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Stomach Pain
Stomach pain is one of the most notoriously difficult symptoms to diagnose without proper laboratory testing and imaging. The reason is that the entire abdomen is filled with organs stacked on top of each other in synchronous fashion for the gut to full function. While this works perfectly anatomically and physiologically for your body to perform digestion effectively it makes diagnosing problems with the many organs in your gut highly improbable without imaging and further laboratory assessment. There are some conditions that can be differentiated from each other and we will go through them in detail. But do understand that ultimately medical consultation will lead to a definitive answer behind your stomach pain.
Acid Reflux: This is a common cause of chest pain and stomach discomfort. The esophagus or food pipe leads into the stomach. The stomach is filled with acidic material that breaks down food. There is a one way valve between the food pipe and the stomach. When this valve malfunctions this acidic material can reflux into the food pipe and cause acid burns. This can result in stomach pains, chest pains, sour tastes in the back of your mouth, and possibly wheezing. The best way to treat this is to take antacids, H2 histamine blockers, or proton pump inhibitors in order to stop the acid making cells from making more acid. Pancreatitis: This is a severe and often life threatening disease that is caused by alcohol and gallstones from the gallbladder. This disease is notorious for its crippling nausea and its complete loss in appetite causing anorexia for days prompting hospitalization. Pancreatitis is a condition when the pancreas becomes irritated due to alcohol or gallstones. It is typically treated by hospitalization, intravenous fluid and water administration as well as slow feeding. Gallstones: Gallstones are caused by the gallbladder. The gallbladder is used to store bile made in the liver. This bile give stool and urine its brown and yellow color making it possible to excrete the many waste products that the body desperately needs to get rid of. If gallstones are present blocking the exit for these many waste products there can be build up of such products as well as a life threatening infection that can be deadly. |
Emergency Causes of Stomach Pain |
Pregnancy: This is a highly important cause of stomach pain in females of child bearing age and should always be considered if said woman is sexually active. Vomiting, abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and dizziness can all be symptoms of pregnancy. Sometimes the fetus can implant outside of the uterus causes and ectopic pregnancy which can be a life threatening situation. The best thing to do if you are a woman of child bearing age is to take a pregnancy test in order to rule out a possible pregnancy. If you are pregnant then it is absolutely imperative that you go to your physician to be evaluated and treated accordingly.
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Stomach Pain continued.
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Gastroenteritis/Stomach flu: This is a common cause of abdominal pain, diarrhea with or without blood, as well as possible vomiting. If you are experiencing these symptoms with fever then the best thing for you to do is to evaluate if you ate something that may have been infected by bacteria. Also day cares and lower level schools such as pre-school and elemenary schools could be insighting agents. If you are experiencing these symptoms the best thing to do would be to drink as much water, electrolytes and sugars as possible in order to maintain and keep fluid in your body. If you are unable to stand up due to dizziness, or lightheadedness it is important that you see a doctor immediately. Call now if you have more questions about stomach pains.
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