unpleasant sensations indicate only minor disruptions in the functioning of the body, but it is possible that very serious pathologies manifest themselves. For a non-specialist, it is not possible to determine what the matter is just by symptoms; there is too much in common between various reasons. You can't ignore the pain. A reasonable and responsible approach is a timely visit to a qualified doctor.

Gastritis

This term is usually used to denote inflammatory processes that affect the mucous membranes of the gastric system. The cause of gastritis can be frequent and severe stress, adversely affecting colonies of microorganisms, metabolic problems, infectious diseases. Alcohol abuse and prolonged use often lead to gastritis. medicines. Among the most common causes are autoimmune pathologies. Gastritis itself can provoke a gastric ulcer. When eliminating the symptoms of such a pathology, it is prohibited to use aspirin and ibuprofen. Despite high efficiency These drugs are not applicable as painkillers for this situation, since they negatively affect the gastrointestinal mucosa. But adsorbents that envelop can bring benefits. If the disease is associated with bacterial infection, the doctor will prescribe a course of antimicrobial medications.

An important aspect of the fight against pain caused by gastritis is strict adherence to a therapeutic diet. Normally, the patient is prohibited from eating salty, fried, spicy, fiber, or any foods that stimulate fermentation. You cannot drink milk, eat products based on it, bread and similar dishes. The ban is also imposed on a number of fruits, in particular grapes.

Causes aching pain in the stomach there may be:
pathological ( various diseases);
physiological (pregnancy).

Drawing (aching) pain is of two types: with temporary discomfort and when the pain is unbearable (can seriously threaten health).

Temporary illness:
violations digestive organs, digestive disorders;
violations gastrointestinal tract;
kidney disease (if the pain radiates to the back);
diseases of the genital organs.

Digestive system disorders, indigestion

Causes:
stomach ulcer
gastritis;
cholecystitis;
pancreatitis.
Symptoms:
It's a dull pain;
often - nausea and vomiting.

Gastritis

Nature of pain:
not intense;
dull, aching;
with chronic gastritis it occurs immediately after eating, especially if the food is sour and rough.

Other symptoms of chronic gastritis:
often - heaviness and distension in the epigastrium;
a feeling of pressure and fullness in the pit of the stomach (begins or intensifies during or after eating);
nausea;
belching;
regurgitation;
sometimes heartburn;
burning in the epigastrium;
unpleasant taste in the mouth.

These symptoms may be accompanied by signs of intestinal damage (defecation disorders). As a rule, they are episodic, but often become the basis for the appearance of irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptoms of general disorders during chronic gastritis:
irritability;
fatigue;
weakness;
irregularities in work of cardio-vascular system: arrhythmia, heart pain, blood pressure fluctuations;
pallor, sweating and drowsiness (after eating);
burning, pain in the mouth and tongue;
sensory disturbances in the arms and legs (symmetrical).

peptic ulcer

Symptoms:
the main one is pain in the epigastrium. Its intensity may vary: after surgery, the pain is mild or absent at all. Sometimes the pain can be intense, requiring urgent measures to be taken for relief;
connection with food intake: with gastritis, pain occurs immediately after eating, and with an ulcer, not so quickly, but no later than one to one and a half hours after eating.
recurrent course (alternation of seasonal exacerbations and remissions;
often – heartburn, belching;
nausea, vomiting after eating;
weight loss.

A dangerous symptom when the pain becomes sharp, “dagger-like”, cutting (up to painful shock) - this may indicate perforation of the stomach wall with an ulcer (through an opening in the stomach, the acidic contents enter the peritoneal cavity). The condition is threatening, requires immediate intervention!

Stomach polyps

The disease is rare. Diagnosed by chance. But sometimes a dull, aching pain in the abdomen can speak of a polyp.

Associated symptoms:
pain on palpation of the abdomen;
bleeding;
nausea, vomiting.

