Everything You Need to Know About Stomach Pain
You must have, at one point in your life, experienced a stomach ache or abdominal discomfort. We are all aware of the unsettled, queasy, painful unease you get when you are suffering from abdominal or stomach pain.
Not to mention the bouts of nausea or vomiting that may accompany stomach pain, making you always feel like you are suffering from seasickness. Stomach pain can be annoying, painful, and uncomfortable most of the time.
This is why most people who experience abdominal pain find themselves visiting our emergency room near you, looking for solutions to remedy abdominal pain.
About Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is a term used to describe any pain or discomfort, which is experienced within the region that stretches from your chest to your groin. Stomach pain can be described as a form of abdominal pain and tends to vary in both its severity and duration based on its cause.
Stomach or abdominal pain, in other instances, can resolve itself without any medical intervention. However, if a stomach ache seems to persist or worsen, you need to visit our Waxahachie emergency room for medical treatment.
Short term stomach and abdominal pain can be linked to daily issues such as overeating, indigestion, constipation, or stomach infections. This type of abdominal pain can clear out without any medical assistance.
Stomach or chronic abdominal pain that worsens could be due to more serious medical issues such as appendicitis, which require you to seek immediate medical attention at our ER in Waxahachie, TX.
Abdominal pain can occur when the following organs situated within the abdominal area are ether infected or inflamed:
- Liver
- Spleen
- Stomach
- Large intestine
- Small intestine
- Gall bladder
- Kidneys
- Appendix
- Pancreas
Types of Stomach Pain
- General pain
This type of stomach pain cannot be traced to a specific organ and will tend to radiate across your abdominal area. It may occur due to indigestion or gas.
- Localized pain
This is a form of sharp pain in the stomach that may be located within a specific region or organ in your abdominal area.
- Cramp pain
This type of stomach pain is linked with issues such as constipation, flatulence, or matters to do with the female reproductive system, such as menstruation. It tends to be less severe and may come and go without requiring medical intervention.
- Colicky pain
It tends to build up gradually and will keep on recurring unless the underlying causative agent is addressed. It is attributed to conditions such as the occurrence of kidney or gall bladder stones.
Possible Causes of Stomach Pain
The common causes of stomach pain may include:
- Pancreatitis
- Constipation
- Food poisoning
- Gastritis
- Bacterial infections
- Viral infections
- Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS
- Stomach ulcers
- Food intolerance for instance lactose intolerance
- Appendicitis
- Parasitic infections
- Kidney stones and infections
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Gall bladder stones or infections
- Indigestion
- Cancer
- Ischemic bowel condition
- Heartburn
- Diverticulitis, which occurs when the colon becomes inflamed and infected
- Allergic reactions
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Other medical conditions such as UTI’S, ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps, endometriosis, an ectopic pregnancy may also lead to abdominal or stomach pain
The above issues could cause stomach and abdominal pain and discomfort. Seeking prompt medical intervention at our ER near you, will prevent the occurrence of any complications.
Persistent and recurring stomach pain should never be left unchecked because, most of the time, the underlying causative issue may be potentially life-threatening.
When Should You Contact Our Doctor?
You should contact our ER near you if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms:
- A persistent and severe stomach ache
- If difficulties breathing accompany your abdominal pain
- If you have a fever accompanying your stomach pain
- If you experience a sudden and sharp onset of stomach pain
- If you notice any blood-stained stool
- If you cannot pass any stool
- If you obtain an abdominal injury
- If your stomach feels tender, swollen or hard to the touch
- If you have stomach, colon, or pancreatic cancer and you have an unbearable stomach pain
- If you experience stomach pain accompanied by bouts of vomiting and diarrhea that are persistent
How Does Our Nearest Emergency Room Figure It Out?
When you arrive at our facility with stomach pain, our doctor will conduct a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms and medical background to narrow down the root cause of the stomach pain.
The information you provide our doctor with about your exact symptoms, location, intensity, duration, and history of your stomach pain will be vital in helping our doctor get to the bottom of the issue.
Other than this, we will also conduct tests based on the symptoms and location of pain, to accurately diagnose and treat the stomach pain.
Contact us today at Altus Emergency Center (Waxahachie) for stomach pain diagnosis and treatment.