Why does the stomach hurt and what to do about it

When to call an ambulance

Immediately Abdominal Pain. When to see a doctor, call 103 if your abdominal pain is severe, sharp, or lingering (lasts longer than a few minutes). The danger of such a condition increases if it appeared after a blow to the abdomen or if at least one of the additional symptoms is present.

Burning, tightness in the chest.
A sharp rise in temperature.
Signs of shock Acute Abdominal Pain: tachycardia (heart palpitations), low blood pressure, cold clammy sweat, confusion.
Incessant nausea and vomiting, especially if there is blood in the vomit.
Bloating.
Constipation or inability to release gas.
Black or bloody stools.
Yellowing of the skin.
Swelling in the abdomen.
A sharp increase in sensitivity: even the slightest touch on the abdomen causes a new attack of pain.
Forced position: the patient can only be in a certain position. Most often - on the side, with the knees tucked into the stomach.

These symptoms can be signs of a life-threatening condition, such as massive internal bleeding, peritonitis, or heart attack.

When to see a doctor

If the pain, even if it is not very severe, continues after a few hours, contact your therapist. Such persistent discomfort can manifest itself, for example, developing appendicitis.

You also need to urgently consult a doctor if Stomach Ache:

the pain gets worse;
pain or bloating does not stop or recurs over and over day after day;
the urge to urinate began to appear much more often or less often than before;
it hurts when urinating;
you are a woman and have bloody or unusually heavy vaginal discharge;
diarrhea, which is accompanied by pain, does not go away within a couple of days;
the pain appeared against the background of the fact that recently you have inexplicably lost weight.

What not to do if your stomach hurts

Here are some common mistakes that can be deadly.

1. Make a diagnosis yourself, if you are not a doctor

In different people, dangerous diseases manifest themselves in different ways: sometimes the symptoms are bright, and maybe even blurry, almost imperceptible. Only a professional doctor can determine the cause of lingering abdominal pain. Often this requires additional tests: blood, urine, ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

2. Focus on the strength of pain

"Yes, it hurts, but not much, it's okay …" - this is the most dangerous delusion. The strength of the pain has nothing to do with Abdominal pain with the complexity of the disease. For example, harmless gas in the intestines or relatively harmless intestinal flu can present with severe cutting pain. But really dangerous conditions (colon cancer or developing appendicitis) often make themselves felt only with mild discomfort.

3. Apply a heating pad to the stomach

Basically, this is a common recommendation ABDOMINAL PAIN, which in some cases can really help. But you can make a warm compress only after consulting a doctor who will establish the cause of the ailment.

With appendicitis and other inflammatory processes, you should not apply a heating pad. Is your stomachache appendicitis? ! Under the influence of heat, inflammation will begin to develop even more rapidly.

4. Take painkillers, especially repeatedly

In some cases - for example, if abdominal pain is associated with menstruation, over-the-counter pain relievers can actually help. But if you have not yet established the cause of the pain, taking drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen is still not worth Abdominal Pain. When to see a doctor. They irritate the gastric mucosa, which is why the discomfort may only worsen.

Re-using pain relievers is generally beyond good and evil. This means that the pain is severe enough for several hours, and you still have not consulted a doctor. Run to a specialist!

Why does the stomach hurt?

It is sometimes difficult to answer this question exactly even for doctors. Clinical guidelines of the Russian Gastroenterological Association for the management of patients with abdominal pain. In about a third of patients, the cause of the ailment cannot be established at all by Studies of the symptom abdominal pain-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

And all because there are a lot of options. The pain can even be psychogenic, that is, caused by stress or the psychological state of the patient.

That is why it is so important not to engage in self-diagnosis, but to go to the doctor with alarming symptoms. The specialist will assess your well-being, take into account your lifestyle, eating habits, events that preceded the onset of pain. It will also pay attention to the additional factors of Abdominal pain, which play an important role in the diagnosis.

Where exactly does the stomach hurt?

The abdominal cavity contains many internal organs and tissues. The intestines, stomach, liver, kidneys, gallbladder and bladder, uterus in women, as well as blood vessels and muscles covering the stomach can hurt. And sometimes the problem is not in them at all, but, for example, in the heart - then they talk about radiating (reflected) pain.

To narrow down the possible diagnostic options, pain is classified into two types of Abdominal pain:

Generalized. This means that you feel discomfort in more than half of your abdomen. Generalized pain is characteristic of indigestion, flatulence, and rotavirus infections.
Localized. They talk about such pain if it manifests itself at a specific point where you can point your finger. As a rule, this is how a disease or malfunction of an organ located in this place makes itself felt.

How your stomach hurts

The pain can be sudden and severe, or it can be an unpleasant pulling sensation that appears only sporadically - for example, you notice it every few days. The nature of the pain is also related to Abdominal Pain. Causes with specific diseases and disorders.

For example, infections and kidney stones, cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) often make themselves felt with acute pain. And the episodic pulling, which sometimes grows over time, manifests itself as chronic hepatitis, endometriosis, gastritis, inguinal hernia, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer.

What symptoms are there besides abdominal pain

Additional symptoms are not always present. And if they do exist, then they can be present both individually and in different combinations. Here are some common options.

