Some of our main organs are located in the abdominal region, so it’s hardly surprising that there are well over 150 different possible causes of abdominal pain. Knowing when pain in this area is serious enough to warrant medical care can help you make quick, wise decisions.

The Organs and Types of Pain

All these major organs are in the abdominal region, between the pelvic region and the chest:

• Spleen
• Gallbladder
• Liver
• Intestines
• Appendix
• Stomach
• Pancreas

Any one of them can run into problems that cause pain, from inflammation to infection from bacterial or viral causes, blockages or abnormal growths.

To make things even more interesting, abdominal pain doesn’t always come directly from organs located here since infection or disease elsewhere in the body can cause referred pain. For instance, a throat infection can lead to bacteria entering the digestive tract, bringing on constipation or diarrhea along with pain.

Referred Pain

As mentioned, problems in one area of the body can lead to pain in another. As an example. a hyperactive thyroid (where the thyroid produces too much hormone) speeds up the digestive process which causes discomfort in the gut and alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation.

The patient may think they’ve eaten something that disagrees with them, whereas the actual problem lies in a small organ located in the neck.

Parietal Pain

When the peritoneal lining is irritated, the sharp, localized pain makes breathing difficult. The perineum is the membrane that lines the abdomen, supporting and protecting the organs. It has a large number of nerve fibers, so the resulting pain is keen.

Visceral Pain

Unlike referred pain, visceral pain comes directly from the organ involved. Because most of the organs in the abdomen don’t have many nerve fibers, the pain may be dull, hard to locate precisely, and may be either constant or intermittent.

The location of the pain is often an indication of the cause. For instance, pain in the lower left abdomen could be caused by a kidney infection or Crohn’s disease. Pain felt in the upper abdomen could be gallstones or liver inflammation. Some conditions, such as appendicitis, can cause pain anywhere in the abdomen.

Ulcers are another common cause of abdominal pain, creating pain in the mid-to upper regions. Peptic ulcers are sometimes painful after meals, and duodenal ulcers can often cause painful episodes in the middle of the night.

Diagnosing Abdominal Pain

A physical examination is the first step towards diagnosis of what’s causing the pain. How tender the abdomen is and where the pain is localized help the doctor decide which further tests are needed.

Further tests could include various scans, such as MRI or ultrasounds and X-Rays. Allowing specialists to look deeper into the organs, these scans can locate fractures, tumors, and areas of inflammation or ruptures.

Other types of tests include endoscopy (to examine the esophagus and stomach) or colonoscopy (to look inside the colon and intestines).

Patients may also be asked to provide urine or stool samples so specialists can investigate possible bacterial or parasitic infections.

When to Visit Emergency Room for Abdominal Pain

Not all stomachache or abdominal pains need medical intervention or a visit to the nearby emergency room. Most abdominal pains will clear up without medical treatment.

Below are some symptoms of abdominal pain to look out for. Having any of these symptoms could be an indication that it it time to visit an emergency room.

• Severe pain that prevents you sitting comfortably
• High fever
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Swelling in the abdomen
• Trouble breathing
• Yellow eyes or skin
• Vomiting blood or bloody stools

There are other situations where the medical condition may not be an immediate emergency but which mean you should see a doctor as soon as possible, and these include:

• Any prolonged abdominal pain that you can’t explain
• Burning when urinating
• Unexplained weight loss
• No appetite
• Can’t keep food down
• Long periods of constipation

How to Prevent Abdominal Pain

1. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle – Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help prevent many types of pain, although not all depending on the cause.

2. Eat Healthy – Eating healthy food, avoiding too much fat or sugar and drinking plenty of water are both steps in the right direction.

3. Get Regular Exercise – Getting regular exercise and not overeating are further precautions. For those with diagnosed conditions such as GERD or Crohn’s disease, following the doctor’s advice will help minimize any discomfort.

4. Be Vigilant – Pregnant women and young children need extra vigilance, but anyone who is worried by abdominal pain should see their doctor.

It may be something that’s easily resolved, but if the pain persists it could indicate a more serious condition. It’s best to err on the safe side and have a false alarm than to risk further damage.