From uncomfortable cramps and bloating to nausea and loss of appetite, abdominal pain is common.
Although it’s not usually a sign of anything serious, ignoring persistent abdominal pain can be dangerous, he warns London-based GP Dr. Hana Patel.
That’s because vital organs are in the abdomen and pain in that area can be caused by appendicitis or a kidney infection.
Here, Dr. Patel explains what the location of your abdominal pain likely means…
Stomach pain can be caused by anything from digestive problems to something that needs urgent attention like appendicitis
Right abdomen lower
A persistent pain in the lower right side of your stomach may be a warning sign of appendicitis: swelling of the appendix.
The appendix is a small, thin sac about 5 to 10 cm long. It is connected to the large intestine, where poop forms. Despite decades of research, scientists are still puzzled by what it actually does.
If you have appendicitis, the organ swells and the area becomes painful.
If the appendix is not treated quickly, it can burst, which the NHS says can be life-threatening.
“Appendicitis usually starts with pain in the center of your tummy (abdomen) that can come and go,” says Dr. Patel. ‘Within hours, the pain travels to the lower right side, where the appendix usually lies, and becomes constant and severe.’
Pressing on this area, coughing, or even walking can make the pain worse, says Dr. Patel.
If you have appendicitis, “you may lose your appetite, feel nauseous, and develop constipation or diarrhea,” she says.
The NHS is urging people to call 999 for an ambulance if abdominal pain is spreading, as this could be a sign that the appendix has burst. When this happens, the lining of the abdomen becomes infected with bacteria, which is called peritonitis.
It can cause damage to your internal organs and cause even more abdominal pain, fever, rapid heart rate, and nausea.
Treatment usually includes antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix.
Although no one really knows what the appendix does, removing it is not considered harmful.
Lower central
A lower urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common reason for patients to feel pain in the lower central part of their abdomen, according to Dr. Patel.
Lower UTIs are infections of the bladder or urethra — the tube that carries urine from the body.
Dr. Patel notes that it’s “more common and less serious than an upper UTI, which is an infection of the kidneys and ureters — tubes that connect the kidney to the bladder.”
Lower can cause UTIs pain in the lower central part of your abdomen and a general tired and achy feeling, Dr. Patel explains.
But it can also cause discomfort and pain when urinating, the need to urinate more often and the sudden urge to urinate.
You may also feel like you can’t empty your bladder completely and when you do go, your urine may be cloudy and even contain blood.
A doctor may prescribe a short course of antibiotics to treat the infection.
Bottom right back
Pain on the right side of your back could indicate an upper urinary tract infection, according to Dr. Patel.
“Urinary tract infections can be serious if left untreated as they can damage the kidneys or spread to the bloodstream,” she warns.
Infections of the kidneys or urethra can cause fever, chills and chills, nausea and vomiting, confusion, and agitation or restlessness.
It also causes pain in your side and back, says Dr. Patel.
If you experience these symptoms, the NHS suggests you make an urgent GP appointment as if left untreated, a kidney infection can cause sepsis.
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
Top central
Pain just below the rib cage in the upper central part of your abdomen may be caused by acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD is a common condition in which stomach acid leaks into the esophagus, Dr. Patel explains.
It can cause bad breath, bloating, an inflamed esophagus, heartburn and pain when swallowing.
‘After Christmas I see many more patients suffering from this, who may tend to eat a rich diet and drink more alcohol than normal,’ says Dr Patel.
That’s because high-fat foods stimulate the stomach to produce more acid, which can irritate the esophagus.
The NHS says it can be caused or made worse by certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol, fatty foods, spicy foods and coffee.
‘It usually occurs as a result of the muscle ring at the bottom of the esophagus becoming weakened,’ says Dr Patel.
Pain just below the rib cage in the upper central part of your abdomen, may be caused by acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
She explains that GORD causes symptoms such as heartburn and an unpleasant taste in the back of the mouth.
While pain in this area is only an occasional nuisance for some people, for others it can be a serious, lifelong problem, Dr. Patel said.
It can often be controlled with self-help measures and medications, but occasionally surgery is needed to correct the problem.
Central
The intestine is most likely the cause of pain in the middle of your stomach.
Pain here can be a sign of a virus, food poisoning, an allergy or lactose intolerance.
But it can also be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that affects the digestive system.
“This is something patients often come to me with,” says Dr. Patel.
‘It causes symptoms such as stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea and constipation.
“These tend to come and go over time, and can last for days, weeks or months at a time,” she says.
The exact cause of the condition is unknown, but it has been linked to food passing through the intestines too quickly or too slowly, hypersensitive nerves in the intestines, stress and a family history of IBS.
UTIs can cause discomfort and pain during urination, the need to urinate more often, and the sudden urge to urinate
It can be a lifelong problem, Dr. Patel explains.
“It can be very frustrating to live with and it can have a big impact on your daily life,” she says.
Although there is no cure, diet changes and medications can often help control symptoms.
Top right
Pain in the upper right side of your abdomen, just behind the ribs, can be caused by gallstones.
The gallbladder is a small organ located below the liver. It is responsible for storing and concentrating bile, which is produced by the liver to help digest fats.
It is believed that gallstones are caused by a chemical imbalance in the gallbladder or by an excess of cholesterol.
Although the stones themselves do not cause any symptoms, if they block one of the bile ducts (a complication called biliary colic), they can cause a sharp pain in the area.
“This usually means that a patient will experience occasional pain, often in the upper center or right side of the abdomen, and this may spread to the back,” says Dr. Patel.
The pain may last for a few hours before slowly subsiding, she says.
It is estimated that more than one in ten adults in Britain have gallstones, although only a minority of people develop symptoms.
Other symptoms include feeling hot, sweaty or nauseous, with some patients also vomiting, Dr. Patel warns.
“These episodes often occur at night, but they can also happen half an hour or an hour after eating, especially after foods high in fat,” she says.
However, sometimes symptoms do not go away after four to six hours, which may be a sign that the gallbladder is inflamed.
This can be treated with antibiotics, but sometimes surgical intervention is necessary, says Dr. Patel.
Similar pains can also be caused by the gallbladder becoming blocked with gallstones.
‘In these cases, gallstones can cause other problems such as jaundice, pancreatitis or cholangitis,’ adds Dr Patel.