A common complaint during a doctor's visit is stomach pain. However, when you complain of stomach pain, is it caused by your stomach?
Stomach problems are a common reason for visiting the doctor. When patients complain of "stomach ache," they are generally describing pain throughout the abdominal area, and may not actually be directly related to the organ known as the abdomen. Doctors first try to determine whether the patient's abdominal pain is caused by a structural or functional problem. Sometimes the digestive system does not work properly due to an abnormality related to the structure of an organ. Medical imaging will show that the organ does not look normal and is not functioning properly. Functional problems, also called motility disorders, are conditions caused by poor nerve and muscle function in the digestive system. Organs that are part of the gastrointestinal tract can often appear normal on medical imaging such as CT scans or MRI scans, but the organs are not functioning as they should. The gastrointestinal tract has its own nervous system to control muscle contractions that digest the food you eat. Diagnosing functional disorders can be difficult because we cannot easily see problems with the nerves or muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. Some conditions that may cause abdominal pain include:
1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): If IBS is the cause of abdominal pain, it may get worse when you eat. If you have IBS, you have symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation and bloating.
2. Constipation: If the cause of abdominal pain is constipation, you may experience sharp gas pains in the abdominal area. People who are constipated often have a feeling of bloating and fullness, and their abdomen may visibly swell.
3. Ulcers: Ulcers are found in the lining of your stomach or the first part of the small intestine. Ulcers can cause a burning sensation similar to hunger pangs. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting or heartburn.
4. Pancreatitis: Abdominal pain caused by pancreatitis is a severe, sharp pain that occurs in the upper middle part of the abdomen and can sometimes spread to your back or chest. You may also experience other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and fever. Pancreatitis is a sudden acute It can occur as an attack or a chronic condition.
5. Diverticulitis Abdominal discomfort and tenderness in the lower abdomen may be due to diverticulitis. This happens when the small sacs inside the large intestine become infected or inflamed. Other symptoms may include low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting, or constipation.
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