Abdominal pain is technically called abdominalgia – a kind of pain or discomfort in the abdomen which indicates an abdominal disorder. The abdomen is the portion of the body situated in between the pelvis and the lower part of the chest. It is oval in shape and is separated by the diaphragm from the chest.
It is lined by the peritoneum membrane. The stomach, large and small intestines, liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, appendix, gallbladder, urinary bladder, major blood vessels and nerves lie within the abdomen. This area is usually known as the belly. What then is behind abdominal pain and its connection to acid reflux?
Causes of abdominal pain
Anyone suffering abdominal pain should be cautious about treating it without the doctor’s advice. Discomfort may be temporary, such as that caused simply by overeating. At times it may be serious, resulting from an inflamed appendix, an infection, or even a tumor.
Excessive eating, drinking, or smoking can also cause abdominal pain. Anxiety, stress, fear, or emotional problem can lead to the problem as well. If frequent or prolonged, these difficulties may bring about actual damage like an ulcerated stomach. Other causes of abdominal pain in women include disorders of the lining of the uterus, infection of the fallopian tubes, and ectopic pregnancy.
Diagnosing abdominal pain
Since different problems can cause abdominal pain, doctors ask many questions when they try to find the cause. These questions are being asked by the physician to determine the quality of the pain and to identify the parts of the abdomen that causes the discomfort.
- Has the pain occurred before? How frequent does it happen?
- Does the pain remain in one part of the abdomen and what other parts are painful?
After the questions, the doctors will start performing physical examination. He might require the patient to undergo some kinds of laboratory, radiological, and even endoscopic examinations to make sure that his assessment is right. He may also require surgical procedure, if there is a need for it.
Kinds of abdominal pain
Abdominal pain has different kinds. The most common ones include:
- Upper abdominal pain. This is a kind of sharp or acute pain which may include vomiting, nausea and diarrhea that may indicate food poisoning.
- Recurring pain and mild or severe discomfort in the upper abdomen. If this kind of pain is accompanied by nausea, indigestion and intolerance to fatty foods, it may mean that you have stones forming in your gallbladder.
- Sharp pain anywhere in the abdomen. This may be due to poisoning, an overdose of strong drugs, or deficiency disorders such as pernicious anemia.
- Burning pain. This is a kind of pain that is caused by an ulcer or an open sore anywhere in the upper abdomen.
- Lower abdominal pain. This may be due to an inflamed appendix. It may begin in the center of the abdomen then usually (though not always) moves to the lower right sector.
Abdominal pain must not be ignored. You must not try to diagnose and treat the pain by yourself. Always go to your doctor for proper scrutiny of your plight. You should entrust yourself to experts before it’s too late. Otherwise, you may encounter severe difficulties including but not limited to acid reflux.