Whether a severe pain in the stomach or a mild
one, abdominal pain could have a number of reasons associated with it. While
most often the condition is treated with basic medications and home remedies,
in some cases depending upon the severity and other symptoms like diarrhea or
vomiting, medical intervention maybe required. Some of the common causes linked
with abdominal pain include:
• Stomach indigestion
• Irritable bowels including constipation or loose motions
• Viral infections that affect the stomach
• Food poisoning
• Infections of the urinary tract
Apart from these there could be many other
reasons that could be causing the pain in the stomach.
When Should You See a Doctor?
While abdominal pain is most often not a cause of
concern, when accompanied with other symptoms could be a lot more serious. Here
are some of the symptoms to look out for that could be concerning and would
need to be shown to the doctor immediately:
• Fever, both high grade or mild
• Unable to retain foods in the body i.e. severe loose motions or
diarrhea
• Severe constipation along with vomiting
• Tenderness in the abdomen
• Pain resulting from an injury to the abdomen
• The pain is consistent for a few hours or begins to worsen
How Will The Doctor Identify the Cause of Your
Abdominal Pain?
Abdominal pain could have a number of causes that
could be worrisome or normal. The doctor will conduct a complete physical
examination after discussing the symptoms you have been facing. To get a
complete picture, he will ask you a few questions related to the pain you are
experiencing. These questions would aim at obtaining maximum information about
your condition to get a generic picture based on which further diagnosis or
treatment can be suggested. Some of the questions include:
• The type of pain that one is experiencing. Whether it is cramping or
severe pain throughout the abdomen.
• Where the pain in the abdomen seems to be located. It could be in the
entire stomach or a specific point like the upper or lower abdomen in the left,
right or the center.
• When the pain occur and whether it is continuous or at periodic
intervals or after a certain activity like playing, alcohol or during your
menstrual cycle.
• The duration of the pain.
• Whether the pain is only restricted to the abdominal region or
radiating to the other parts of the body like the lower back, shoulder or groin
region.
• Your medical history and a list of current medications you are taking
including herbal and alternative medicines.
• Whether you are pregnant?
• Whether any particular activity helps in relieving the pain like lying
on your stomach or one particular side.
• If you have undergone any form of injured recently?
After the basic diagnosis has been done, the
doctor may recommend some other tests for a more conclusive diagnosis to find
the exact reason behind the pain. These tests may include certain pathology
tests as well as certain imaging scans. Laboratory tests could include testing
you stool, urine or blood samples. Imaging scans could include an ultrasound,
x-ray or a CT scan.
Treating Abdominal Pain
Treatment of abdominal pain primarily depends
upon the cause that has been diagnosed behind the pain. Depending upon the
overall condition the doctor will take a call whether it is the abdominal pain
that needs to be treated or the symptoms which require the treatment. The
medications administered for the condition could vary from medicines to treat
inflammation, indigestion, ulcers, GERD and other antibiotics that may be
recommended to treat infection like a urinary or stomach infection. Some cases
could even require a surgery especially for cases like appendicitis and a hernia.
If your abdominal pain is not due to a serious
medical condition and is due to natural factors such as menstrual cycles, there
could be certain home remedies that you could try to relieve the pain. Some of
these home treatments include:
• Adequate rest and lying down in a certain position for some time could
bring about some relief from the abdominal pain in many cases.
• When experiencing any form of aches of pains the best rule to follow
is to keep up your fluid intakes. During pains the body can get dehydrated
which intensifies the pain. Taking frequent sips of fluids or beverages like
water or fresh juice can help in soothing the pain. Avoid carbonated and caffeine
based drinks like tea or coffee.
• Avoid eating a whole meal; instead have small meals throughout the
day. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol or caffeine based drinks until the pain
symptoms subside.
• High fat foods like cream, cheese and oily foods can increase your
symptoms of abdominal pain and hence must be completely avoided.
Some of these home remedies are also found very
helpful in treating abdominal
pains that are not associated with severe medical conditions:
• Ginger: Ginger is a natural ingredient with a number of
anti-inflammatory properties apart from others that help in a number of medical
conditions related to the stomach. Ginger aids digestion and can be very helpful
in easing pains in the abdomen.
• Fennel seeds: Fennel seeds are helpful in treating abdominal pains
related to conditions like gas or flatulence. Chewing on some fennel seeds and
taking in its juice is very helpful in relieving pain of the abdomen.
• Lemon water: Drinking a juice made of half a lemon in some hot water
is extremely helpful in treating symptoms of stomach pain.
Home remedies should only be tried up to a point
and if the pain doesn't ease with them, visit your doctor at the earliest to
find the best possible way to treat the same.