Stomach cancer

Nature of pain:
non-intensive;
weak;
constant.

Other symptoms:
at an early stage - dyspepsia;
feeling of early satiety, fullness of the stomach after eating;
decreased appetite;
asthenia;
anemia;
aversion to meat;
weight loss;
in the later stages - the pain becomes more intense;
bleeding;
vomiting "coffee grounds";
changes in feces (melena - black feces).

Functional disorders of the stomach

Causes:
binge eating;
disorders of food digestion;
muscle tension in the anterior abdominal wall;
constipation;
smoking;
alcohol abuse.

Stress

Stomach pain can be triggered by heavy physical exertion and neuropsychic trauma. The stomach is very sensitive to any extreme influences. An example is “bear disease” due to its effect on the nervous system.

Symptoms of stress:
stomach pain;
vomit;
stool disorders.
Constant stress can lead to chronic gastritis and stomach ulcers.

Food intolerance, allergies

The pain is diffuse, aching in nature. It is associated with the consumption of allergenic foods.
Some people are born intolerant to milk sugar (lactose). When consuming dairy products they experience:
stomach ache;
bloating (flatulence);
nausea, vomiting;
loose stool.

Pancreatitis

Acute inflammation of the pancreas begins with pain in the upper abdomen. It lasts for several days and may resemble stomach pain. It is quite strong and constant. It often spreads to the back and becomes encircling. The intensity of the pain increases while eating.

Other symptoms:
high sensitivity of the anterior peritoneal wall to touch;
bloating;
nausea, vomiting;
temperature;
rapid pulse;
weight loss;
bowel movements with a lot of fat;
in severe cases – dehydration, drop in blood pressure;
depletion of the body.

Duodenitis (inflammation of the small intestine)

The intensity of pain in the epigastric region is significant. Often appears after stress.
Other symptoms:
nausea, vomiting;
weakness;
pain on palpation of the epigastrium;
temperature.

Usually the acute process in the small intestine ends on its own after a few days. Repeated duodenitis or lack of adequate therapy can cause a chronic process and complications (bleeding, intestinal perforation, development of acute pancreatitis).
Pain in chronic duodenitis – aching, dull.

Other symptoms of chronic duodenitis:
decreased appetite;
feeling of fullness after eating in the upper abdomen;
pain on palpation deep in the epigastric region;
nausea, sometimes vomiting.

Hunger pain due to duodenal ulcer

Pain in this disease occurs in the epigastric and epigastric region. As a rule, the pain is insignificant, but in some patients it is severe and cramping.

The location of the ulcer in the duodenum is characterized by late pain - no earlier than two hours after eating. The pain often occurs at night. It can be aggravated by certain foods: spicy and sour, marinades, canned food, black bread.

The pain also increases with exercise, drinking alcohol and a long break between meals. Seasonality is typical (exacerbations in spring and autumn).
Products with a high content of alkaline substances have an enveloping effect and delay the onset of pain, reduce or even eliminate it.

These are the products:
baking soda;
mashed potatoes;
liquid milk porridges;
meat, fish boiled minced meat;
some mineral waters.

A dangerous complication is perforation of the ulcer.
Symptoms:
sharp, dagger pain in the epigastric region;
sudden;
severe pallor of the skin;
sweating;
sometimes – loss of consciousness.

The condition is urgent and requires urgent hospitalization and surgical intervention!

Colon lesions

Colitis

Pain at the site of the projection of the stomach onto the anterior wall of the peritoneum occurs with inflammation of the colon mucosa.

Symptoms:
constant urge to defecate;
rumbling;
bloating;
diarrhea, sometimes containing blood and mucus.
Acute colitis lasts several days, then progresses to chronic form– the pain weakens in intensity, but becomes constant.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis

Causes of non-infectious lesions of the large intestine:
hereditary predisposition;
individual food intolerance;
allergic factors;
frequent stress.

