ABDOMINAL PAIN AND PREVENTION

DESCRIPTION:

Abdominal pain is pain that occurs between the chest and pelvic regions.

Abdominal pain can be crimpy, achy, dull, intermittent or sharp. It’s also called a stomach-ache.

CAUSES:

Abdominal pain can be caused by many conditions.

However, the main causes are infection, abnormal growth, inflammation, obstruction (blockage), and intestinal disorders.

Infections in the throat, intestines, and blood can cause bacteria to enter your digestive tract, resulting in abdominal pain.

These infections may also cause changes in digestion, such as diarrhea or constipation.

Cramps associated with menstruation are also a potential source of lower abdominal pain, but more commonly these are known to cause pelvic pain.

OTHER COMMON CAUSES OF ABDOMINAL PAIN INCLUDE:

Constipation

Diarrhea

Gastroenteritis (stomach flu)

Acid reflex (when stomach content leak backward into the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms)

Vomiting

Stress

SYMPTOMS:

1.      FEVER

2.      INABILITY TO KEEP FOOD DOWN FOR MORE THAN TWO DAYS

3.      ANY SIGN OF DEHYDRATION

4.      INABILITY TO PASS STOOL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ALSO VOMITING

5.      PAINFUL OR UNUSUALLY FREQUENT URINATION

6.      THE ABDOMEN IS TENDER TO THE TOUCH

7.      THE PAIN IS THE RESULT OF AN INJURY TO THE ABDOMEN

8.      THE PAIN LASTS FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS

9.      BLOATING

10.   GAS (FLATUS, FARTING)

11.   INDIGESTION

12.   DISCOMFORT IN THE UPPER LEFT OR RIGHT, MIDDLE, OR LOWER LEFT OR RIGHT ABDOMEN

13.   DIARRHEA

14.   GERD(gastro esophageal reflex disease)

15.   HEARTBURN

16.   CHEST DISCOMFORT

17.   LOSS OF APPETITE

More serious symptoms include:

1.      serer pain

2.      bloody stools

3.      persistent nausea and vomiting

4.      unintended weight loss

5.      skin that appears yellow

6.      swelling of the abdomen

PREVENTION:

1.      EAT A HEALTHY DIET

2.      DRINK WATER FREQUENTLY

3.      EXERCISE REGULARLY

4.      EAT SMALLER MEALS

TREATMENT:

Treatment can range from medications for inflammation, GERD, or ulcers, to antibiotics for infections, to changes in personal behavior for abdominal pain caused by certain foods or beverages.

In some cases, such analyses of blood, urine, and stool samples, CT scans, and endoscopy, may be required to rule out or confirm a specific diagnosis, and surgery may be needed.

1.      Over-the counter pain relievers

2.      Antibiotic

3.      Low-dose antidepressants

4.      Change behavior, including eliminating of certain foods or beverages that may be contributing to abdominal pain

5.      Surgery to remove intestinal blockages, hernia, or infected organ.