The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain and when to Seek Medical Attention

While many people think of abdominal pain as a stomach problem, the term refers to pain felt anywhere in the area between the chest and groin and can involve any of several different organs. Abdominal pain can range from a mild stomach ache due to eating the wrong food to the severe pain of appendicitis.

Below are the most common causes of abdominal pain, as well as the signs and symptoms of abdominal pain that requires medical attention.

The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Indigestion
Indigestion refers to a discomfort felt during or after eating, ranging from feeling full to actual pain. Indigestion can be a sign of a health problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or cancer, but is frequently due to simply eating or drinking too much. Medications that irritate the stomach, stress, fatigue, and anxiety can also lead to indigestion.

Symptoms of indigestion include abdominal pain, bloating, belching, gas, nausea, vomiting, acidic taste, and burning in the stomach or upper abdomen (not to be confused with heartburn, which is felt in the chest and throat).

The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Constipation
Whether they want to discuss it or not, most people experience constipation at some point in their life. Constipation is the inability to have a normal bowel movement. This can be in the form of having to strain to have pass stools or not being able to have a bowel movement at all.

Constipation can be brought on due to simple things, such as a change in diet or routine, or an underlying health problem. Symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal pressure, swollen abdomen, difficult bowel movements, a lack of bowel movements, and vomiting.

The Most Common Causes of Abdominal Pain: Gastroenteritis (Stomach 'flu')
Many people call it stomach flu, but they are really referring to gastroenteritis. The pain associated with gastroenteritis is due to the irritation and inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, which can be caused by a virus or bacterial infection.