What causes abdominal pain?

Everyone should have experienced abdominal pain. There are really many reasons that can cause abdominal pain. Abdominal pain sometimes has a lot of impact on us. Some people do not pay much attention to the phenomenon of abdominal pain, and do not seek timely treatment when it occurs. As a result, it is caused by some diseases and the body will also suffer great harm. Everyone should be able to understand clearly what abdominal pain is.

What causes abdominal pain? There are many reasons for abdominal pain. The causes of abdominal pain in different people are also different. Some are caused by gastroenteritis, and some are caused by appendicitis. If a pregnant woman has abdominal pain, it is even more important to check in time.

Complications of abdominal pain

1. Acute gastroenteritis: Abdominal pain is mainly in the upper abdomen and around the umbilicus, often presenting as persistent acute pain with paroxysmal aggravation. It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and may also be accompanied by fever. Physical examination may reveal tenderness in the upper abdomen or around the umbilicus, usually without muscle tension or rebound pain, and slightly hyperactive bowel sounds. Considering the unclean food intake before the onset of the disease, it is not difficult to diagnose.

2. Gastric and duodenal ulcer: It is common in young and middle-aged people. The abdominal pain is mainly in the upper and middle abdomen. Most of the time it is persistent pain, which often occurs on an empty stomach and can be relieved by eating or taking antacids. Physical examination may reveal tenderness in the upper abdomen, but no muscle tension or rebound tenderness. Frequent attacks may be accompanied by a positive stool blood test. Gastrointestinal barium meal examination or endoscopy can establish the diagnosis.

3. Intestinal obstruction: It occurs in patients of all ages, and is mostly caused by ascariasis, intussusception, etc. in children. In adults, it is mostly caused by hernia or intestinal adhesion, while in the elderly it may be caused by colon cancer and other factors. The pain of intestinal obstruction is mostly around the umbilicus, presenting as paroxysmal colic, accompanied by vomiting and cessation of bowel movements and flatulence. Physical examination shows intestinal type, obvious abdominal tenderness, hyperactive bowel sounds, and even the sound of "gas passing through water". If the abdominal pain is persistent with paroxysmal aggravation, there is obvious abdominal tenderness accompanied by muscle tension and rebound tenderness, or ascites is found, and the patient quickly develops shock, it indicates strangulated intestinal obstruction. Plain X-ray examination shows that if the intestinal cavity is inflated with air and there is mostly fluid, the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction can be established.

4. Acute appendicitis: Most patients first feel persistent dull pain in the middle abdomen at the onset of the disease, which then moves to the right lower abdomen a few hours later, presenting as persistent dull pain with paroxysmal aggravation. A small number of patients also feel pain in the right lower abdomen at the onset of the disease. The characteristic of acute appendicitis is dull pain in the upper and middle abdomen that turns into right lower abdominal pain after a few hours. May be accompanied by fever and malignancy. Examination may reveal tenderness at McBurney's points and muscle tension, which are typical signs of appendicitis. Combined with the increase in total white blood cell count and neutrophil count, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis can be made.

5. Acute myocardial infarction: It occurs in middle-aged and elderly people. If the infarction is located on the diaphragm, especially if the area is large, there will often be upper abdominal pain. The pain often occurs suddenly after fatigue, tension or a full meal, presents as persistent colic, and radiates to the left shoulder or inner part of both arms. It is often accompanied by nausea and may cause shock. During physical examination, there may be mild tenderness in the upper abdomen, no muscle tension and rebound pain, but heart auscultation often reveals irregular heart rhythm. An electrocardiogram can confirm abdominal pain.

6. Peritonitis, which often occurs secondary to gastrointestinal perforation and spleen rupture, can cause acute abdominal pain.

What is abdominal pain? The above reasons can all cause abdominal pain, especially the abdominal pain caused by acute appendicitis, which will be very obvious. Everyone should pay attention to it. Sometimes the abdominal pain can be relieved by itself, and sometimes the abdominal pain will continue to worsen. If abdominal pain occurs, everyone should find out the cause in time to avoid some influences.