What Is Abdominal Pain?
Abdominal pain is the term used for discomfort or unpleasant feelings you might have in your stomach area. Nearly everyone will experience it at some point.
In most cases, the pain isn’t serious and can be easily identified and treated by a healthcare provider. However, sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious condition that requires medical attention.
Pain on the Left Side of the Abdomen
Lower Left Abdomen
- Diverticulitis: Inflamed intestinal pouches cause sharp pain.
- IBS: Can also cause cramping or discomfort.
Upper Left Abdomen
Could be from organs like the pancreas, spleen, stomach, or kidneys. Possible causes include:
- Pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer
- Gastritis, ulcers, or bile reflux
- Stomach cancer
- Kidney stones or infections
Pain That Feels Abdominal but isn’t
Some chest issues can mimic upper left stomach pain:
- Heartburn, angina, or even a heart attack
- Pericarditis, pneumonia, or pulmonary embolism
Pain on the Right Side of the Abdomen
If you’re feeling pain in the lower right side, it could be related to your appendix, such as appendicitis, or in rare cases, appendix cancer.
In the upper right abdomen, where your liver, right kidney, and gallbladder are located, possible serious causes include:
- Different types of hepatitis (alcoholic, toxic, viral, metabolic, autoimmune)
- Gallstones
- Liver diseases, including liver cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
- Kidney infections
- Kidney stones
- Duodenal ulcers
- Large bowel obstruction
When to See a Doctor for Abdominal Pain
Call 911 right away if:
- Pain follows an injury
- You also have chest pain
See a doctor if you have:
- Severe or lasting stomach pain
- Pain that keeps coming back
- Can’t keep food down for over 2 days
- Signs of dehydration (dry mouth, dark pee, little urination)
- Constipation with vomiting
- Pain while urinating or frequent urges to pee
- Belly that’s sore to the touch
- Pain lasting several hours or more
Get urgent help if you notice:
- Vomiting blood
- Black or bloody stool
- Trouble breathing
- Ongoing vomiting
- Swollen belly
- Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Unexplained weight loss
- You’re pregnant
