Abdominal Pain: What You Should Know

ISLAMABAD: Abdominal pain is discomfort or other uncomfortable sensations that you feel in your belly area. Just about everybody at one time or another will get a bellyache.

Most causes of abdominal pain aren’t reasons to worry, and your doctor can easily diagnose and treat the problem. Sometimes, though, it can be a sign of a serious illness that needs medical attention.

There are several types of abdominal pain, based on how quickly your pain starts and how long it lasts:

Acute pain starts over a few hours or days and may come with other symptoms.

Chronic pain lasts longer – from weeks to months or more – and may come and go.

Progressive pain gets worse over time and often comes with other symptoms.

Abdominal Pain Causes

The abdomen contains digestive organs including the stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. Problems affecting these organs and others can cause abdominal pain.

Whether you’ve got a mild ache or serious cramps, abdominal pain can have many causes. For instance, you might have indigestion, constipation, a stomach virus, or menstrual cramps.

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Flank pain is a sensation of discomfort, distress, or agony in the part of the body below the rib and above the ilium, generally beginning posteriorly or in the midaxillary line and resulting from the stimulation of specialized nerve endings upon distention of the ureter or renal capsule.

If you have at least three stomachaches over 3 months, and they’re severe enough to keep you from doing everyday activities, you have what doctors call “recurrent abdominal pain.”

Recurrent abdominal pain feels different from person to person. The pain may start and stop without warning, or it could be ongoing. Some people describe it as a dull ache in their belly. Others have sharp cramps. Besides pain, there may be symptoms like diarrhea or throwing up.

When to Call the Doctor About Abdominal Pain

If your abdominal pain is serious, doesn’t go away, or keeps coming back, talk to your doctor. Call 911 right away if your belly hurts because you had a recent injury there or if you have chest pain.

Medicines for abdominal pain

The treatment for abdominal pain depends on its cause and may include:

• Medications to lower inflammation, prevent acid reflux, or treat ulcers or infection
• Surgery to treat a problem with an organ

Over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen can irritate your stomach and worsen your pain. Don’t take them unless a doctor has diagnosed the cause of your belly pain and recommends their use.