Stomach aches can come and go. It’s not uncommon to have a belly ache now and then, and there is plenty of harmless reason for a passing pain in your belly, but did you know that some stomach aches can have a serious cause? Whether it’s a cramping pain, a dull ache, a severe or stabbing pain in the abdomen or pelvis, read on to find out some potential causes and when you need to see a doctor.
Where it hurts
A pain lower down in the pelvis or abdomen that feels like cramping or a dull ache is more likely to be related to your large intestine. Pain around the belly button or higher is more likely to be due to an issue with the small intestine or the stomach itself.
It can be helpful to make a note of the date your period starts every month, either in your calendar or using a period tracking app, as this can help you understand if pelvic pain is related to your menstrual cycle. Cramps may start some days before your monthly bleed. Ovulation, which happens around 14 days after the first day of your period, can cause a dull, aching pain on one side or the other (depending on which ovary is releasing an egg).
Common causes of stomach pain
Many common conditions can cause a sore belly or an upset stomach. Stress and anxiety are big factors. Emotional conditions can cause the muscle layers around the abdomen to tense up, restricting the functions of the intestines.
Emotional issues are a contributing factor to the collection of symptoms often referred to as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which can wreak havoc on the digestive system with painful gas and bloating, and alternating diarrhoea and constipation.
Stress can also lead to stomach ulcers and gastritis, which feel like a gnawing pain in the upper abdomen, above the belly button. The pain of an ulcer is usually relieved by eating, although if the stomach is inflamed, severe bloating may be the result, and the pain returns after the food has been digested. The H Pylori bacteria can also be the culprit where stomach ulcers are an issue.
If your stomach is suddenly and violently affected with cramps, nausea, and vomiting, it could be food poisoning or gastroenteritis (stomach flu). Salmonella and Campylobacter are two of the more common forms of these. Severe stomach flu or food poisoning can be dangerously dehydrating and weakening.
What Walk-in Clinic can do to help:
We offer a range of doctor services that can help you, whether you are suffering from the flu, would like a tailored health check-up or are experiencing regular, unexplained stomach pain. We usually have same-day appointments available, and female doctors are available on request.
It is something I ate?
Food allergy and intolerance can cause painful gas, bloating, constipation or loose stools, diarrhoea, and ongoing stomach pain.
With lactose intolerance, symptoms will always worsen after you eat dairy products (even having milk in your tea, a buttery croissant, or a bar of milk chocolate can be a trigger).
Coeliac disease, which is a severe allergy to the gluten protein, can cause debilitating symptoms including extreme fatigue.
Indigestion can share symptoms with food intolerance but is usually more infrequent. Heavy, rich foods, and eating fruit after heavy meals can promote indigestion with painful gas, bloating, and burping.
If you suspect you suffer from a dietary cause, Walk-in Clinic offers a full range of intolerance testing and testing for allergies and coeliac disease. Our head doctor especially, Dr Enam Abood, has a special interest in this area.
For more information, read up on stomach ache, allergy testing, or book an appointment to see one of our fabulous team of doctors.
Is it food poisoning or parasites?
If you are a frequent traveller, you’ll probably know that parasites are more common in certain areas, often where water sanitation is poor. If you return home after a trip away with lingering digestive symptoms, or if you had a case of food poisoning or traveller’s diarrhoea during your time abroad, and are still not feeling quite right, parasites could be the cause and it is definitely worth seeing a doctor.
When it’s serious
The most serious common cause of a stomach ache is appendicitis (around 1 in 13 people have it at some point, with 40,000 cases reported annually in the UK). The main symptom of appendicitis is an agonising pain in the lower-right abdomen.
With ongoing stomach issues, bowel and stomach cancer is a possibility as well, but are much rarer conditions. Other rare but serious causes of stomach pain include diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis, hernias and cysts.
Stomach pain is an emergency if it is a severe, agonising, sharp pain. Other emergency signs are fever, bloody stools, or uncontrollable vomiting.
Takeaway message
The health of your stomach is the foundation for your overall wellbeing. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s important not to ignore it! Stomach ache is sometimes a cause of a serious illness such as cancer or appendicitis but even if it is caused by something more common, it makes no sense to live with it.
Let us help you make sure the only belly ache you get is from laughing!
