Stomach pain is a common and pesky annoyance and it has happened to all of us. Usually, stomach cramps and discomfort indicate digestive disorders. But then there is the sharp and piercing pain that rises and repeatedly ebbs, which can alarm you. If you have been witnessing this kind of pain over a long period of time, then it is time you visit the doctor, especially if your stomach pain is accompanied by nausea, vomiting and disorientation.
Here are a few likely causes behind stomach pain that comes and goes:
Sometimes the appendix, an abdominal organ, swells up and this could lead to stabbing pains that intensify and ebb. The pain usually originates in the lower right side of the abdomen. There might be other symptoms like bloating and vomiting. The symptoms begin to show up almost right after the appendix swells up. Seek help from a doctor because a swollen appendix may burst and cause severe health issues.
It is a common cause of shooting stomach pain in women because an overwhelming majority of women have ovarian cysts. Usually, they are harmless. But sometimes they enlarge and this is when they trigger pain.
In such cases, the epicentre of the pain is in the lower abdomen where the ovaries are. You may also notice bloating and a sensation of pressure in your tummy. You can use hot compresses as a temporary measure to deal with the pain.
Sometimes bilirubin or cholesterol accumulates to form stone shaped objects inside your gallbladder. They may even obstruct the duct of your gallbladder and this prompts intense shooting pain. Other indicators of gallstones are a yellowish tinge in the eyes, nausea, vomiting, sweating and fever. To ease the discomfort, you can sip peppermint or turmeric tea.
You will know that you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome if, after every meal, you experience pain in your stomach. Or the pain might appear during specific times of the day. Other symptoms of this disorder are pain accompanying defecation, presence of mucus in faeces, diarrhoea and flatulence.
UTIs are a very tortuous disease. Usually, it is the bladder that gets infected, but actually, any section of the tract can bear the brunt of the infection. Not only does it trigger pain in the abdomen, but you might also feel a burning sensation when you urinate.
In my experience the major causes of abdominal pain in children are behavioural, lymph nodes in intestines and worms. All should be evaluated and treated by a pediatrician.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Also Read: 10 Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infection
This ulcer develops on the lining of your stomach. Prolonged usage of specific medicines can cause it to grow. They do not go away on their own and prompt a constant burning sensation in your abdomen.
Some other sources of Stomach Pain can be:
Children, especially in the early ages, frequently suffer from stomach aches.If their stomach ache is accompanied by weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, you should always consult a pediatrician to diagnose the cause and provide the treatment for the same.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D
If you face any of these signs while dealing with abdominal pain then don’t wait any longer. Consult a doctor immediately!
Also Read: Why Is My Upper Stomach Bigger Than My Lower? Understanding Body Composition
Unless you are facing any of the above-mentioned symptoms, your abdominal pain will most likely go away without the need for any special medical treatment. However, here are a few ways you can deal with abdominal pain yourself at home to reduce the pain:
Since ignoring abdominal pain that comes and goes can lead to medical complications in the future, you really should consult a doctor to find out if any one of the above-mentioned disorders is at the root of your tummy ache. Some of them need immediate medical treatment. Don’t wait till the symptoms become even more prominent because the longer you wait, the longer it will take for you to heal completely.
Also Read: Stabbing Pain Left Side Under Ribs: Possible Causes and Solutions
Disclaimer: The above information has been prepared by a qualified medical professional and may not represent the practices followed universally. The suggestions listed in this article constitute relatively common advice given to patients and since every patient is different, you are advised to consult your physician, if in doubt, before acting upon this information. Lupin Limited has only facilitated the distribution of this information to you in the interest of patient education and welfare.
Gastroparesis is a disorder characterised by delayed emptying of the stomach contents. In this condition, the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine slows down or stops completely. The smooth functioning of the stomach muscles is controlled by the vagus nerve. Hence, it is the vagus nerve that controls the digestion of food and its movement along the gastrointestinal tract.
Gastroparesis can occur due to injury to the vagus nerve during a surgical process, vagus nerve damage due to diabetes, diseases of the nervous system like Parkinson’s or Multiple sclerosis, and some medications like narcotics or antidepressants.
Uncontrolled diabetes for a long period of time affects each organ in the body. Over a period, around 70% of diabetics start showing symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, which affects both the autonomic and peripheral nervous systems; this includes the vagus nerve, which triggers gastroparesis. Since gastric emptying is unpredictable, controlling the blood sugar levels of these patients also becomes difficult. Hence, it is very important for diabetics to keep a tab of their blood sugar levels.
To have good control over blood glucose levels in diabetics with gastroparesis, patients may have to
Symptoms of gastroparesis include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, bloating of the abdomen, weight loss, poor appetite, and feeling full easily. Symptoms can be aggravated by consuming oily foods, large quantities of foods with fibre or drinking aerated drinks. Symptoms may vary in severity and frequency in each patient and can also vary in intensity over time in the same person.
Also Read: 5 Instant Home Remedies For Gastric Problem
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
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The stomach is part of the digestive system. Cells in the stomach sometimes change and no longer grow or behave normally. These changes may lead to non-cancerous, or benign, tumours such as gastric polyps, small gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) or lipomas. In some cases, changes to stomach cells can cause cancer. Most often, cancer starts in gland cells in the inner layer of the stomach wall, which is called the gastric mucosa. This type of cancer is called adenocarcinoma of the stomach. It makes up about 95% of all stomach cancers.
Possible Causes
Symptoms
When stomach or gastric cancer occurs, it’s often not caught until it’s dangerously advanced. Unlike breast cancer or colon cancer, there’s no routine screening for Stomach cancer symptoms. People can overlook or dismiss subtle Stomach cancer symptoms and delay seeing a doctor due to some common misconception about the disease.
Symptoms of stomach cancer manifest as stomach pain, nausea, the inability to eat typical amounts of food, persistent vomiting, severe and continual heartburn, uncontrollable weight loss and extreme indigestion. If any of these symptoms occur without relief for a prolonged period of time, medical intervention is essential.
People who eat a lot of foods that are pickled, salted or smoked seem to be at a higher risk for contracting these Stomach cancer symptoms. Apparently, the disease was more common before the use of refrigerators became widespread.
Also Read: 5 Instant Home Remedies For Gastric Problem
Treatment
Surgery is the only effective curative method in the management of stomach cancer. Even in certain patients with advanced stomach cancer, surgery is performed to decrease complications of the cancer such as blockage of the stomach or bleeding from the cancer.
Radiotherapy is useful for relieving stomach obstruction in patients with highly developed stomach cancer. Radiotherapy may also be used to stop bleeding from cancers that cannot be operated on. It is given over 5 minutes every day for 2 to 5 weeks. There may be temporary loss of appetite, nausea, and pain in the radiated site.
Chemotherapy is sometimes used to reduce symptoms from an advanced cancer or to prolong the time to the growth of the cancer. Many chemotherapy drugs are accessible, most of them with side effects such as temporary nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and lowering of the white blood counts. Alternatively, clinical trials with novel drugs are usually available as an option for patients.
To know more about cancer, read more: Are you cancer aware?
