How often does it happen that a person hurts in a particular area of the abdomen? Sensations can be very different - sharp, aching, cutting, pulling.
What can it talk about? Is it dangerous? And also what needs to be done in such a situation?
Abdominal pain can indicate various diseases of the abdominal organs, digestive system problems, lungs, cardiovascular and circulatory systems, and even diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Therefore, to determine the source of the problem, one symptom is not enough, and a thorough examination is necessary.
We will understand why the left side hurts.
Types of pain and their causes
Depending on the nature of the pain and the mechanism of its occurrence, the pain can be visceral, peritoneal or reflected.
Visceral pain is a consequence of impaired motility of the smooth muscle fibers of the stomach and intestines. Such pains can be grasping, spasmodic, or, conversely, aching, dull, and also reflected in other parts of the body.
Peritoneal, or somatic, pains result from irritation of the parietal sheet of the peritoneum. Most often they are distinguished by a sharp, cutting character, are strictly localized, amplified by breathing and movement.
Reflected pains are a form of sensation over the affected area. This form of pain in the left side can occur due to irradiation with pleurisy or left-sided pneumonia.
Why the left side hurts is interesting to many.
Diseases of the abdominal cavity and digestive system
One source of pain in the left abdomen may be the stomach. Frequent diseases are gastritis, ulcerative lesions in the stomach or duodenum, neoplasms in these organs. In this case, aching pain (acute with an ulcer) can be reflected in the left side, accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
Another cause of discomfort may be inflammation of the pancreas. The nature of the pain, as in diseases of the stomach, pulling or aching. Also, pain can be reflected in the back, combined with nausea. The most common problems causing these symptoms are pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, and toxin poisoning.
Why the left side of the abdomen hurts is worth understanding.
Such soreness can be caused by diaphragmatic hernia, a disease in which the size of the opening in the diaphragm increases. As a result, the stomach rises into the chest cavity. Gastric juice irritates the surrounding tissue, which leads to unpleasant sensations, including in the left hypochondrium.
The spleen, located close to the surface of the body, also often becomes a source of pain. As a rule, pain in this case is caused by rupture of the spleen, which can occur due to illness or injury. The main characteristic sign of a rupture will be bruising in the area around the navel.
Why does the left side hurt?
Heart disease as a cause of pain and burning in the left side
Left-sided pain in the upper hypochondrium may indicate heart problems.
Especially if it is combined with a feeling of tiredness and weakness, as well as an uneven pulse, which indicates cardiomyopathy.
Why does the side on the left side hurt?
Pain, burning and heaviness in the chest can be a signal of ischemia.
Severe pain in the hypochondrium, which also extends to the left arm, neck and scapula, and sometimes reflected in the right side of the chest, can occur with myocardial infarction (or in a pre-infarction state). This condition is accompanied by chills, increased sweating, darkening in the eyes.
Why does the bottom of the left side hurt the fair sex?
Causes of pain in women
In the female body, pain in the left side can be caused by some specific reasons:
- ectopic pregnancy, which is accompanied by severe acute pain in the lower abdomen;
- inflammation of the appendages causes sharp pain in the groin and a rise in temperature;
- genital inflammation, which, in addition to pain in the lower abdomen, can be accompanied by local symptoms (for example, uncharacteristic discharge, swelling and itching);
- inflammation of the appendages in an acute form, which in symptoms is similar to inflammation of the genitals;
- diseases of the endocrine system, hormonal disruptions, which are characterized by pain in the lower hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting;
- ovarian cyst;
- rupture of the ovary, causing severe pain, nausea and vomiting;
- endometriosis, which is also accompanied by menstrual irregularities.
Why does the left side of the abdomen hurt? Let's figure it out.
Pain in the left side during pregnancy
When carrying a child, abdominal pain can be caused by a usual reaction to the development of the fetus, causing uterine growth and displacement of internal organs, and can be a signal of serious pathologies, up to a miscarriage.
Urgently call an ambulance if:
- the pain occurred suddenly, for no apparent reason;
- pain persists for more than 15 minutes;
- their intensity increases rapidly;
- in addition to pain, weakness, pallor, loss of consciousness, bloody discharge from the vagina occurs.
Why the girl’s left side of the stomach hurts, not everyone knows.
Left side pain and nausea
Nausea primarily indicates intoxication. Nausea and pain, combined with chills, vomiting, diarrhea and fever, most often occur during poisoning and usually persist until the toxic substances are completely eliminated from the body.
Therefore, the question of why the lower left side hurts is not at all idle.
