Upper Abdominal Abdominal Pain – Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Abdominal pain upper abdomen

Everyone knows abdominal pain in the upper abdomen , as it can occur again and again for various reasons. There is usually a harmless cause behind the pain. In some cases, however, serious illnesses can also be the reason for the discomfort.

What is abdominal pain in the upper abdomen?

Upper abdominal pain can present as a stabbing pain, a feeling of pressure, or a general feeling of being unwell . They are among the most common complaints of all and can either occur spontaneously without an apparent cause or plague those affected over a longer period of time. They either occur repeatedly or are a permanent companion – they are chronic. Doctors refer to abdominal pain as abdominal pain or abdominal discomfort. This is related to the Latin term for the stomach, abdomen.

Abdominal pain in the upper abdomen is often perceived as colic, cramping pain or dull pain. They can – but do not have to – be accompanied by various other symptoms, which can be of great importance for the diagnosis, among other things. Depending on where the pain is localized, other diseases that lead to the symptoms can be considered. Left and right abdominal pain is not uncommon. It is also crucial whether they occur locally in the upper abdomen or are distributed throughout the abdomen.

Causes

Typical other symptoms that may accompany epigastric pain include nausea , heartburn , and vomiting . But also complaints of the lower digestive tract are not uncommon. These include diarrhea , constipation , flatulence and fever. In addition, patients sometimes report bleeding from the intestinal tract or a hard abdominal wall associated with abdominal pain. Depending on the cause, fever can also occur.Serious illnesses are rarely responsible for acute upper abdominal pain. Greasy food or food intolerances as well as spoiled food can be to blame. But most gastrointestinal diseases are also accompanied by abdominal pain. For this reason, long-lasting or recurring pain absolutely requires clarification by the general practitioner. In addition to functional complaints such as irritable stomach or irritable bowel, stress is also a decisive factor when it comes to upper abdominal pain.

Other possible causes are infections, gastritis or gallstones, which are also manifested by severe pain in the upper abdomen. Only very rarely are more dangerous diseases such as ulcers of the stomach or duodenum the reason. Stomach or colon cancer is often accompanied by a strong feeling of pressure and fullness , bouts of fever, loss of appetite and weight loss .

In addition, those affected should also think about other causes. Diseases of the lungs or the heart are sometimes also associated with upper abdominal pain. Especially with severe colds that are associated with severe coughing, involvement of the lungs cannot be ruled out. All in all, upper abdominal pain is not a disease, but just a symptom. For this reason, a more precise clarification, especially in the case of more frequent pain, is important.

Diseases

When to the doctor?

The cause of persistent pain in the upper abdomen, which does not subside after using the usual home remedies, should be clarified by the doctor. Upper abdominal pain accompanied by nausea and diarrhea can be caused by an intolerance to certain foods or one of their ingredients: If the trigger remains unclear even after an elimination diet, further diagnostics from the doctor will provide certainty.

Upper abdominal pain in connection with severe diarrhea and vomiting indicate an intestinal infection with bacteria or viruses: Determining the pathogen during the medical examination helps to take targeted action against the triggering germ. Recurring cramping pains in the right upper abdomen necessitate an ultrasound examination to rule out gallstones, and endoscopic examination of the stomach or duodenum is advisable if the upper abdominal pain worsens after a meal or is associated with heartburn.

If constant or recurring pain in the upper abdomen is accompanied by weight loss and blood in the stool , the path should also lead to the doctor, as should side effects such as fever and yellowing of the skin. In women in particular, a heart attack can be heralded by diffuse upper abdominal pain: Immediate medical treatment is therefore indicated in the event of sudden, severe pain – especially if cold sweats, dizziness and drowsiness also occur.

Diagnosis and course

If someone goes to the doctor because of severe, acute pain in the upper abdomen, the first thing to do is to find out whether it is an emergency. The patient’s breathing, circulation and level of consciousness are checked. Depending on the symptoms and medical history, the doctor will decide whether there is an acute emergency. During the anamnesis , the knowledgeable doctor asks the patient, for example, about the duration and type of pain. Were they there suddenly or did they creep in? Does the patient have these problems more often or just at the moment?

