This is an automatically translated article.
The article is professionally consulted by Master. BSCK II Phan Thi Minh Huong - Gastroenterologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.Abdominal pain can be just a normal phenomenon that is not dangerous, but it can also be a warning sign of a health problem. In some cases, abdominal pain is associated with certain disorders that require treatment and medication. Determining the location of abdominal pain and the nature of abdominal pain will help the doctor discover the underlying cause of this phenomenon.
1. Abdominal position
The abdominal cavity is from the tip of the breast down to the perineum. The abdomen is divided into two main regions: the epigastrium (above the navel) and the hypogastrium (below the navel).In the abdominal cavity, there are basic organs such as stomach - duodenum, liver, spleen, pancreas, biliary system (bile duct and gallbladder), intestines (colon, small intestine, mesentery, rectum) , anus), urinary system (kidneys, ureters, bladder), with women also have uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina.
Sometimes, stomach cramps are caused by eating too much or eating too many foods such as high-fat foods, gas-producing foods, or people who are lactose intolerant eat a lot of dairy products; and the pain usually resolves within a few hours or lasts several days. This is a completely normal phenomenon that is not dangerous, but also a warning sign that you need to pay more attention to your health.
Trắc nghiệm: Làm thế nào để bảo vệ lá gan khỏe mạnh?
Làm test trắc nghiệm kiểm tra hiểu biết về gan có thể giúp bạn nhận thức rõ vai trò quan trọng của gan, từ đó có các biện pháp bảo vệ gan để phòng ngừa bệnh tật.2. Dull upper abdominal pain
If you have a dull ache in your upper abdomen, above your stomach, or feel bloated, it could be due to gas, bloating, or belching. The cause is fast eating, fast swallowing; Consumption of carbonated drinks, beer, dairy foods and beans also causes excessive gas formation in the stomach.To avoid dull abdominal pain, you should eat less of these foods and drinks and need to maintain a healthy, scientific lifestyle.
3. Pain under the chest or top of the abdomen
Abdominal pain in these locations may be caused by heartburn (acid reflux). In addition, you may feel a burning sensation in your throat and sometimes experience an unpleasant taste in your throat.The cause is due to the use of many foods that can cause heartburn such as greasy and spicy foods, alcohol, raw onions or caffeinated drinks, cigarettes...
To limit this situation, you Do not eat too much in one meal but divide it into 5-6 small meals instead of 2-3 big meals daily. In addition, you should wear loose clothes to avoid pressure on the abdomen and do not use stimulants that are harmful to the stomach.
4. Severe pain in the upper abdomen
Peptic ulcers can be the reason for the sharp pain in your upper abdomen and stomach, which occurs when the stomach lining is damaged. Other symptoms of stomach ulcers are changes in appetite, nausea, bloody or dark stools, unexplained weight loss...Caused by frequent use of aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs Inflammation, smoking, drinking too much alcohol also adversely affect the stomach and cause ulcers.
To prevent ulcers, you should not drink more than two glasses of wine a day and do not take medicine with alcohol, limit pain relievers, wash your hands before each meal, maintain a scientific diet like cereals whole grain, mixed with fruit or vegetables, especially quit smoking, alcohol, stimulants.
5. Abdominal pain and bloating
If the digestive system suddenly becomes sensitive, you may have irritable bowel syndrome, which leads to two risks: one is that the digestive system works very quickly, causing diarrhea, the other is the activity will slow down and make you apple. fertilizer .The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown at this time, but researchers believe it may be caused by a disruption in communication between the brain and the digestive system. In this case, you need to control the foods and the amount of food to which the digestive system is sensitive.
6. Inflammation of the stomach - intestines
Caused by a virus or stomach flu. This is an intestinal infection with symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. This situation can happen because you use food and drinking water that is not hygienic, causing intestinal infections. Therefore, it is necessary to clean, wash hands before eating, regularly clean personal items for everyone in the family, including bowls, chopsticks, spoons, cups...7. Abdominal pain and bloating with diarrhea or constipation
This can lead to stomach pain and bloating, diarrhea, increased gas or constipation. Some other symptoms may accompany such as: headache, fatigue, loss of concentration, muscle pain. and joints, mouth ulcers..The cause of lactose intolerance is a deficiency of the intestinal enzyme, which helps to break down lactose into 2 smaller sugars (glucose and galactose) so that the intestines can absorb it.
Gluten intolerance has many symptoms, the most common of which are diarrhea, constipation, smelly stools, bloating, abdominal pain, skin problems, unexplained weight loss, and depression.
This is an immune response to a protein in wheat and other grains. Gluten intolerance runs in families. Therefore, you should avoid foods and products made from wheat, should include broccoli, kale, tuna or salmon...; Also consult your doctor about treatment options.
8. Right upper abdominal pain
When you have severe pain in your right upper abdomen, you may suspect that you have gallstones. Care should be taken because it is not easy to detect gallstones in the body. You only really realize you have gallstones when there's inflammation and the stone gets stuck in one of the tubes that lead from your liver to your small intestine. In this case, symptoms will appear such as sudden and severe pain in the right upper abdomen, fever, shakiness and nausea.Some risk factors can trigger gallstone formation such as being overweight or obese, sedentary; consuming foods high in fat and high cholesterol, not eating enough high-fiber foods; genetics, diabetes; from taking medications that contain estrogen, such as birth control pills or hormone therapy drugs.
To prevent the formation of gallstones, you need to follow some simple rules such as not skipping meals and controlling your weight. People who want to lose weight by dieting should be careful because it can also increase the risk of gallstones.
9. Right lower abdomen pain
This could be a symptom of appendicitis that requires immediate treatment. Symptoms of appendicitis are sharp pain in the area near the navel or upper abdomen and then move to the lower right abdomen, abdominal swelling, high fever...Appendicitis can be caused by a blockage inside the appendix, intestinal tissue An enlarged appendix (due to an infection in the digestive tract or in another part of the body) or a parasite growth that infects and damages the appendix.
The disease is less common in people who adhere to a healthy diet and eat foods high in fiber such as fresh vegetables.
Abdominal pain can be a warning sign of many gastrointestinal diseases so you need to pay attention when you encounter this problem. It is best to see a doctor to get the most accurate diagnosis of the cause of the disease.
Doctor Huong has over 30 years of experience in the field of Gastroenterology in which with nearly 20 years holding the position of Deputy Department, Head of Department of Hue Central Hospital. Currently, he is a Doctor of Gastroenterology - Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - General Internal Medicine Department of Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
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