What is Causing My Stomach Pain?
What is Causing My Stomach Pain?
At one time or another, just about everyone will experience a stomachache. Stomach pain has many different causes. Some are minor – like indigestion or gas pains – and others may require emergency medical care.
The pattern and location of pain can give important clues, as well as its time course. Acute stomachache typically develops and resolves in a few hours to days. Chronic pain may be episodic or intermittent – meaning it may come and go. It may cause progressive pain, which doesn’t get better over time.
What does my stomach pain mean?
The conditions that cause acute abdominal pain may develop over hours and days and are usually accompanied by other symptoms. This type of pain may resolve without any need for medical intervention or a trip to the emergency room, but other conditions are considered serious medical emergencies. The causes of stomachache may include the following:
- Cholangitis or inflammation of the bile duct
- Cystitis or bladder inflammation
- Appendicitis
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Diverticulitis or an inflammation in the small intestine
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Lactose intolerance
- Thyroid problems
- Food poisoning
- Gallstones
- Stress
- Acid reflux
- Kidney stones
- Gastroenteritis or stomach flu
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Indigestion
- Urinary tract infection
Many people only need relief from the symptoms they are experiencing. There are times when the pain will go away on its own, or the main cause(es) will become more obvious in time.
When to see a doctor
Go to your doctor or the emergency room if you experience the following:
- Pain lasting for several hours
- Severe pain
- For males, pain in the scrotum
- For pregnant women, pain and/or vaginal bleeding
- Pain and vomiting blood
- Pain, vomiting, and shortness of breath
- Pain that radiates to your neck, shoulder, or chest
- Blood in your urine or bowel
- Pain and clamminess
- Fever and sweating
- Unable to pass urine
- Unable to pass gas or move your bowel
- Other worrisome concerns
People often worry about ulcers, appendicitis, gallstones, pregnancy problems, and infections. Some abdominal pain may not come from the abdomen itself. There are some surprising causes like pneumonia, heart attack, shingles, or problems with the stomach muscles.
If you have stomach pain, the best way to know the cause is to get examined by a board-certified emergency physician. If you have abdominal pain that lasts for more than a week, if it doesn’t improve in 24 to 48 hours, or you are experiencing severe pain, come to Physicians Premier, your Corpus Christi emergency room, to get an accurate diagnosis. We are fully-equipped to help you feel better. Our expert medical team is available 24/7 to identify what’s causing your stomach pain and provide proper treatment.
Sources:
“27 Causes of Stomachaches—And How to Get Rid of Each One,” Health.com, https://www.health.com/condition/digestive-health/27-causes-of-stomachaches-and-how-to-get-rid-of-each-one
“Abdominal Pain: What You Should Know,” WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/abdominal-pain-causes-treatments#1
“Abdominal pain,” Mount Sinai, https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/abdominal-pain
