Why does abdomen pain

If you have IBS, you will have symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation and bloating, but they will not cause bleeding or weight loss. You may experience sharp gas pains that occur throughout the abdomen area if constipation is the reason for your abdominal pain. People who are constipated often have a feeling of being bloated and full, and their abdomen may even become visibly distended.

An ulcer is a sore on the lining of your stomach or first part of the small intestine. Ulcers may cause a burning sensation similar to hunger pangs. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting or heartburn. Discomfort or irregularities in any organ or part of the abdomen can cause pain that radiates throughout the entire area. Many people refer to abdominal pain simply as a stomachache. However, the abdomen contains many vital organs, muscles, blood vessels, and connective tissues that include:.

The main artery of the heart aorta and another heart vein inferior vena cava pass through the abdomen too. The abdomen is also home to the core muscles, the four groups of abdominal muscles that give the trunk stability and keep organs in place and protected. In this case, the abdominal pain is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and loose, fluid-filled stools that occur much sooner and more frequently than normal after eating. Bacteria or viruses cause most cases, and symptoms usually resolve within a few days.

Symptoms that last longer than 2 days may be a sign of more serious health problems, such as infection or inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Get some tips here on how to tell the difference between a stomach virus and food poisoning. An increased pressure of gas in the intestine can cause sharp pain.

Gas can also cause tightness or restriction in the abdomen and flatulence or belching. Certain foods can cause gas. Click here to find out which foods might be causing gas.

For unknown reasons, those with IBS are less able to digest certain foods or types of foods. Abdominal pain is the primary symptom for many people with IBS and is often relieved after a bowel movement. Other common symptoms include gas, nausea, cramping, and bloating. Would you like to know more about IBS? Find out five important facts about this condition.

Occasionally stomach acids travel backward, moving up into the throat. This reflux almost always causes a burning sensation and accompanying pain. Acid reflux also causes abdominal symptoms, such as bloating or cramps.

Learn more here about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of acid reflux. Vomiting often causes abdominal pain as stomach acids travel backward through the digestive tract, irritating tissues along the way. The physical act of vomiting also may cause abdominal muscles to become sore.

A wide range of factors can trigger vomiting, ranging from an intestinal blockage to alcohol poisoning. Click here to find out more about the many possible causes of vomiting. Viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections that affect the stomach and intestines may also cause significant abdominal pain.

Abdominal pain can be caused by many conditions. However, the main causes are infection, abnormal growths, inflammation, obstruction blockage , and intestinal disorders. Infections in the throat, intestines, and blood can cause bacteria to enter your digestive tract, resulting in abdominal pain. These infections may also cause changes in digestion, such as diarrhea or constipation. Cramps associated with menstruation are also a potential source of lower abdominal pain, but these are more commonly known to cause pelvic pain.

Diseases that affect the digestive system can also cause chronic abdominal pain. The most common are:. Localized pain is limited to one area of the abdomen.

This type of pain is often caused by problems in a particular organ. The most common cause of localized pain is stomach ulcers open sores on the inner lining of the stomach. Cramp-like pain may be associated with diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or flatulence. In women, it can be associated with menstruation, miscarriage, or reproductive complications. This pain comes and goes, and may go away on its own without treatment.

Colicky pain is a symptom of more severe conditions, such as gallstones or kidney stones. This pain occurs suddenly, and may feel like a severe muscle spasm. Mild abdominal pain may go away without treatment. Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Smith KA. Abdominal pain. Acute abdomen.

Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. Reviewed by: Michael M. Editorial team. Considerations Almost everyone has pain in the abdomen at some point.

Most of the time, it is not serious. How bad your pain is does not always reflect the seriousness of the condition causing the pain. Other ways to describe pain in your abdomen include: Generalized pain -- This means that you feel it in more than half of your belly. This type of pain is more typical for a stomach virus, indigestion, or gas.

If the pain becomes more severe, it may be caused by a blockage of the intestines. Localized pain -- This is pain found in only one area of your belly. It is more likely to be a sign of a problem in an organ, such as the appendix, gallbladder, or stomach. Cramp-like pain -- This type of pain is not serious most of the time.

It is likely to be due to gas and bloating, and is often followed by diarrhea. More worrisome signs include pain that occurs more often, lasts more than 24 hours, or occurs with a fever. Colicky pain -- This type of pain comes in waves. It very often starts and ends suddenly, and is often severe. Kidney stones and gallstones are common causes of this type of belly pain. Causes Many different conditions can cause abdominal pain.

Less serious causes of abdominal pain include: Constipation Irritable bowel syndrome Food allergies or intolerance such as lactose intolerance Food poisoning Stomach flu Other possible causes include: Appendicitis Abdominal aortic aneurysm bulging and weakening of the major artery in the body Bowel blockage or obstruction Cancer of the stomach, colon large bowel , and other organs Cholecystitis inflammation of the gallbladder with or without gallstones Decreased blood supply to the intestines ischemic bowel Diverticulitis inflammation and infection of the colon Endometriosis Heartburn , indigestion , or gastroesophageal reflux GERD Inflammatory bowel disease Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis Kidney stones Muscle strain Pancreatitis swelling or infection of the pancreas Pelvic inflammatory disease PID Ruptured ovarian cyst Severe menstrual cramps Tubal ectopic pregnancy Ulcers Urinary tract infections.

Home Care You can try the following home care steps to ease mild abdominal pain: Sip water or other clear fluids.