Temperature. As a rule, an acute inflammatory reaction makes itself felt with a fever. It can be caused by an infectious disease (for example, intestinal flu) or an exacerbation of some pathological process: appendicitis, hepatitis, colitis and others.
Nausea. This combination of symptoms often occurs with poisoning and intestinal infections.
Diarrhea (constipation). This indicates a very likely malfunction of the intestines. They can be caused by indigestion, an unbalanced diet, insufficient fluid intake, and other factors.
Bursting sensation. Perhaps you just have flatulence - an excess of gas in the intestines.
Unexplained weight loss. A dangerous combination of symptoms that can indicate oncological processes.

What are the most common causes of abdominal pain

Here are a few variations on Abdominal Pain. What problems can cause intestinal pain? which are most common.

1. Dyspepsia

Translated from Latin, it is "indigestion." Or just indigestion. Dyspepsia usually occurs when a person has eaten something unsuitable, such as too fatty or spicy food.

The stomach aches with indigestion, usually in the upper part. In addition, belching, flatulence and diarrhea may appear. Fortunately, indigestion goes away on its own within a couple of hours.

2. Flatulence

Often flatulence is a symptom of other disorders, the same digestive disorder or, for example, irritable bowel syndrome. But it can also occur separately: for example, if a person swallowed air while eating or went too far with the use of carbonated drinks.

When the excess gas is released from the digestive tract, the pain caused by flatulence will subside. But remember: if it is strong, acute and protracted, or if the pain attacks simply repeat day after day, a doctor's consultation is required.

3. Constipation

Constipation pain usually occurs in the lower abdomen. This is a common situation. In most cases - in the absence of acute or lingering pain - constipation is not associated with dangerous diseases. And, to alleviate the condition, it is enough to drink more water or take an over-the-counter laxative (it would be more correct to consult a therapist or gastroenterologist before buying).

4. Painful menstruation

Many women experience pulling pain in the lower abdomen shortly before and during their period. As a rule, this discomfort lasts no longer than a few hours and is quite tolerable. And if anything, OTC pain relievers help to cope with it.

But if the pills do not work, and the pain drags on and spoils life, you need to contact a gynecologist. Painful periods can be a symptom of a number of diseases - endometriosis, cystitis, fibroids, fibroids and other tumors of the uterus, as well as inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs.

5. Gastroenteritis

According to some reports, this is the most common Studies of the symptom abdominal pain-a systematic review and meta-analysis cause of abdominal pain with which people seek medical attention. Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach or intestines. Rotavirus infection (intestinal flu) is one popular example of this condition.

Rotating abdominal pain caused by gastroenteritis is accompanied by fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Treatment is symptomatic: patients are advised to drink more and rest. In most cases, the body copes with the same intestinal flu in a few days.

But let us remind you again: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment! This is important because the symptoms of gastroenteritis can hide much more dangerous diseases.

6. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

This chronic disease is poorly understood by science, but it occurs quite often. Up to 13% of all Study of the symptom abdominal pain-a systematic review and meta-analysis patients who visit doctors for abdominal pain suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.

This diagnosis can be assumed if discomfort in the abdomen appears regularly for several months and is accompanied by flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, and bouts of unexplained nausea.

There is no pill for IBS, and its exact cause is difficult to establish: it can be nutrition, malfunctioning of the immune system, genetics, and even the psychological state of the patient. Therefore, in each case, the doctor offers treatment individually. For example, someone will be helped by a correction of the diet, while someone will be advised to drink antidepressants or undergo a course of psychotherapy.

7. Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

We are talking about inflammation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis), bladder (cystitis) or urethra (urethritis). UTIs present with pain in the lower abdomen or lumbar region and are often accompanied by additional symptoms such as burning when urinating and blood in the urine.

8. Acute cholecystitis

This is the name of the inflammation of the gallbladder. It can be caused by infection or stones in the bile ducts.

Acute cholecystitis manifests itself as a sharp, unbearable pain in the upper abdomen on the right (right hypochondrium). Sometimes such sensations occur under the right shoulder blade. Also among the symptoms are fever, cold sweat, nausea and vomiting.

If there is pain in the right hypochondrium, but not sharp, but small, sore, this is also a serious reason to visit a therapist or gastroenterologist. So stones in the gallbladder or problems with the liver located right there make themselves felt.

9. Diverticulitis

Diverticula are small bumps that appear on the surface of the intestines. They appear more often in older people. It is believed that the main cause of diverticulitis is a long-term lack of fiber in the diet.

Often, diverticular disease does not manifest itself in any way. But in some people, diverticula regularly become inflamed and have palpable pain in the lower abdomen. To reduce the discomfort, the gastroenterologist may prescribe pain relievers or antibiotics. And in any case, he will recommend that you carefully monitor your well-being: sometimes diverticula burst, intestinal contents enter the abdominal cavity, and this leads to the development of deadly peritonitis.

10. Appendicitis

Inflammation of the small appendix of the cecum is very dangerous. The appendix can burst, and this again leads to peritonitis.

Most often, the first symptom of appendicitis is a slight pulling pain in the navel or right lower abdomen. It happens that it gives off to the thigh, which is why a person can drag his right leg a little. Symptoms increase gradually, sometimes over several hours, or even days: the temperature rises, nausea, weakness, and pallor appear. This continues until the appendix bursts, and only here, at the very threshold of peritonitis, the painful sensations become acute and unbearable.

Therefore, we repeat once again: in no case should you ignore the lingering pain in the abdomen, even if it seems bearable to you. Be sure to consult with a therapist as soon as possible. It could save your life.

This material was first published in June 2018. In July 2020, we updated the text.