There are many reasons why our stomachs can cause us pain. Eating too much, being hungry for too long, eating something one can be allergic to… Narrowing down on a single cause of stomach pain may be difficult, and wondering what that cause can be may lead you to make some scary conclusions. To help you out, here are seven types of stomach pain – and what they tell you about your health.
7 types of stomach pain
Burning in the chest: This is often attributed to acid reflux, which means stomach acid washes back up. Heartburn triggers vary for each person, so it’s important to monitor what you are eating. If heartburn is persistent, see your doctor.
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Pain around the belly button: This could be a result of impending appendicitis, which begins as a dull pain around the belly button and transcends to the right hip bone. If you suspect you have appendicitis, get yourself to a hospital ASAP. Ruptured appendix is very dangerous for health.
Sharp pain beneath the rib: Gallstones are lumps of cholesterol and bile that can block the bile ducts. This type of pain may worsen after a meal. Generally, gallstones are not too serious, but if the pain is continuous or if it’s getting worse, you may require surgery.
Burning sensation in the stomach: If you feel burning in the stomach, it could be due to a peptic ulcer. An ulcer may cause that chronic burning sensation. In this case, avoid taking ibuprofen as it will worsen the condition. Your doctor can recommend medications to ease your ulcer.
Full stomach discomfort with strong urge to use the bathroom: This type of stomach pain is often seen in cases of food sensitivities – like lactose intolerance, for example. If your body doesn’t have the enzyme to break down lactose promptly after the meal, you will begin experiencing an all-over discomfort followed by a strong urge to visit the bathroom.
Intestinal cramps and chronic diarrhea: Eat a piece of bread and immediately find yourself in agony? Could be a gluten intolerance. If you experience bloating, cramps, gas, and diarrhea after consuming foods that contain gluten, you could have celiac disease. To test this, try eliminating gluten from your diet and see if your state of health improves.
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Bloody diarrhea, pain, and fever: If you see blood in the stool and experience gas, bloating, nausea, and fever, these are signs of Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease. If you spot these symptoms, speak with your doctor. They may refer you for an endoscopy or colonoscopy to have a look at your colon and intestines.
As you can see, stomach pain can be a useful indicator of an underlying problem. Take note of when your pain takes place and its severity to help you determine a possible cause.
Related: Burning Sensation in Stomach: Causes, Symptoms and Home Remedies
