Abdominal pain, tehnically called abdominalgia, a pain or discomfort in the abdomen which signifies an abdominal disored. Anyone suffering such pain should be cautious about treating it with out a doctor’s advice. Discomfort may be temporary, such as that caused simply by overeating; or it may be serious, resulting from an inflamed appendix, an infection, or a tumor.
Excessive eating, drinking, or smoking can cause abdominal pain. Anxiety, stress, fear, or emotional problems can lead to abdominal pain. If frequent or prolonged, these difficulties may bring about actual damage, for example an ulcerated stomach.
The “stomach ache” a general feeling of discomfort, usually disappears after a few hours. Recurrent or continuing pain, however, should have a doctor’s attention.
Since so many different problems can cause abdominal pain, doctors ask many question when they try to find a cause. Such questions include these:
1. Has the pain occurred before? If so, how often?
2. Does the pain remain in one part of the abdomen? If not, where else does it occur?
3. In which of the six areas of the abdomen does the pain occur: the pit of the stomach; around the navel; in one of the four quadrants (uper right, upper let, lower right, or lower left)?
4. After eating, is the pain the same, worse, or lessened?
5. Is there nausea or diarrhea in addition to the pain?
6. Describe the pain, dull, sharp, crampy, pressing?
7. Is the pain eased by walking, sitting down, lying on the back, lying on the side?
Mild occasional pain may be treated immediately at home. The discomfort of abdominal pain can be relieved by drinking hot strong tea or a cup of hot salty bouillon. Dry toast or salty soda crackers may lessen the pain or the nausea that sometimes accompanies the accumulation of gas or acid. The application of a hot water bottle or an electric heating pad may be helpful.
If the discomfort or pain is severe and continues or recurs, home remedies should be abandoned. Do not take a laxative, since this may not reach the source of the pain at all and may cause serious trouble, as in the case of an inflamed appendix. Even if the pain is not severe but other abdominal area difficulties persist, it is important to see a doctor. For example, the early stages of cancer do not produce much pain, but other symptoms, including loss of weight or bloody urine or feces, may occur. Diagnosing abdominal pain is difficult and complex enough for a physician. Therefore, you should not try to diagnose and treat such pain your self.