Symptoms:
weakness;
temperature increase;
lack of appetite;
body weight loss;
obligatory urge to defecate;
false urge to defecate;
frequent diarrhea;
mushy stool consistency;
feces mixed with blood, mucus, pus;
violations water balance;
joint pain.

irritable bowel syndrome

One of the most common reasons nagging pain in the left side of the lower abdomen. The syndrome is expressed in chronic pain. Some organic diseases are missing.

Symptoms:
abdominal discomfort;
pain in the lower abdomen (sometimes in the epigastric region);
rare (1-2 times a week) or frequent (more than three times a day) bowel movements;
the stool is either “sheepy” and hard, or watery and unformed;
straining during bowel movements;
imperative urge to defecate;
mucus in stool;
feeling of incomplete bowel movement;
sometimes pain during bowel movements;
the pain sometimes goes away after a bowel movement;
bloating;
heartburn;
backache;
muscle pain;
headache;
syndrome chronic fatigue;
anxiety and depression.

Sometimes the pain temporarily disappears, and the person thinks that he has recovered. However, the disease returns and progresses, the pain intensifies. General violations plus discomfort lasts from three months to one year. Then bloating occurs, and diarrhea and constipation alternate. You should not put off visiting a doctor, since advanced stages will be difficult to treat and will take more time.
Please note that nagging pain in the left abdomen can worsen during nervous disorders or nervous breakdowns.

Sigmoiditis

Sigmoiditis – inflammation of the sigmoid colon (part of the large intestine)
Causes:
infection (pathogenic bacteria);
autoimmune process (disorders) immune system) – antibodies are produced that identify the cells of the sigmoid colon as foreign.
Symptom: aching pain in the left and lower abdomen.

Damages of the cardiovascular system

Cardiac ischemia

A pathological condition in which the blood supply to the myocardium is disrupted due to damage to the arteries of the heart. Pain in ischemic heart disease is associated with increased physical activity or stress. Localized behind the sternum. Sometimes it radiates down to the epigastric region (can simulate pain in the stomach).

Other symptoms:
weakness;
dyspnea;
interruptions in heart function;
feeling of heart rhythm disturbances;
forced sitting position;
swelling of the lower extremities.

Aching pain in the lower abdomen in men

Causes:
intestinal diseases;
pancreatic diseases;
hernias;
diseases of the urinary system;
diseases of the genital organs (including inflammation of the testicles);
inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis).

Prostatitis

Inflammation of the prostate gland is a fairly common disease of the genital area in men.
Symptoms:
lower abdominal pain;
difficulty urinating;
frequent urge to urinate;
sometimes painful urination;
burning sensation after urination.

Aching pain in women

Aching, nagging pain in the lower abdomen in women can be caused by inflammation of the female genital organs:
ovaries (oophoritis);
fallopian tubes (salpingitis);
uterine appendages;
combined inflammation - salpingoophoritis.
These diseases are usually chronic.
Pain characteristics:
the pain is not intense;
the course is long;
There are periods of relapse (increasing pain) and remission (decrease).

Tumors of the uterus

Symptoms:
aching pain in the lower abdomen;
Iron-deficiency anemia(anemia);
an increase in the volume of the abdomen, sometimes significant (with uterine fibromyoma).

Endometriosis

With endometriosis, endometrial cells (the lining of the uterus) grow in other organs and tissues of the pelvis.
Symptoms:
Blunt pain in the lower abdomen;
as the disease progresses, discharge (bloody) from the genitals (outside of menstruation);
blood when urinating.

Abdominal pain during pregnancy

The pain is associated with the fact that the growing uterus puts pressure on nearby organs - bladder, large intestine, kidneys, ureters.

When the pain is urgent

Other symptoms may accompany the aching pain. It is necessary to apply for urgent medical care in cases where:
pain intensifies;
the pain becomes unbearable;
nausea and vomiting appear;
if a woman begins to discharge blood from the genitals;
the temperature also rises;
chills appear.

