5 Things You Need to Know About Abdominal Pains

1. Where's the Pain?

Discomfort or pain directly below the ribs and above the pubic area and in the front is termed abdominal pain. You may have pain from the organs located inside that area or from the muscle sheathing that lines it. Sometimes, pain may be referred pain, that is, pain that starts in another area, but that you feel in the abdomen. The lungs, kidneys and female reproductive organs may be culprits when you experience referred pain.

2. Acute and Chronic Abdominal Pain

There are two types of abdominal pain: chronic and acute. Both may be accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and tenderness when someone touches your abdomen. Chronic pain is longer lasting and occurs off and on for varying lengths of time. Acute pain is sudden and severe. You shouldn't ignore either type of pain. If you experience acute pain for several hours, consult your doctor immediately.

3. Causes for Chronic Abdominal Pain

Constipation, lactose intolerance, gastritis, ulcers, heartburn and improper eating habits can all cause chronic abdominal pain. If you experience gas and diarrhea in addition to the pain, you may have an intestinal infection or lactose intolerance. Check your diet first and remove foods that may be offenders. If your child has chronic stomach pain, look at events that they may trigger the pain, such as a test at school. If diarrhea and vomiting persists even after you reduce your diet to clear soups and crackers for a day, see your doctor. Inspect your stool for signs of blood, and see your doctor immediately if you find any evidence of blood.

4. Acute Abdominal Pain is Scary

You may adjust your pain level a little at a time if you have chronic pain, but sudden, violent pain is hard to dismiss. Some reasons for sudden pain depend on other factors. The location of the pain is one. Lower acute abdominal pain directly above the bladder that you feel when you urinate can be a sign of bladder infection. Upper abdominal pain accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting can be the flu, gastritis or food poisoning, if the pain starts in the back and travels to the front, you may have an intestinal disease, such as Crohn's disease or colitis.

5. Keep a Log

Make a note about the attacks. Include the foods that you ate prior to an attack, the area where you felt the pain and any accompanying symptoms. Everything is important to the doctor when he looks for a diagnosis. Keep track of fevers, types of bowel movements, such as watery, tarry or bloody, frequency of the movements and whether the area is tender to the touch. If you're pregnant, call your doctor immediately rather than recording the information to share with him later.

Source : livestrong.com