The Causes of Abdominal Pain, Treatment and Exercise
Reasons and Treatment for an Ailing Stomach
You may have experienced extreme abdominal pain, and are puzzled as to what may have caused such a distressing experience. With this article, you do not have to look anywhere as we have all the information that you may need to answer your questions about the sensation known as abdominal pain.
Abdominal pain bothers each and every one of us every once in a while.
It can be a sign of simple indigestion, but sometimes it can also mean that there is something wrong with one or more of the internal organs located in the abdomen like the stomach or the intestines.
In truth, pain in the abdomen can be caused by several things. These causes can be:
- Inflammation within the abdominal organs. Examples of these are appendicitis (inflamed appendix), diverticulitis and colitis, among others.
- Distention of an abdominal organ.
- Possible abnormal contractions of the muscles comprising the intestine, i.e. irritable bowel syndrome.
- Visceral hyper-sensitivity, when nerves in the intestines are too sensitive that every contraction despite being normal becomes painful.
- Pelvic and groin diseases can also be responsible for pain within the abdominal area.
- Heart attacks and pneumonia
How Are Causes of Abdominal Pain Diagnosed
Diagnosis of abdominal pain can prove very difficult due to the variety of reasons for the condition. Doctors rely on a combination of interview and actual physical examination in order to ascertain the cause of pain. During the interview, the doctor may ask questions like how the patient felt before the pain started, how the pain makes him want to do, and what things the patient tried to relieve the pain. The doctor may even inquire as to what vices the patient have, among others.
The actual physical examination will consist of several tests, including:
- Checking the abdomen for tenderness, this can indicate the source of the pain.
- Rectal exams that may indicate problems within the intestinal area.
- Tests of the patient’s reproductive organs.
- Tests to check for dehydration as well as jaundice.
The answers that a patient gives during the interview will be helpful to determine the cause of the pain when combined with the laboratory test results, so it is important for a patient to answer the questions as much as he could.
Treatment for Abdominal Pain
There are several possible treatments for abdominal pain as much as there are many causes for the condition. The treatment that a doctor prescribes will depend on the results of the examination. In extreme cases, the doctor may recommend any of these treatments:
- Sustenance through I.V. fluids until the real cause of the pain is discerned.
- Surgery, if it is determined that the pain is caused by internal infection.
- Pain medication to alleviate pain temporarily.
In case of minor abdominal pain or those that do not require special medical treatment, a doctor may recommend:
- Soaking in a tub of warm water or pressing a heating pad to the abdomen.
- Antacids
- Activated charcoal capsules
- Acetaminophen
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