Abdominal Pain: When Is It Serious?

Everyone has experienced abdominal pain at one point in their lives. While most abdominal pain cases can easily be treated, some conditions may be symptoms of a health problem and may prove to be serious.

Recognizing the cause of abdominal pain can help you be aware which needs no cause for alarm and the ones that need immediate medical attention.

The list of common abdominal pain causes include:

• Menstrual Cramps
• Indigestion
• Gas
• Ulcers
• Constipation
• Stomach “flu”
• Food poisoning
• Food allergies
• Lactose intolerance
• Urinary tract infection
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Hernia
• Gallstones
• Kidney stones
• Endometriosis
• Crohn's disease
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• If the pain is severe, watch out for the following symptoms which may be an indication that immediate doctor's attention is required:
• Fever
• Inability to keep food down for several days
• Inability to pass stool accompanied by vomiting
• Vomiting blood
• Bloody stools
• Difficulty breathing
• Painful or unusually frequent urination
• Pain during pregnancy
• Tender abdomen that is sensitive to the touch
• Pain resulting from previous injury to the abdomen
• Pain lasting for several days