Cramps, Abdominal Pain, Stomach Ache & Pain
Abdominal pain can range from mild to severe: be dull or sharp; acute or chronic. Acute pain is sudden pain. Chronic pain can be constant or pain that recurs over time. The type of pain, its location, and other symptoms that come with it help suggest the cause.
Signs, Symptoms & Causes
There are many causes of abdominal pain. Common ones in students and the symptoms that accompany them are listed below.
Constipation
Constipation results from not drinking enough fluids, not eating enough dietary fiber, not being active enough, and from misusing laxatives. Symptoms of constipation are:
A hard time passing stool, not being able to pass stool, and/or having very hard stools
Straining to have a bowel movement
Abdominal swelling or feeling of continued fullness after passing stool
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. Causes include having an intestinal virus, food poisoning, and drinking contaminated water or too much alcohol. Symptoms of gastroenteritis include:
Abdominal pain or cramping
Nausea and/or vomiting
Diarrhea
Fever and/or chills
It may be hard to tell from symptoms if you have an intestinal virus or food poisoning. Suspect food poisoning if others who have eaten the same foods you did also have symptoms.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance results from a lack of an enzyme (lactase) needed to digest the sugar (lactose) in dairy products. Symptoms of lactose intolerance are:
Abdominal cramping, pain, and bloating after drinking milk or eating other dairy products
Gas and diarrhea
Menstrual Cramps in Females
Hormones cause the uterus to go into spasms. Premenstrual bloating increases the abdominal pain. Symptoms of menstrual cramps are:
Mild to severe abdominal pain
Back pain, fatigue, and/or diarrhea
Peptic Ulcer
A peptic ulcer is an ulcer in the stomach or first section of the small intestine. Symptoms include:
A gnawing or burning pain between the breastbone and navel. This is the most common symptom. The pain often occurs between meals and in the morning. It may last from a few minutes to a few hours and may be relieved with eating or antacids.
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Nausea or vomiting dark, red blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
Bloody, black, or tarry stools
The 2 most common factors associated with peptic ulcers are:
An infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria.
The repeated use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as over-the-counter and prescribed ibuprofen.
Peptic ulcers are not caused by stress, but stress can aggravate them.
^{Note : Information herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider before beginning any course of supplementation or treatment.}
Content Courtesy : www.williams.edu