Acute Abdominal Pain – Understanding the Underlying Reasons

Abdominal pain is a term usually referred to the kind of pain that originates from the various organs situated within the abdominal cavity that includes stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas. Although it can be easily diagnosed and treated, acute pain may demand immediate medical attention.

Acute Abdominal Pain – Some Symptoms

A pain in abdomen can be a serious cause of concern and proper treatment is necessary from the initial stage. Some of the most frequent physical disorders associated with acute abdominal pain are fever, vomiting, nausea, abdominal distention, signs of shock and acute appendicitis as well. It should be noted that such a severe abdominal pain may also arise due to some serious illness and hence one is wisely advised to consult a physician without much delay. It is usually seen that acute abdominal pain occurs as a result of inflammation as found in cases like appendicitis, colitis and diverticulitis. Distention of an organ like obstruction of the intestine or swelling of the liver or blockage of the bile duct and insufficient supply of blood to an organ are also likely to cause abdominal pain. However there can be complications too as in the case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in which none of the above mentioned symptoms are visible.

Abdominal Pain Causes – Points to Note

There are myriad causes responsible for abdominal pain. Some of the most common abdominal pain causes that account for this ailment are constipation, indigestion, food poisoning, gas, ulcers, accumulation of stones in the gall bladder or kidney, menstrual cramps, appendicitis, infection in the urinary tract and pelvic inflammatory disease. Intolerance of lactose in the body or hernia may also cause the pain. Such abdominal pain causes produce a good many symptoms. If the pain is prolonged and severe it is likely to be accompanied by such symptoms as presence of blood while vomiting, inability to pass stool or signs of blood in stools, fever, difficulty in breathing, softer abdomen, unusually frequent or painful urination, and the inability to keep food down for many days. Under such circumstances, a thorough physical examination is indispensable for proper diagnosis and further treatment.

Abdominal Pain Bloating – Enlargement of Abdomen

Abdominal enlargement is generally referred to as abdominal bloating. The malfunctioning of the gastrointestinal tract is often followed by an increase in the intestinal gas. As a result the presence of surplus gas causes bloating. One is also expected to experience an abdominal pain during such extreme predicament. The release of excess gas from the body can provide a relief to abdominal pain bloating. At times when the body is unable to break down and absorb certain food particles, a large amount of gas is formed. This can cause bloating. Excessive consumption of food containing fats or intake of foods resulting in the formation of gas and constipation are also responsible for bloating. A strict diet, a check on the intake of excess air and good food habits are a way out to this trouble.