But even if emergency help was not required, you need to consult a doctor, undergo diagnostics and find out the cause of the pain in order to start treatment earlier, avoid the process becoming chronic and prevent the development of complications.

A sharp pain in the stomach is the first signal that a malfunction has occurred in the body and the digestive system requires attention. If such a sign appears, you should definitely consult a doctor so as not to aggravate the situation and not transfer the problem to the stage chronic disease. You need to contact us as soon as your stomach hurts.

Causes of sharp pain

Experts identify the main causes that can provoke unpleasant abdominal pain with quite painful cramps.

Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum

These are the main causes of severe pain. If such a disease is present, then all pain is localized in the upper abdomen. As a rule, discomfort is felt almost immediately after eating. Doctors explain the unpleasant sensations quite simply. To digest food, the motor activity of the stomach must increase, the amount of gastric juice will increase, and this will lead to an increase in acidity, and frequent belching appears. A peptic ulcer is manifested by sharp pain; it can occur not only after eating, but also on an empty stomach. Late-night snacking or even a glass of water can cause the same effects. Regular consumption of rough food also provokes pain.

Pyloric stenosis

Sharp abdominal pain occurs with pyloric stenosis. The disease occurs as a consequence peptic ulcer, there is a narrowing of the part of the transition from the stomach to the duodenum. To digest food, the motor activity of the upper part of the stomach increases, which leads to cramping sensations and unpleasant belching. A person feels heavy even after eating a small amount of food. Typically, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Almost everyone feels relief after vomiting; the feeling of overeating and heaviness goes away. The temperature may also drop after this.

Perforation of the ulcer

This is another reason for sharp pain. The pain can even be girdling, the temperature rises, because with such a disease through end-to-end deformation of the wall duodenum the internal filling of the organs or stomach penetrates into the internal abdominal cavity. Often the girdle pain is so severe that the person loses consciousness. Sometimes peritonitis is possible. Severe, girdle pain may be accompanied by diarrhea and nausea. A sharp tension in some muscles persists almost all the time, and if nothing is done, purulent fistulas may begin to appear in the abdomen.

Acute pancreatitis

The disease in the acute stage causes not only girdling pain in the abdomen and its upper region, but also a state close to loss of consciousness, observed heat, painful spasms radiate to the back. Bloating, diarrhea, and belching during an exacerbation are observed in almost everyone who encounters such a disease. The beginning of the exacerbation stage may go unnoticed, but gradually palpation of part of the abdominal muscles becomes painful, strong tension is felt, and spasms can be cramping. A sharp exacerbation can be fatal. It is forbidden to do something on your own, you need to call a doctor.

Chronic pancreatitis

Accompanied by severe pain in the abdomen, most often attacks begin at night. Discomfort also occurs after eating heavy, cold or very hot food, and there may be painful belching. The diet will lead to weight loss, and the causes of malaise will remain in place.

With thrombosis and embolism of intestinal vessels

There is a sharp pain in the upper abdomen. Many people experience a sharp drop in blood pressure, belching, nausea, bloody diarrhea may begin, and the temperature rises or falls. The abdomen swells sharply, after which a lesion occurs in the anterior abdominal wall.

It is forbidden to remove all these diseases, their causes and painful attacks on your own; this can lead to serious consequences. Doctors advise not only not to take analgesics, but also to call as soon as possible ambulance, if possible, collect vomit and stool, which will be required for detailed tests.

External factors that negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract

Very often, a combination of chronic or developing diseases and external negative factors lead to serious consequences that can only be cured with medication. Experts have identified a number of main reasons that can cause work failure digestive system and the occurrence of abdominal pain.

