Are you experiencing pain between the chest and pelvic region or digestive pain? Does your stomach feel like it's tied in knots? It may be a stomachache, but sometimes it is more than that: Abdominal Pain.

What does abdominal pain mean? Or, do you need to consult this with your doctor? Let's talk more about it.

Abdominal pain is experienced between the bottom of the ribs and pelvis. It is a serious concern as it can be achy, sharp, creamy, affecting your whole body. Sudden problems in the digestive tract frequently cause it.

Please keep in mind that abdominal pains are not caused by severe medical problems most of the time. Some of the abdominal pain is caused due to viral gastroenteritis, appendicitis, and colon cancer. Apart from these reasons, food allergies, constipation, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach virus, heart attack, menstrual cramps, pneumonia, and food poisoning can also lead to stomach aches.

Research states that around 11% of people worldwide have abdominal pain during eating, which leads to digestive pain and can affect the whole digestive system. If you also feel the same when you eat, you should consult your doctor and ask about the medications and dietary plan to relieve abdominal pain.

However, most of the causes of abdominal pain can easily be diagnosed by doctors, so don't worry. But it would be best to ask your doctor as sometimes it can be a sign of a severe problem. But how can you say that you have abdominal pain as pain during eating can be another problem too?

In this post, we will learn the possible causes of abdominal pain. Also, we will talk about precautions, treatment, and most importantly, when to consult with a doctor. So, without any delay, let's get started.

Possible Causes 

These are some of the most common causes of abdominal pain:

Viral gastrointestinal infection

It is a very common infection caused due to irritation, swelling, and inflammation inside the gastroenteritis tract lining, resulting in diarrhea and vomiting and sometimes stomach flu and Fever.

Menstrual cramps 

It is a dull pain from the lower back to thighs that begins 1 to 3 days before the period and subsides in 2 to 3 days.

Stress

It is one of the common causes of abdominal pain. This happens with people experiencing a lot of stress, which triggers a flare-up and causes irritable bowel syndrome, resulting in stomach aches.

Constipation 

Constipation is prevalent; however, it sometimes becomes chronic, affecting well-being. This happens when a person has fewer than three bowel movements a week.

Indigestion

Most commonly known as upset stomach or dyspepsia, caused by minty foods, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, etc., resulting in gas and heartburn. An individual feels fullness, digestive pain, and acid reflux in this situation.

Apart from the above reasons, below are some other possible causes of abdominal pain:

  • Urinary tract infection
  • Strain in abdominal muscles
  • Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
  • Kidney stones
  • Hernia
  • Gallstones
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Diverticulitis
  • GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Cholecystitis
  • Pancreatitis
  • Blocked blood vessels

 

Precautions to take

Eat fiber-rich food

When you often experience abdominal pain, it's best to avoid overeating and eating food that produces gas (such as legumes, apricots, cereals, carbonated beverages, fried chicken, etc.). Eat a well-balanced and high-fiber meal, like vegetables, salads, and fruits for regular bowel movements. Also, do not eat right before bedtime, as it sometimes results in acid reflux.

Drink plenty of water

Whenever you have digestive problems and abdominal pain, experts always recommend drinking plenty of water as it eases bowel movement and helps you get relief from abdominal pain.

Wash your hands before eating

It's a "must-have manner." Please don't eat any food before washing your hands clearly as our hands have numerous bacterias which can affect our body negatively.

Sleep well and do proper exercise and yoga

Don't compromise with your sleep. It would be best for your overall health if you sleep at least 6 hours a day. Also, start doing exercise and yoga as it helps you improve the digestive system, giving you relief from digestive pain and stomach aches.

 

Treatment

The treatment of abdominal pain is highly dependent on the cause of it. If it's because of ulcers, the medication reduces the inflammation. And in case the abdominal pain is due to gallbladder inflammation and kidney stones, then it might require gallbladder surgery and shock wave lithotripsy, respectively.

However, if your doctor finds that the cause of abdominal pain is not because of serious medical problems, you can go for various home remedies after consulting with your doctor.

These home remedies include:

  • Peppermint
  • Ginger
  • Warm bath
  • Bitters and soda
  • The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast)
  • Chamomile tea
  • Heating pad
  • Apple cider vinegar

On the other hand, you can also go for pain relief medicines like ibuprofen and aspirin. However, it's always recommended not to take these medicines without consulting your doctor as sometimes it can worsen the pain.

 

When to Consult a Doctor

Knowing when to consult with a doctor about your abdominal pain will help you stay away from further complications and take the necessary steps at the right time. But in most cases, abdominal pain can subside in some days without any medications and by following a healthy lifestyle.

On the other hand, some serious medical problems behind abdominal pain need the attention of doctors. If you often feel abdominal pain, you should consult with your doctor. Here are some signs, which indicates that its time to visit your doctor:

  • Vomiting up blood
  • 101 degree F or + Fever
  • Yellowing of eyes and skin
  • Bloody stools
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Nausea
  • Swelling in abdomen
  • Burning sensation during urination
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Prolonged constipation

 

Final Take

If you are experiencing abdominal pain or stomach ache for more than 24 hours, you should consult with your doctor as sometimes it happens due to some serious medical problems. However, following a healthy lifestyle and taking natural medications may reduce abdominal pain most of the time. These medications may improve your digestive health and give you relief from abdominal pain. But consult with your doctor before taking any medications to be on the safe side.