How To Find Out What’s Making Your Stomach Hurt Using This ‘Belly Map’

Written by Emaan Shah  • 

Not all of us can claim to have suffered a fracture at some point in our life, but abdominal pain? You bet.

Abdominal pain is just that common. The abdomen is frequently referred to as the belly or stomach region. However, there’s a lot more going on there. Abdominal pain can be described as the pain felt anywhere between the chest region and groin area. Almost everybody suffers from abdominal pain, and in most cases, it isn’t anything serious and promptly resolves by itself.

However, if you’ve been experiencing intense or persistent pain, you probably want to know just who to blame. If it’s not your actual stomach, what other organ is the guilty culprit? Or do you have a condition or infection you’re unaware about?

And, most importantly, should you be calling a doctor?

First Things First, Describe Your Pain

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Yes, your abdomen hurts, but what type of pain are you experiencing? Different conditions are associated with different sorts of pains.

It’s not always the intensity of your pain that reflects the seriousness of your condition. For example, if you happened to be suffering from a life-threatening condition, such as early appendicitis or colon cancer, you’d only report a mild pain or even no pain.

The following are some ways to describe the pain in your abdomen:

  • Cramping Sort Of Pain: Most of the times, this sort of pain isn’t anything to worry about. It’s usually generated due to bloating and gas and can be followed by diarrhea. That being said, if you’ve been experiencing abdominal cramps frequently or they last for 24 or more hours or if they are accompanied by a fever, consult your doctor.
  • Generalized Pain: This is when you experience pains in more than one half of your abdomen. This sort of pain is more characteristic of indigestion, gas, or a stomach virus. If your pain happens to get more severe, it may be due to the blockage of your intestines.
  • Localized Pain: This is the pain that you experience in one specific area of your abdomen. Usually, it is a sign of some dysfunction in an organ like your appendix, stomach, or gallbladder.
  • Colicky Pain: This is the pain that “comes in waves”. Generally, it starts and stops suddenly, without warning, and is often rather severe in intensity. This sort of pain is usually associated with gallstones or kidney stones.

What Can Cause Abdominal Pain?

The pain in your abdomen could be a possible product of many different conditions. It is vital to know just when to seek medical attention right away. The following are some of the relatively less serious reasons for abdominal pain (1):

  • Food allergies or food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Constipation
  • Stomach flu
  • Food poisoning

Other more serious conditions that could result in abdominal pain:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (when the major artery in your body begins to bulge and weaken)
  • Appendicitis
  • Cancer of the colon, stomach or other organs
  • Bowel obstruction or blockage
  • Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
  • Gallstones
  • Ischemic bowel (decreased blood supply to the intestines)
  • Indigestion, heartburn or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux)
  • Diverticulitis (infection and inflammation of the colon)
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
  • Pancreatitis (infection or swelling of the pancreas)
  • Kidney stones
  • Ulcers

In some cases, the pain in your abdomen could be a result of a problem occurring somewhere else in your body like your pelvic area or chest region. The following is a list of conditions that could also produce abdominal pain as a symptom:

  • Endometriosis (2)
  • Severe menstrual cramps
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (3)
  • Ectopic pregnancy (4)
  • Muscle strain
  • Urinary tract infection

Abdominal Pain Map

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Use this simple, easy-to-read abdominal pain map to pinpoint the exact location of your pain and discover the most likely cause.

When Should I Be Calling A Doctor?

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You must call for an ambulance or rush to the hospital immediately if you:

  • Are currently receiving treatment for cancer
  • Are unable to successfully pass any stool, especially if you’re also suffering from vomiting
  • Notice any blood in your stools or vomit (especially if it happens to be maroon, bright red or dark black)
  • Have pain in your neck, chest or shoulder
  • Experience sudden, sharp pain in your abdomen
  • Have difficulty breathing

Call your family doctor or health care provider if you have:

  • Abdominal discomfort that has lasted for 1 week or longer
  • Abdominal pain that hasn’t improved in 24 to 48 hours or has become more frequent and severe
  • Burning sensation during urination or frequent urination
  • Bloating that has persisted for more than 2 days
  • Diarrhea that has lasted for more than 5 days
  • A fever of over 37.7°C in adults or over 38°C in children, along with pain
  • Prolonged vaginal bleeding
  • Prolonged poor appetite
  • Unexplained loss of weight

While it’s tempting to play doctor and indulge in self-diagnosis and self-medication, if you happen to notice any of the above symptoms, please seek the help of an actual health care professional. Stay healthy!

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