• A severe stressful situation quickly affects a person’s well-being. Severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, unpleasant belching and high fever can only occur against the background of strong emotions. A person has a feeling of heaviness in the upper part of the stomach, even if he has not eaten anything. Experts advise immediately eliminating stress factors and then carefully examining the pancreas, malfunctions of which can cause this condition. You can take a medicine that helps relieve pain and restore the functioning of the digestive system, change your diet, removing everything from it harmful products. A consultation with a doctor must also be required.
• The reasons why digestive problems may arise are hidden in the consumption of low-quality, expired products. An inflammatory process begins in the upper mucous membrane of the stomach, which is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and painful spasms that radiate even to the back. The pain can be throughout the entire stomach area, a separate part or in the back area, it all depends on the severity of the poisoning.
• Long-term adherence to a strict diet or even fasting are reasons that have the most negative impact on the functioning of the digestive system. As soon as a minimal amount of food enters the stomach, it begins to be processed and too much gastric juice is released. There is a girdling pain in the abdomen, mainly in the upper region, and the body temperature rises. Frequent overeating has the same consequences; discomfort is observed in almost every area of ​​the stomach and even the back.
• Regular excessive loads provoke pain in the abdomen or its upper part, radiating to the back.
• Various mechanical injuries internal organs accompanied by pain in the stomach area, and increased temperature may occur.
• Long-term and excessive use of various medications irritates the gastric mucosa, resulting in unpleasant sensations before or after eating, localized in the upper part.
• Regular pain in the upper region of the stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, belching are direct consequence diseases of the digestive system. Discomfort occurs in almost the entire body; there may be painful attacks that are localized not only in the stomach, but also radiate to the back.

Correct actions for stomach pain

Characteristic symptoms of diseases of the digestive tract are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and sharp girdle pain radiating to different parts of the stomach. Sometimes all this occurs regardless of food intake. Almost every person has experienced this condition, so you should know the rules and sequence of actions to make you feel better.

If the discomfort occurs frequently and you already have experience drug treatment, then you can first take an anesthetic or antispasmodic drug, before washing your stomach of food - this will relieve tension and pain. As soon as the desired relief occurs, you can analyze the situation in detail and, if necessary, immediately consult a doctor.

Pain in one area can be the cause of several diseases. Spasms can radiate to the back during ovarian spasms, as well as with renal colic and pancreatitis. If this situation has arisen for the first time, doing something on your own or taking painkillers is prohibited, as this will prevent the doctor from making a correct diagnosis.
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, which indicate banal poisoning, may actually be infectious disease and if you take one antibiotic tablet, the cause of the ailment will not go away, and the condition will only improve by a short time.

Medical examination

During the first examination, the doctor palpates not only different parts of the abdomen, but also the back to determine exactly where the pain is spreading. After the initial collection of information from the patient, the necessary tests are prescribed that will help supplement clinical picture and make the correct diagnosis. The doctor needs to tell you whether there is diarrhea or constipation, what color the stool is, and what temperature is observed during the period of illness. All this is very important.

First you need to contact a gastroenterologist, he may refer you to a surgeon for examination. The patient must undergo all necessary organ examinations abdominal cavity, computed tomography and gastroscopy, if necessary, examine the back. Based on the research obtained, a drug treatment regimen is developed.

Prevention measures

Following a strict diet and eating healthy food is mandatory for any disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The doctor will give certain recommendations that you need to follow, this will help relieve pain. You can also independently identify foods that cause pain in different parts of the abdomen after eating them and eliminate them completely.

All junk food, including alcohol and carbonated drinks, is also excluded from the diet. You need to eat 4-6 times a day in small portions. Sour fruits and berries are also prohibited from consumption; they irritate the walls of the stomach, provoking inflammatory processes.

It is best to start cooking steamed dishes; meat and fish can be baked with a minimum amount of salt and without seasonings, or simply boiled. You should not drink water or other drinks while eating.

Regular visits to the gym and therapeutic exercises will be beneficial for the whole body. You will be able to strengthen your abdominal muscles, relieve unnecessary tension, and pump up your back. You can also do simple, healthy exercises at home.

