What causes abdominal pain?

The abdomen is divided into the upper abdomen and lower abdomen. Generally, there are many reasons for abdominal pain, such as gastroenteritis, pancreatic inflammation, gallstones, stomach pain, advanced liver cancer, appendicitis, cystitis, kidney stones, etc. may all cause abdominal pain. Sometimes it may be due to spasms, which will pass after a while, but if you always have indirect pain or pain all the time, you should hurry to the hospital for examination.

1. Upper abdominal pain: abdominal pain above the navel

Abdominal pain caused by gastroenteritis: If you have an upset stomach, such as food poisoning, you will start to have abdominal cramps a few hours after a meal, followed by nausea and vomiting, which is called "gastroenteritis". Some people also have diarrhea after the abdominal pain, which does not stop, which is called "small intestinal colitis." The former mainly affects the stomach, while the latter affects the large intestine. Both are caused by toxins produced by rotten food or bacteria, which stimulate inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Except for a few who need to go to the hospital for intravenous drip, they will usually recover within a few days.

Stomachache: Abdominal pain caused by inflammation or ulcer of the stomach or duodenum. The pain point is usually above the navel. Duodenal ulcer is caused by excessive secretion of gastric acid. The pain will improve after eating something, but will return when hungry. This is a typical duodenal ulcer patient. In addition, a small number of cases of true stomach pain are caused by stomach cancer. It is necessary to undergo a gastroscopy to find out the exact cause so as not to delay the disease.

Gallstones: Gallstones fall out and get stuck in the gallbladder duct, causing the gallbladder to contract and produce severe abdominal pain. The pain point is usually in the upper abdomen, which is often mistaken for stomach pain. The pain usually lasts half an hour to an hour after a meal. Gallstones are often complicated by cholecystitis, and the pain will become continuous pain. The pain point is in the right upper abdomen and is often accompanied by obvious tenderness.

Pancreatic inflammation or pancreatic cancer: Pancreatitis is common in patients with gallstones, and patients with high triglycerides have thick blood. The digestive juices secreted by the pancreas are not easy to flow into the small intestine, causing pancreatic juice reflux and also leading to pancreatic inflammation. Abdominal pain caused by pancreatitis usually worsens slowly and can be easily mistaken for stomach pain.

Pancreatic cancer can also cause symptoms similar to stomach pain, especially cancer that grows in the body or tail of the pancreas, which often causes stomach or even back pain. Many people think it is a bone spur, and only realize that something is wrong when the condition worsens.

Advanced liver cancer: In addition to the capsule on the surface, the liver has no pain nerves, so liver cancer usually does not cause pain, unless the liver cancer is very large or in the advanced stage, the capsule is stretched, which causes pain; or although the liver cancer is not large, but grows on the surface, there will be a feeling of stomach pain in the early stages. The pain point is usually in the upper abdomen and is persistent. In Taiwan, another common cause of abdominal pain is rupture and bleeding of liver cancer. The pain is mostly in the right upper abdomen or right lower chest. Some people even fall to the ground in pain.

2. Lower abdominal pain: pain below the navel

Appendicitis: Appendicitis may initially cause upper abdominal or stomach pain, which may later move to the right lower abdomen, where the appendix is ​​located. In addition, there will be a slight fever and elevated white blood cell count, which is usually not difficult to diagnose, but it is often difficult to diagnose in the elderly.

Ectopic pregnancy rupture and bleeding: Women suddenly experience lower abdominal pain, break out in cold sweats, and even faint. Severe symptoms of ectopic pregnancy rupture and bleeding often occur in patients with fallopian tube adhesions.

Inflammation of the bladder or stones: When stones are stuck in the urethra, it will cause severe pain in the bladder, urethral pain when urinating, and even hematuria. If the bladder is infected by bacteria, there will be pain in the same area, but the pain is milder and is usually accompanied by a burning sensation when urinating. A urine test may show an increase in white blood cells.

Menstrual pain: Women may experience varying degrees of lower abdominal pain during their menstrual period. This is normal, but if the pain is severe or accompanied by lower body bleeding or other symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.

3. Waist pain: pain on both sides of the waist

Kidney stones: Kidney stones can fall and get stuck in the ureter, causing severe pain. It usually occurs on both sides of the waist, sometimes radiating downward to the bladder, and sometimes blood is found in the urine. This pain is also a kind of colic, which is very severe and usually can only be relieved after an injection.

4. Pain in no specific area

Colorectal cancer: Colorectal cancer causes changes in bowel habits and may even cause bloody stools and bloating. Severe cases may lead to intestinal obstruction. Patients often feel abdominal pain, but the location of the pain is unclear, which often delays diagnosis.

Intestinal obstruction: Patients who have undergone abdominal surgery often experience intestinal adhesions, which cause intestinal obstruction and lead to abdominal pain. The location of the pain is uncertain, usually with waves of colic and severe bloating, which will improve with belching or passing gas.

3. What should I do if I have stomachache?

Most of my friends should have experienced what it feels like to have stomach pain. "Stomach pain" is medically called "abdominal pain". "Abdominal pain" covers a wide range. Just think about it, there are so many things involved. The stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, all the organs in the abdominal cavity, and even the muscles in the abdominal cavity will cause abdominal pain if there is a problem with them.

General pain will go away after a while. It may be caused by bloating or stitch in the side. If the pain is severe and you go to the hospital, the doctor will ask you where it hurts and how it hurts. Can you describe it clearly? The more detailed and accurate your explanation is, the faster the doctor can find out the problem for you. Here are some new health concepts from Kyoto Nien Jian. Bloating and pain: This is generally related to gas. There is a lot of air in the stomach or intestines, which makes you feel bloated. Most of the time, this is caused by functional gastrointestinal disorders. There is also colic: most of the time it is spasm, as if something inside is being twisted and it hurts. Many stones, intestinal blockages, and acute enteritis can cause colic. If you feel like a needle is pricking you somewhere and it causes stinging pain, it is mostly a problem with peptic ulcer. Sometimes the stomach feels like it is on fire and burning. This is usually caused by excessive stomach acid, and is mostly a sign of peptic ulcer or a precursor.

What if you have a stomachache and don’t know what the problem is? When you go to the hospital to register, which department should you go to? Larger hospitals divide their departments into very detailed ones. Well, if you have severe pain in the right upper and lower abdomen, and it comes very urgently, but you don’t vomit or have diarrhea, go to the general surgery department first. If you have pain in the upper left abdomen or lower left abdomen, or if you have frequent upper abdominal pain and are accompanied by acid reflux, vomiting, or diarrhea, you should go to a gastroenterologist. If you have pain on the left and right sides of your waist and abdomen, especially if the color of your stool is not right, consider seeing a urologist. However, if the child is under 14 years old, no matter where he or she is in pain or discomfort, parents should take them to see a pediatrician.