The following diseases can also cause pain and nausea at the same time:
- ulcerative lesions of the stomach, causing, in addition to pain, heartburn, constipation or diarrhea, belching;
- gastritis, in which nausea and pain intensify due to hunger and decrease after eating;
- adnexitis (inflammation of the pelvic organs in women), in which the temperature rises, and pain occurs in the lower abdomen;
- diaphragmatic hernia, which is characterized by pain and burning in the upper hypochondrium, aggravated by movements;
- diseases of the pancreas, including cancer, which cause vomiting, dryness and an unpleasant taste in the mouth;
- impaired renal function, in which there is no removal of toxins from the body, which causes a rise in temperature, fever, problems with urination;
- stress and anxiety can also cause discomfort in the abdomen;
- pregnancy, in which severe pain and nausea can indicate serious complications and pathologies (up to a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy);
- helminth infection, which also leads to weight loss;
- exposure to antibiotics and painkillers.
Why the left side of the abdomen in a woman hurts, we found out.
What caused a sharp pain in the side?
Acute sharp pain is an indication for immediate medical attention, since the causes that cause it pose a direct threat to life. These include:
- rupture of the renal pelvis;
- rupture of the spleen;
- perforation of the walls of the stomach or intestines;
- damage to internal organs, parenchymal bleeding;
- inflammation or ruptures of the fallopian tubes.
Why does the left side of the back hurt? We will talk about this below.
Pain in left side when bending
It happens that pain occurs only when performing a certain movement, such as tilt. There are several reasons for this:
- osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias, rheumatism - diseases in which numbness of the extremities often occurs, and pain appears when moving;
- splenic bending syndrome - an ailment characterized by pain in the upper abdomen that occurs when bending, turning, and especially when sitting;
- diaphragmatic hernia, in which, when changing the position of the body, the upper part of the stomach falls into the chest cavity;
- neurological disorders in which irritation or pinching of nerve endings occurs.
Why does the left side hurt constantly in women and men?
Causes of persistent pain in the left side
Such feelings are not always transient. If the pain in the left side does not subside for a long time or returns regularly, it is worth visiting a doctor to establish a diagnosis. So, with ulcerative lesions, frequent sharp, stitching pains occur. Aching pain may indicate pancreatitis or gastritis. Pain sensations of different severity and intensity can be caused by a pathological enlargement of the spleen. Drawing pains in the lower abdomen often indicate diseases of the genitourinary system.
That's why the left side hurts in the lower abdomen.
Effects
Painful sensations are not only unpleasant in themselves, but can lead to much more serious consequences. In themselves, pain is usually not dangerous. The threat is represented by the ailments that cause them.
For example, pancreatitis without timely treatment leads to self-destruction of the abdominal gland and severe poisoning of the body by its decay products.
Erosive formations in the stomach (gastritis) lead to atrophy of the cells of the mucous membrane and impaired organ functions.
Acute appendicitis is an inflammatory process of the appendix, which without timely treatment and surgical intervention leads to rupture of the process of the cecum, which can cause numerous complications, including peritonitis (or inflammation of the peritoneum).
Acute pyelonephritis disrupts the normal functioning of the kidneys, as a result of which toxins are not excreted from the body. Once in the blood, they cause severe inflammation and poison other organs.
What to do with this nature of pain?
The most appropriate solution for acute, prolonged pain is to call an ambulance. Only a doctor can determine the cause of the pain and objectively assess the risk.
Waiting for the ambulance, it is recommended to go to bed and make as few movements as possible. It is forbidden to warm or rub the sore spot - this can strengthen and even tear the internal abscess. Also, painkillers should not be taken that will lubricate the overall picture of the disease.
Mild, but often occurring pain, especially accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, is also an occasion to see a doctor, because it can talk about the chronic form of serious diseases.
Since pain in the left side can be caused by various reasons, you may need to consult the following specialists:
- therapist;
- surgeon;
- gynecologist;
- urologist;
- proctologist;
- gastroenterologist;
- traumatologist;
- infectious disease specialist.
What can you do yourself at home?
If the cause of the pain is known and temporary, then you can eliminate it yourself.
In case of mild poisoning, the use of sorbent preparations (activated carbon, Polysorb, Enterosgel), plentiful warm drinking, and adherence to bed rest will help. After the symptoms are relieved, treatment is needed that will restore the intestinal microflora and support the pancreas.
If the pain is caused by overeating, then you should reconsider your diet and attitude to food. It is recommended to establish a diet, include a large amount of healthy, natural food in the diet.
For pain caused by stress and nervous strain, multivitamin complexes, sedatives, and sleep and rest will help. In severe cases of psychological and mental problems, consultation with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist may be required.
Conclusions on the article
Pain in the left side is always an unpleasant and sometimes dangerous phenomenon. There are a huge number of reasons that cause it, including those dangerous to life and health.
Now we know why the left side hurts. Since this is only a symptom of the disease, but not its cause, it is necessary to diagnose the pathology as soon as possible and start therapy.