Abdominal Strain
Abdominal strain refers to an injury such as a tear or stretch on any of the abdominal muscles. It can be caused by excessive exercise, strenous tasks like lifting heavy objects, sudden quick movements or twists of the abdomen. It can cause severe abdominal pain, inhibit movements, and cause tenderness or swelling in the abdominal region where the affected muscle is located. While it can resolve on its own, after adequate periods of rest and relaxation, it is advisable to report to your doctor or healthcare provider if it is keeping long in going away. This will help in ruling out any serious underlying conditions.
Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach. Inflammation is a way the body fights injuries, harmful substances and diseases. The processes involved in inflammation result in swelling, pain and redness. In consequence, gastritis may be caused by bacteria, drugs like aspirin and diclofenac, alcoholism, stress or other diseases of the digestive system. Although symptoms may not always be present, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and pain is commonly reported. While it may resolve on its own, it can lead to peptic ulcers if not treated well.
Peptic Ulcer
Peptic ulcer is another common condition that results in abdominal pain. Peptic ulcers are sores that can occur in the wall of the stomach or the small intestines. It commonly results from an infection caused by bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori, and continued use of drugs like Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), steroids and anticoagulants. It is important to only use these drugs when they have been prescribed by a qualified healthcare provider.Peptic ulcers recover best if they are detected early. Treatment may involve antibiotics, antacids, or proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole.
Urinary Tract Infection
Common urinary tract infections which cause abdominal pain are kidney infections and bladder infections.
- Kidney Infection – It is the most serious form of urinary tract infection, caused when bacteria move into the kidney from the bladder or the urethra, the tube through which urine passes. Although it may show no symptoms, it may present with severe abdominal pain, headache, frequent and forceful urination, fever, chills, and urine that is bloody, smelly or cloudy.
- Bladder Infection – This is another urinary tract infection which affects the bladder and can be caused by bacteria or rarely fungus. It may present with the same symptoms as a kidney infection.
Urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotics. Additionally increased water intake is recommended to help with flushing out causative bacteria.
Constipation
Constipation is a common experience many people have occasionally. It refers to the inability to pass stool, as frequently as is normally required. Clinically it may be reserved for frequency that is less than thrice in a week. It is caused when the large intestines take too much water out the stool leaving it hard and dry. Symptoms may include painful, lumpy or hard stool, straining when passing stool and sometimes abdominal pain. Causes and risk factors of constipation include pregnancy, tight clothing, inadequate water intake, inadequate fibre intake, diseases and abonormalities of the large intestines, diseases of the nervous system like stroke and certain drugs. Constipation may go away on its own, else doctors may recommend high fibre diets, exercise and increased water intake. Sometimes drugs like laxatives, or surgery may be required.
Menstruation
Menstrual pains are common forms of abdominal pain among women. Once every month, the ovaries release an egg which must fuse with a sperm and grow into a baby. Prior to the release of the egg, the body prepares the womb to hold the baby that will be formed. When the egg does not get fused with a sperm, the body reverses the preparations made by shedding the lining of the womb. The body does this by contracting the walls and this is what causes pain. Menstrual pains usually go away without treatment. Doctors may recommend drugs or other home remedies like placing warm water bottle or towel on the painful abdominal area, to minimise pain.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is believed to result when the walls of the large intestines are attacked by the body’s disease-fighting system. The immune system fights foreign substances and organisms, and prevents them from causing diseases. When a disease has already been caused, the immune system helps with repair of tissues, healing and recovery. Sometimes, this system gets confused and attacks parts of the body, in what is called an autoimmune reaction. Ulcerative colitis may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, painful and bloody stool. Treatment is necessary to avoid complications like perforation of the large intestine walls, cancer of the colon, and blood clots. Treatment may involve antibiotics, corticosteroids or surgery.
Angina
Even though angina is a term which refers to pain in the chest, it can present symptoms which are similar to those caused by indigestion or acid reflux disease. This is why it is worth mentioning as part of the list of causes of abdominal pain. Angina results when the heart does not receive adequate supply of blood. It is recommended that any severe chest pain should be reported to and examined by a doctor as it may be the only sign of life-threatening diseases like heart attack.