Drug treatment must be in accordance with the schedule drawn up by the doctor. If there is the slightest side effects, the temperature rises, you need to go for a consultation. It is prohibited to independently change the dose of the drug or stop taking medications.

Sharp abdominal pain may go away even after taking painkillers, but it can lead to a serious problem. Paying attention to your health is the key to good health and good mood.

You may also be interested

Abdominal pain- one of the most common reasons for visiting doctors. Unpleasant and painful sensations can overtake each of us. And if in some cases the pain subsides after a short time and does not return, then sometimes attacks of pain become unbearable and require urgent attention to a gastroenterologist. Let's look at the reasons for the appearance of pain in the abdominal area and our subsequent actions.

Why does my stomach hurt?

There are two main types of abdominal pain: visceral and parietal.

Visceral pain is caused by irritation nerve endings in the walls of internal organs caused by their stretching or spasm. Such pain is also called colic, and its intensity is variable. However, it is often difficult to determine where the source of pain is located.

Parietal pain occurs due to irritation of the abdominal wall. This happens, for example, when a stomach ulcer is perforated. In this case, the abdominal muscles become significantly tense. Such pain, most often sharp and cutting, has a clearly defined center and is constant.

Based on duration, abdominal pain is divided into chronic and acute. And if chronic ones can last a long time, then acute ones can last from several minutes to several hours. Acute pain indicates a sharp deterioration in health caused by various reasons. For example, this is how acute pancreatitis, cholecystitis and ulcers manifest themselves.

Where does it hurt?

Abdominal pain is divided into those that have a pronounced focus, and those that spread to large areas of the body. The possible cause of pain can be determined by its nature and location of the epicenter:

• Pain between navel and solar plexus. Occurs with diseases of the stomach (gastritis, ulcers, etc.), cholecystitis, inflammation of the duodenum or pancreas.
• Pain around and in the navel area. Often caused by intestinal disorder or inflammation of the appendix. The latter requires immediate hospitalization of the patient due to a direct threat to life.
• Pain below the navel. This is how problems with the intestines and, most often, with the rectum manifest themselves. In women, it can signal diseases of the genitourinary system. Pain of this localization also occurs during menstruation or pregnancy. In men, this is how diseases of the urinary system manifest themselves.
• Significant pain in the right upper abdomen indicates inflammation of the gallbladder. These are symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas and duodenum. With all these diseases, the pain can shift to the middle of the abdomen and even to the back.
• When there is pain in the left side of the abdomen, the stomach, pancreas or large intestine is not functioning normally.
• Pain in the lower right and left abdomen is a reason to examine the colon and rectum, respectively.

What to do if your stomach hurts

Regardless of the nature of the pain and the location of its source, if the pain appears regularly and continues for a considerable time or is acute, you should immediately seek help from a doctor. If you are in St. Petersburg, then you can always come for a consultation at our clinic. Experienced doctors, using modern equipment, will accurately determine the cause of abdominal pain and prescribe effective treatment.

What not to do for abdominal pain

There is a clear list of what you should never do if you have abdominal pain:

• You should not apply a hot heating pad to the source of pain or to your stomach in general, or try to warm up the sore spot in any other way. To alleviate the condition, try applying something cold on the contrary.
• Until the cause of the pain is determined and a doctor is consulted, you should not take painkillers. By taking them, you can change the symptoms of the disease in such a way that it will be impossible to make an accurate diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract condition.
• Under no circumstances should acute or prolonged pain be tolerated, especially if it is accompanied by fever, prolonged (more than 2-3 times) vomiting, loss of consciousness, the presence of blood in the vomit, or the appearance of bloody stools. If any alarming symptom appears, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.

Remember that with the help of pain, the body signals us about the emergence of some kind of problem. The sooner the disease is identified and appropriate treatment is started, the faster you can achieve a full recovery and avoid possible complications. The doctors of our clinic in St. Petersburg will always help you with this.

