Many people at the doctor's office complain that the right side below the ribs hurts. What does this condition mean? What can cause pain? When does a patient need emergency care? These questions interest many.
On the right side of the abdominal cavity are many organs, including the liver, pancreas, and intestines. And if the right side hurts below the ribs, then this may indicate a malfunction of almost any part of the digestive and genitourinary systems.
Soreness in the right abdomen and liver disease
The liver is an organ located in the upper right side. It is difficult to overestimate its value, because the liver is responsible for
cleansing the blood of toxins and neutralizing them, and also provides extremely important metabolic processes. And if the right side hurts below the ribs, then this may indicate a dangerous disease.
Most often, pain is said to be hepatitis - a viral disease that affects hepatocytes. Cirrhosis and fatty degeneration are also accompanied by soreness. In addition, with liver lesions, there are some other symptoms that you must pay attention to - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, digestive disorders, fatigue, drowsiness, decreased performance. As the disease progresses, characteristic yellowness of the skin and sclera of the eyes appear. In such cases, the help of a doctor is simply necessary.
It hurts in the right side of the abdomen due to abnormalities in the gallbladder
The gall bladder is a hollow organ in which bile accumulates. It is here that it becomes more concentrated, after which it enters the intestines through special ducts.
Stitching pains in the right side often occur in people during physical activity, for example, fast running. Such discomfort can be explained by the rapid release of bile into the intestinal lumen. This phenomenon is not considered a serious disease, but may indicate stagnation of bile. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor just in case.
In addition, gallbladder inflammation is also accompanied by discomfort. Sharp pains appear during the formation of stones, their movement and blockage of the bile ducts. As a rule, such phenomena are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, digestive problems, increased discomfort after eating fatty foods.
Pain and pancreas
On the right side is also part of the pancreas. This organ is not only involved in the digestive processes, but is also part of the endocrine system. Sharp pains in the right side, extending to the back, may indicate pancreatitis - a disease that is an inflammation of the pancreas. Along with soreness, nausea appears, frequent vomiting that does not bring relief, as well as increased sweating and fever.
Appendicitis is a common cause of abdominal pain on the right side.
Appendicitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the appendix. With a similar disease, pain, as a rule, occurs suddenly, they are sharp and strong. Inflammation of the appendix is also accompanied by fever, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of appetite.
After some time, the main symptoms may disappear, but this is not at all evidence of recovery. Short-term improvement is observed during perforation (rupture) of the appendix and its contents into the abdominal cavity. In the absence of timely assistance, complications, in particular peritonitis, may occur.
Intestinal diseases as a cause of pain in the right side
Of course, the right side of the abdomen is filled with loops of the small and large intestines. And any damage to the intestinal tract will naturally be accompanied by pain. A similar symptom occurs with inflammation of the mucous membrane, perforation, Crohn's disease and many other disorders.
On the other hand, if the right side of the abdomen hurts, this may indicate an accumulation of gases, intestinal ulcer, parasitic infestations (worms, amoeba).
What diseases of the genitourinary system does pain in the right side of the abdomen indicate?
Pain in the right side of the lower abdomen often accompanies certain diseases of the genitourinary system. For example, with urolithiasis (especially if the right kidney and ureters are affected), acute pain on the right side is often observed. Acute attacks of pain appear with the so-called vagus kidney syndrome.
On the other hand, pain can be given to the right side of the abdomen caused by a malfunction of the pelvic organs. For example, in women, this may be a symptom of apoplexy of the right ovary, rupture of the right fallopian tube. This is often observed with ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg is attached to the wall of the fallopian tube), intensive growth of a cyst or tumor.
Pain on the right during pregnancy - is it dangerous?
Many women at an appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist complain that the right side below the ribs hurts. In recent months, such phenomena can be absolutely normal. A rapidly growing baby increases in size, which leads to compression of the internal organs. As a rule, the pain disappears if you change the position, for example, lie down, roll over to the other side or take a walk.
But if the pains are sharp, strong and do not go away, then this is cause for concern. During pregnancy, pain in the right side can indicate all of the above diseases - these are hepatitis, pancreatitis, problems with the kidneys and gall bladder. By the way, during the bearing of a child, a woman’s body is much more susceptible to infections, because the immune system weakens. Therefore, intense or frequently occurring pain is an occasion to consult a doctor.
Right side hurts - what to do?
Many people are interested in the question: "What if there is pain on the right side?" As you can see, this symptom can signal significant and dangerous violations in the body. Therefore, the only reasonable way out is to consult a doctor. Do not take painkillers and self-medicate until you see a doctor and make a final diagnosis. This can only aggravate the situation.
Some conditions require emergency care. A paramedic team must be called up if:
- sharp, sharp pain appeared suddenly and does not go away for half an hour;
- the pain is so strong that it interferes with movement;
- severe nausea and vomiting appeared;
- soreness causes fainting or short-term loss of consciousness;
- the patient has a clouding of consciousness, hallucinations;
- if the pain radiates to the lumbar region, and blood contains impurities in the urine;
- abundant vaginal bleeding is observed.
Pain in the right side is a dangerous symptom that can never be ignored!