Everyone knows how unpleasant abdominal pain can be, sometimes you want to get rid of them by any means. Meanwhile, the diagnosis of abdominal pain is considered one of the most difficult and crucial tasks in medicine. In the event that the situation is urgent and it is not possible to examine the patient according to all the rules, the experience and tactics of the doctor are of particular importance, since severe pain in the abdomen is not always the basis for surgical treatment, while weak pain can sometimes threaten the patient's life. In any case, acute pain or colic in the lower abdomen is always an indication for an immediate examination.
What does abdominal pain signal?
A classic case of abdominal pain is the localization of pain in the area of the affected organ. Thus, with peptic ulcer of the stomach, duodenum or esophagus, pain is projected in the stomach. However, similar symptoms can occur with myocardial infarction, pyelonephritis, pneumonia. Sometimes, under the guise of abdominal pain, depression, anemia, thyroid disease, and urinary tract infection can hide. Similar phenomena can be observed after taking antibiotics, drugs, alcohol, iron and some hormones. That is why the doctor is not in a hurry to make a diagnosis based solely on the localization of pain, for starters the patient will have to undergo at least a minimal examination.
What do stomach cramps mean?
In medical practice, cramping bouts of pain are periodically diagnosed, which either increase or subside. Sometimes at the very peak of such pain, patients rush around and do not know where to put themselves. Such pain is indicated by the term "colic in the stomach." Often they are the result of errors in the diet, and can also be caused by shaking and muscle strain. Sometimes colic in the abdomen can be the result of biliary dyskinesia or gallstone disease, as well as a breakthrough of parasitic cysts, liver abscesses or helminthic invasions. If such phenomena often occur, then the patient will need a consultation with a gastroenterologist. Intestinal colic can become a manifestation of acute processes in the intestine, such as obstruction, irritable bowel syndrome and other diseases.
Colic in the abdomen in infants
Abdominal pain in infants is not such a rare occurrence, often they begin to manifest themselves from an early age. Doctors disagree about why colic occurs in infants. Some say that this is a consequence of too much feeding, which stretches the stomach, others authoritatively claim that the reason is the lack of enzymes in the child's body, while others blame the immaturity of the baby’s nervous system for all problems. If the baby has colic in his stomach, then, if possible, he should be shown to a pediatrician, and in order to reassure the child, you can put a warm heating pad on his tummy.
What do abdominal cramps signal during pregnancy?
Pain in the abdomen is always very worrying for expectant mothers, they often ask themselves: “But will such phenomena harm the unborn baby?” The cause of abdominal pain can be an increased tone of the uterus associated with hormonal changes in the body. If such phenomena are short-lived and do not bring a woman unpleasant sensations, then you should not worry. Sometimes preliminary contractions can manifest themselves in this way, so the uterus prepares itself for the upcoming birth. This is considered normal and does not require any outside intervention. If colic in the abdomen is repeated, accompanied by bloody discharge and causes the woman great discomfort, then the reason lies in some kind of pathology, and you can’t do without a specialist’s consultation.
We examined not all the causes of pain and colic in the abdomen. The reasons for such phenomena can be very diverse. In order to avoid serious problems, you need to carefully listen to your body and, if possible, at the first unpleasant symptoms, seek the advice of a specialist.