Abdominal pain manifests itself as minor functional disorders, as well as conditions that threaten the patient’s life. First aid for abdominal pain depends on the cause of its occurrence.

Aching or sharp, dull, cutting, cramping - these are all descriptions of various manifestations of abdominal pain. It can occur in the upper or lower abdomen, in the umbilical region, in the side, be diffuse, or radiate to the back. The degree of its intensity, frequency of occurrence, and localization largely depend on the cause of the pain.

Non-pathological causes

Errors in diet

Overeating, snacking on the run, and certain foods can cause temporary digestive disturbances, accompanied by pain, and lead to the development of serious pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Contributing to pain:

Sometimes abdominal pain occurs when eating (legumes, cabbage). In this case, it is accompanied by bloating, flatulence, and rumbling in the stomach.

Sweets and baked goods contain large amounts of simple carbohydrates - basic nutrition. When they are broken down by enzymes produced by bacteria, a large amount of gas is formed, which also causes bloating and rumbling.

Stomach pain can occur due to overeating. You should be especially careful after a strict diet or fasting. If you haven’t eaten even for a couple of days (prescribed diet), then you need to start eating in small portions. In this case, it is better to start with liquid and semi-liquid dishes, gradually expanding the menu.

Abdominal pain may occur after eating low-quality products. This is how the body signals food poisoning, the need for gastric lavage and urgent medical attention.

Frequent pain associated with eating is a symptom of gastrointestinal diseases. Therefore, you should definitely consult a gastroenterologist.

Stress

Pain receptors located in the muscular lining of the hollow organs respond to:

• excessive contraction of smooth muscles;
• increased pressure on the walls;
• stretching of a hollow organ.

When there is excitement, due to nervous overstrain, there is an excitation of the autonomic nervous system. The impulse is transmitted to the smooth muscles, it contracts, a spasm of the vascular walls occurs (blood pressure increases), the heartbeat quickens, and the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract increases. Nociceptive (pain) receptors respond to spasms of the digestive system. Severe, cramping pain in the abdomen occurs, which disappears when taking sedatives (validol, corvalol, valerian), antispasmodics (no-spa).

Due to frequent stress, the motor function of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines is impaired, and the secretion of gastric juice increases - and these are the main factors in the development of most diseases of the digestive system. And if you cannot avoid stress, then you need to cope with it with the help of medications (prescribed by a neurologist or therapist) or special psychological training.

Pregnancy and menstruation

In pregnant women, discomfort and pain may occur when the baby turns over in the stomach. In other cases, consultation with a gynecologist is necessary:

It is especially difficult to differentiate gynecological diseases from. Therefore, in case of acute abdominal pain, women are referred for consultation to a surgeon and a gynecologist.

In children

Abdominal pain in children occurs even with colds. She often accompanies:

• sore throat;
• SARS;
• flu.

If a child complains of abdominal pain, it is necessary to identify the cause of its occurrence. It may be related to:

If abdominal pain occurs periodically, the child must undergo examination. The cause may be diseases of the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive systems.

Sometimes plantex, fennel tea, and abdominal massage help relieve discomfort. In this case, the pain was caused by poor gas passage. If these are repeated often, then you need to:

• review the diet of a nursing mother (if the child is breastfed);
• replace the milk mixture;
• consult a doctor.

The nature of the pain and its location are indicated by older children. Small ones, especially those under 3 years of age, will at best point to the peri-umbilical area. It is necessary to determine exactly where it hurts by palpation. If pain occurs when pressure is applied, the child’s facial expressions change, but it is imperative to monitor the reaction of the pupils. This is how you can determine whether the child really has a stomach ache, and where exactly.

In case of acute pain, especially if it is accompanied by vomiting, nausea, or fever, the child needs urgent medical attention.

