Understanding Abdominal Pains

Abdominal pain is sometimes considered an emergency, and it’s any pain that occurs in the mid-to-lower abdomen. The pain could be constant or come and go; it could be dull, sharp, or crampy. There may be nausea and vomiting with the pain. In women, abdominal pain Great Neck may be associated with menstrual cycles and pregnancy.

In some cases, abdominal pain can occasionally indicate a life-threatening medical problem, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm or acute mesenteric artery syndrome (AMA). And the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain depend on its cause. The doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a physical examination, including a pelvic exam for women. Blood tests and an ultrasound may also help determine the cause of the pain.

Here are the causes of abdominal pains

What are the causes of abdominal pains?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS):  IBS causes cramps with diarrhea or constipation. It can also cause alternating diarrhea and constipation. IBS is not a serious condition, but it can cause discomfort and distress for those with it.

Appendicitis: Appendicitis occurs when your appendix becomes inflamed, which may block the passage through your colon. This can cause abdominal pain that starts on one side of your abdomen and spreads to the other side of your abdomen, as well as nausea and vomiting. If you have appendicitis, you need immediate medical attention because it is an emergency situation that requires surgery to remove your appendix before it bursts open, spilling bacteria into your body.

Lactose intolerance: Lactose intolerance is when your body doesn’t have the right amount of an enzyme called lactase to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy products. This causes an uncomfortable reaction after eating or drinking foods with lactose, such as bloating and stomach cramps.

Gas: Gas is caused by trapped air in your digestive system that can lead to bloating, belching, flatulence, or passing gas. The most common cause of excess gas is swallowing too much air when you eat or drink too quickly, but it can also occur if you’re eating carbohydrates that are not well-digested by your body, such as beans or if you’re eating more fiber than normal.

Constipation: Constipation is having difficulty passing stool because it’s hard and dry and narrows the opening of your colo. When this happens, less water gets absorbed from stools, so they become harder. This condition is known as fecal impaction, which makes it more difficult to pass out of the body.

How is abdominal pain treated?

The treatment for abdominal pain depends on the cause. If your doctor can’t find a cause, you may be given an anti-inflammatory drug to control the pain. If you have appendicitis, you’ll need surgery to remove your appendix. This is usually done by making a small incision in your belly and removing the swollen appendix with special instruments. Afterward, you’ll get antibiotics to help prevent infection and clean the surgical wound.

If your doctor thinks you have a hernia, surgery may be needed to repair it. In some cases, however, doctors can insert a mesh tube called a prolene into the abdomen that keeps the hernia from returning after it heals.

Abdominal pain is a common reason for visiting the doctor. You can’t always tell if your stomachache is something serious or not, but there are some things you can do to help determine whether you need medical attention. You may want to wait and see if your symptoms go away on their own, but it is best to seek medical attention from AABP Integrative Pain Care for some conditions.