Causes of pain in the lower abdomen
Lower abdominal pain is perhaps one of the most common complaints you have when you see a doctor. Such a symptom can be the result of physical exertion, hypothermia, or emotional stress. In such cases, it is not chronic and does not bother a person for a long time. But often the cause of pain in the lower abdomen can be the presence of a serious illness. In order to make the correct diagnosis with such a nonspecific symptom, it is necessary to analyze the exact location of the pain center, as well as the accompanying signs and nature of the pain.
Causes of pain in the lower left abdomen
The most common causes of pain in the lower left abdomen are:
- Spleen disease or rupture;
- Inflammation of the pancreas;
- Gastritis;
- Stomach ulcer;
- Inflammatory bowel disease;
- Urolithiasis disease;
- Gynecological diseases.
When a person is regularly bothered by pain in the lower left abdomen, problems with the spleen may be the cause. Often in this situation, we can talk about an increase in the organ, which is usually provoked by various infectious diseases. A ruptured spleen can also cause pain in the lower abdomen on the left side. In this case, the skin in this area usually acquires a bluish tint, and bruises appear on it. This condition is extremely life-threatening, therefore, with such symptoms, you must immediately call a doctor.
Inflammation of the pancreas can also cause pain in the lower left abdomen. In this case, pain usually spreads over the surface of the back. Nausea and vomiting may be accompanying signs.
Pain in the lower abdomen on the left sometimes indicates the development of gastritis or stomach ulcers. These diseases are characterized by heartburn and belching. The causes of lower abdominal pain can also be found in inflammatory bowel diseases. In the course of such diseases, flatulence and diarrhea often appear, additional signs may be nausea, vomiting, and fever.
The cause of pain in the lower abdomen on the left side is often urolithiasis. In such a situation, the pains are very sharp and are accompanied by frequent urination.
All kinds of gynecological diseases are also a common cause of pain in this area. This can be a cyst of the left ovary, inflammation of the appendages, or an ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, the causes of pain in the lower abdomen should be identified as early as possible.
Causes of pain in the lower right abdomen
Only an experienced specialist can determine the exact cause of pain in the lower right abdomen, and it is also necessary to draw his attention to various accompanying symptoms. Here is a short list of diseases that are often accompanied by a similar symptom:
- Chronic or acute appendicitis;
- Cystitis;
- Hemorrhoids;
- Prostatitis and other urological diseases in men;
- Right-sided adnexitis;
- Adhesion processes.
Do not forget that any disease of the abdominal cavity can serve as the cause of pain in the lower right abdomen. Often they indicate various disorders due to physical trauma and psychological stress. Sometimes such painful sensations indicate the presence of parasites in the body.
Causes of pulling pain in the lower abdomen
It is often difficult to determine the true cause of pulling pain in the lower abdomen, since such a symptom is typical for a number of diseases:
- Musculoskeletal problems;
- Diseases of the genitourinary system;
- Diseases of the digestive tract;
- Inflammatory processes in the abdominal cavity;
- Muscle spasms of internal organs.
To establish a diagnosis, again, it is necessary to know the accompanying symptoms. For example, a pulling pain in the lower abdomen, accompanied by pain in the lower back and frequent urination with blood, mucus, or pus, can be caused by serious kidney or bladder problems. If these symptoms are accompanied by low blood pressure, pallor, general weakness, and sometimes fainting, then intra-abdominal bleeding can be assumed. With this diagnosis, immediate surgical intervention is required.
Also, the cause of pain in the lower abdomen, which has a pulling character, may be the presence of a benign or malignant tumor. Therefore, with such symptoms, you need to undergo an examination and pass all the necessary tests in order to stop the development of the disease as soon as possible.
Features of the structure of the small pelvis, reproductive and endocrine systems in women often cause pulling pain in the lower abdomen. Such painful sensations are often characteristic of inflammatory processes in the genitals. If the pain is accompanied by chills, purulent or bloody discharge from the vagina, this may indicate a serious inflammation in the pelvic area.
Sometimes the cause of aching pain in the lower abdomen in women is menstruation or ovulation. A very common disease among nulliparous women is algodismenorrhea or excessively painful periods. Sometimes this is due to an increased amount of hormones in the blood, which have a large effect on the contraction of the uterus.
Such painful sensations also often disturb the female body during pregnancy. Large physiological changes in the first trimester that promote the growth of the uterus and fetus often cause aching pain in the lower abdomen. In the second trimester of pregnancy, such sensations are explained by active stretching of the abdominal muscles, and in the third, by the displacement of internal organs. This leads to compression of the intestines, so food moves through it more slowly than during normal times, which can also cause pain in the lower abdomen.
Causes of severe pain in the lower abdomen
Very often, the cause of severe pain in the lower abdomen is the abuse of any food, overeating or, conversely, hunger. In addition, such a symptom can be provoked:
- Heartburn;
- Indigestion;
- Food poisoning;
- Digestive strain due to severe stress;
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
If the cause of severe pain in the lower abdomen is a malfunction of the digestive system, you should give the stomach the necessary rest and refuse heavy food. Sometimes it is recommended to switch to liquid food or not eat anything at all for a while.
When severe pain is accompanied by constipation, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, you should immediately seek medical help. Also, medical examination requires a condition when the spasm lasts more than half an hour, causes sweating and pain in the chest.
It should be remembered that there are a huge number of causes of pain in the lower abdomen, moreover, they can often signal the presence of a serious illness, for the treatment of which immediate hospitalization or surgical care is needed. Therefore, at the first symptoms, it is worth making an appointment with a doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis and timely treatment of a possible disease.
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