Pathological causes

Digestive system diseases

Abdominal pain associated with pathology of the gastrointestinal tract is accompanied by digestive disorders:

• vomiting, nausea;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• blood in the stool;
• dysphagia;
• heartburn.

Pain syndrome can be provoked by food, walking, coughing. Taking into account all these factors helps the clinician determine the diagnosis and the need for urgent surgical intervention. The location of pain is of particular importance.

Table 1. Localization of abdominal pain and possible reason her appearance

Sometimes, when the disease is just beginning, the patient cannot clearly indicate the location of the pain. Only after some time does it concentrate in a certain place. As the disease progresses and complications arise (), it becomes diffuse again.

The nature of the pain is important for diagnosis:

In addition, abdominal pain can be radiating. That is, in fact, the pathology is not associated with diseases of the abdominal organs, but due to the characteristics of the innervation, the pain radiates to the stomach.

Table 2. The most common diseases of the digestive system, accompanied by abdominal pain.

Other diseases

Very often, patients complain of pain in the upper abdomen due to diseases of the cardiovascular system, lungs, pleura, and endocrine disorders. Therefore, when diagnosing, it is important to exclude:

Often occur due to gynecological diseases.

When should you definitely consult a doctor?

Pain is a signal that cannot be ignored, hoping that I will take a pill (or decoction) and everything will go away. You should definitely consult a gastroenterologist if even minor pain is accompanied by:

For symptoms acute abdomen immediate hospitalization is necessary, even without preliminary diagnosis. Signs of this condition are:

• sudden cramping or constant pain (it can be very intense, even painful shock);
• vomiting, nausea;
• hiccups (rare);
• constipation and cessation of gas discharge (with mechanical intestinal obstruction);
• loose stools (with intussusception).

If you have symptoms of an acute abdomen, it is strictly forbidden to take:

• analgesics (with the exception of the risk of developing pain shock);
• narcotic painkillers;
• antibiotics;
• laxatives.

Table 3. The most dangerous manifestations of abdominal pain.

Only a doctor, based on the patient’s complaints, can determine the cause of abdominal pain and prescribe medications that relieve pain. Additional research is needed to make a final diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Differential diagnosis of the causes of abdominal pain

When a patient presents with acute pain in the abdomen, the doctor must decide whether the patient needs urgent surgical intervention, or treatment and further examination should be carried out in a hospital. Or maybe outpatient treatment is enough? Therefore it is necessary:

To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may refer to:

• blood chemistry;
• colposcopy;

X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract is sent for certain indications:

• mechanical ileus (sensitivity of the method – 98%);
• perforation of a hollow organ (60%);
• stones (64%).

Only with the help of an examination can you determine what exactly is causing abdominal pain.

Actions for severe abdominal pain

If you have severe abdominal pain, you should immediately consult a doctor. And in order to somehow reduce the pain, you need to try to relax and breathe deeply. There are many ways to get rid of pain, but it is better not to resort to them until the cause of abdominal pain is determined:

1. It is better not to take analgesics or antispasmodics before the doctor arrives, as they can blur the clinical picture of very serious diseases.
2. A warm heating pad can be placed on the stomach only if you are sure that the disease is not caused by a purulent-inflammatory process.
3. An enema to cleanse the intestines will help with constipation, but with intestinal obstruction it will contribute to the development of complications (perforation, bleeding).
4. In case of partial rupture of the abdominal aorta, even at very low blood pressure Hypertensive drugs (citramon, caffeine, etc.) are contraindicated. They will increase bleeding.

If the cause is known, then the following methods of pain relief are used:

If abdominal pain is caused by life-threatening conditions (strangulated hernia, perforation of a hollow organ, acute appendicitis, peritonitis), hospitalization and urgent surgical intervention are required. Patients often feel relieved when they get to the hospital. It is not recommended to refuse the operation. This well-being is visible, and all patients who leave the hospital almost immediately end up on the operating table, only with very serious complications.