Abdominal Pain

What is Abdominal Pain?

Abdominal pain refers to the discomfort that people feel in their belly area, especially between the bottom of the ribs and the pelvis. This pain can be stabbing, cramping, aching, or burning. Other people mistake it for stomach pain; however, the pain can be coming from other body organs in the vicinity of the abdomen.

Which organs does the abdomen include? These are as follows:

• Liver
• Stomach
• Pancreas
• Gallbladder
• Small intestine
• Lower intestine

What are the symptoms of abdominal pain?

The main symptoms of abdominal pain are the occurrences of sensations like stabbing, burning, cramping, and aching. However, these sensations can be accompanied by other bodily reactions. These are as follows:

• Bloating
• Constipation
• Gas
• Belching
• Fever
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dehydration
• Loss of appetite

Types

As mentioned, the abdomen houses different organs. In line with this, the healthcare professional narrows the pain you’re feeling according to other regions of the abdomen. This process results in having four types of abdominal pain.

Alongside these types, we also listed the causes of abdominal pain associated with the organs in the vicinity of the abdomen. Consider the following:

1^st type – Right upper quadrant (right upper abdominal pain)

The right upper quadrant of the abdomen encompasses the liver, gallbladder, and bile. If you experience abdominal pain in this body part, there’s a big chance you have the following conditions:

• Hepatitis
• Inflammation of the gallbladder
• Gallstones
• Cancer of the bile duct
• Gallbladder cancer
• Liver cancer
• Liver problems
• Bile duct stricture

2^nd type – Left upper quadrant (upper left side abdominal pain)

This abdominal quadrant encloses the stomach, pancreas, and spleen. This part also houses the kidney, although its original location is in the back of the abdomen. If you experience episodes of abdominal pain in the upper left side of the abdomen, you may have the following conditions:

• Pancreatitis
• Cancer of the pancreas
• Enlarged spleen
• Stomach ulcer
• Stomach cancer
• Gastritis
• Kidney disease (stone or infection)
• Bile reflux

3^rd and 4^th types – Lower abdomen (left and right)

The lower abdomen houses the small and large intestines. Aside from gastrointestinal problems, lower abdominal pain can also include a condition relating to the ovaries or uterus. In this region, pelvic pain can also happen, which is what causes lower abdominal pain in females. The following condition can occur in the lower left and lower right abdominal pain:

• Appendicitis
• Appendix cancer
• Diverticulosis
• Kidney stones
• Bowel syndrome
• Colon cancer
• Intestinal cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease

Takeaway

Do not mistake a simple stomachache for abdominal pain. If you experience recurrent episodes of such pain, consult your healthcare professional immediately and obtain the necessary medical care. Testing and diagnosis are essential to know the underlying condition to start treatment.