Stomach pain is common, but it can be hard to tell whether it will pass on its own or needs medical attention. Your abdominal area includes several organs along with your stomach, meaning pain may originate elsewhere, such as your chest. And the intensity of your pain may not reflect the seriousness of what's causing it.
Keep reading to learn about common causes of stomach pain, warning signs that need emergency care and when to call a healthcare provider.
If your pain started after an injury, comes with chest pain or makes it difficult to breathe, call 911. Sudden, severe abdominal pain, a rigid or hard abdomen, vomiting blood or blood in your stool also needs immediate medical care.
Common Causes of Stomach Pain
Stomach pain may be linked to many different things, including:
- A stomach virus
- Constipation
- Food intolerance or food poisoning
- Gas
- Indigestion
- Menstrual cramps
Stomach pain caused by these often improve naturally with time, but symptoms that persist, worsen or keep returning require medical attention.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning commonly causes diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends medical care for bloody diarrhea, diarrhea lasting more than three days, fever above 102 degrees Fahrenheit, vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down or signs of dehydration, such as very little urination, dry mouth or dizziness when standing.
When Stomach Pain May Be More Serious
Sometimes, your stomach pain could be your body’s way of warning you that something else is wrong. Certain conditions that can cause stomach pain require prompt evaluation because they can worsen without treatment.
Examples include:
- Appendicitis: Pain may begin near the belly button and move to the lower right side. It may worsen with movement and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite or abdominal swelling. Appendicitis is a medical emergency.
- Gallstones: Pain often occurs in the upper right abdomen and may last for several hours. Fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine or light-colored stools need prompt medical attention.
- Kidney Stones: Pain may be severe, come in waves and spread toward the back or groin. A healthcare provider can help determine whether testing or treatment is needed.
- Ulcers or Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Ongoing pain with vomiting, bleeding, diarrhea, fever or unexplained weight loss should be evaluated.
What makes these conditions tricky is that their symptoms can overlap. As a result, you can’t reliably determine the cause from the location of your pain alone.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Call 911 or go to the emergency room for:
- Abdominal pain after an injury
- A hard, rigid or very tender abdomen
- Chest, neck or shoulder pain with abdominal pain
- Confusion
- Fainting
- Inability to pass stool, especially with vomiting
- Possible pregnancy with abdominal pain or bleeding
- Sudden or severe abdominal pain
- Trouble breathing
- Vomiting blood or passing bloody or black stools
- Weakness
We know it can be difficult to know where to go for stomach pain, but our physicians are here to help you find the care you need. If you don’t already have one, find a primary care physician near you for the support you need.
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
It’s a good idea to make an appointment with your healthcare provider if mild abdominal pain lasts a week or longer, doesn’t improve within 24 to 48 hours, becomes more frequent or occurs with nausea and vomiting.
Also call if you have ongoing bloating, fever, urinary symptoms, poor appetite, unexplained weight loss, prolonged vaginal bleeding or difficulty keeping food and liquids down.
Don’t take leftover prescription medicine or begin a new treatment without first asking a healthcare professional. If you’re vomiting or have diarrhea, take small sips of fluid as tolerated and watch for dehydration.
Before your appointment, note where the pain is, when it began, whether it comes and goes, what makes it better or worse and any related symptoms. Your provider may use this information, an exam and testing to identify the cause.
How Stomach Pain Is Evaluated
Because many conditions can cause similar symptoms, evaluation may include:
- A physical exam
- Blood or urine tests
- Imaging
- Questions about your health history
The tests you need depend on several factors, like your symptoms, age, medical history and whether pregnancy is possible.
Helping You Feel Your Best, Inside and Out
Whether you’re experiencing stomach pain, constant diarrhea or chronic constipation, our digestive health specialists are here to help you feel your best again.
Learn more about our digestive care services and how we can help you heal from the inside out.