It is also important what form the pain has. Therefore, the detailed description of the person concerned is of central importance. In order to make a diagnosis, the family doctor must also know whether the upper abdominal pain occurs after eating, whether it even gets better or whether it starts with certain body movements. In this way he can narrow down which organ could possibly be affected. He will usually feel your stomach and listen for bowel sounds with a stethoscope.

For further diagnostics, laboratory tests of the blood , urine and, if necessary, the stool can be used. In addition, the doctor will perform an ultrasound in order to be able to reliably detect possible accumulations of water or other changes in the abdominal cavity. Other options are the gastroscopy , abdominal and colonoscopy, which means that inflammatory or even malignant diseases can be diagnosed more quickly. In order to test food intolerance, the doctor can initiate a hydrogen breath test, for example. Depending on the case, other experts such as cardiologists, urologists or gynecologists can also be consulted.

Complications

Complications of upper abdominal pain include food intolerance. To clarify this, an allergy test should be carried out. There may be a change in food intake. This often disrupts family processes and can lead to interpersonal problems. As the digestive process progresses, the pain disappears. The symptoms trigger a feeling of pressure, reduced vitality and increased irritability. Colic can form, and a dull or stabbing pain can occur. There is a feeling of pressure in the body that leads to reducing food intake to minimize further discomfort.

If the condition persists for several days, weight loss occurs. The pain in the upper abdomen can spread over the entire stomach as the disease progresses. This is especially true when it comes to an inflammatory process that continues to spread due to a lack of medical care. Some people experience abdominal pain in challenging life situations. Once these stress-related situations are over, the experience of pain also ends. The abdominal pain in the upper abdomen can be accompanied by vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn or flatulence. There may also be a gastrointestinal disease that can be contagious to people in the immediate vicinity. Chronic pain can result in an irritable stomach. This is mostly based onmental health problems that require therapy.

Treatment and therapy

Upper abdominal pain is no reason to panic. Affected people themselves can get anticonvulsant medication from the pharmacy. Many of them are purely plant-based and therefore not a great burden on the body. Otherwise, drink a lot – both water and teas such as fennel , peppermint , chamomile or anise help against the pain and keep the body’s fluid level busy in the event of additional vomiting or diarrhea. In addition, salts should be fed back into the body in these cases, for example via pretzel sticks. If stress is the cause of the pain, it should be avoided if possible. Quiet is the order of the day. In addition, greasy foods should be avoided when you are in pain.

If the pain persists, once the diagnosis is made, a medical professional will take the necessary steps to treat the trigger. The treatment here depends on the underlying disease. Antibiotics can be prescribed if there are infections or proton pump inhibitors if the stomach is too acidic. In some cases only the pain is treated, for example when the female menstrual period is responsible for the pain. If they are caused by a tumour, surgery may be necessary.

Outlook and prognosis

Abdominal pain in the upper abdomen can have a variety of causes. Accordingly, the various underlying diseases also have a different prognosis. For example, abdominal pain in the upper abdomen can be caused by eating too quickly. The resulting pain is acute and improves on its own after a few minutes to hours. Disorders that can cause upper abdominal pain are, for example, irritable bowel syndrome. These are signs of illness that cannot be cured. However, the protracted symptoms can be treated well. A degeneration into malignant diseases such as colon cancer is not the case here.

It is different with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis . The risk of developing colon cancer is slightly increased. However, life expectancy is not affected by chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. The prognosis for colorectal cancer depends on the stage of the disease.

While the prognosis through surgical measures is excellent in the early signs of the disease, the prognosis in the later stages is rather poor. A cure in stage 4 is almost impossible, the survival rate over the next 5 years is about 5 percent. However, the quality of life is immensely improved by the use of chemotherapeutic agents. Life expectancy also increases with chemotherapy from 12 months to around 24 months.

Prevention

Basically, abdominal pain is difficult to prevent, since many different diseases can be the trigger. In principle, however, reducing stress helps to prevent mental and functional pain. Movement brings the intestines into shape and stimulates digestion. Drinking a lot can prevent constipation. It also makes sense to eat a balanced diet to keep the intestinal flora healthy. In summer in particular, it is important to ensure that food is well chilled and not to interrupt the cold chain, especially in the case of susceptible foods (poultry, fish, eggs and cream). Corresponding foods should not be left for too long before consumption. 

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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