The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a 1999 to 2008 survey indicating that visits to the emergency room for abdominal pain have increased 31.8 percent in the United States. In a Sept. 8, 2019, article published by "USA Today," Robert O'Connor, chairman of emergency medicine at the University of Virginia Health System, says that abdominal pain, which can span a variety of diseases, is a top reason why people visit his ER.
The Abdomen
Stomach pain, also known as abdominal pain, occurs in the cavity beneath the rib cage and above the pelvic bone. Organs that can be effected by abdominal pain include the stomach, which is the sac that holds food for digestion; the small intestine and colon, which is part of the digestive system; the liver, which cleans the blood and produces bile to digest food; the gallbladder, which aids in digestion; the spleen, which helps filter blood; and pancreas, which helps break down food.
Stomach Pain
Stomach pain can be especially difficult to diagnose. According to KidsHealth, abdominal pain is not always connected to a problem with the belly. The National Institutes of Health explains that what can confuse matters further is the fact that your level of pain is not indicative of the seriousness of your condition. Gastritis, for example, is a mild condition that can cause excruciating pain while early stages of appendicitis and colon cancer, both of which are potentially deadly, can cause mild pain.
Top Conditions
If you notice that your abdominal pain is triggered after eating, top conditions your doctor may consider include constipation, a common cause for belly aches. A gastrointestinal infection, also known as a viral or bacterial infection, is caused by eating contaminated foods and causes pain, cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Inflammatory bowel disease causes inflammation of the intestines. Eating can trigger pain in people with IBD. Lactose intolerance and celiac disease are conditions that cause abdominal pain when certain people eat foods containing gluten or dairy.
Other Conditions
You may notice that just after you eat, you begin feeling abdominal pain. If you've already been tested and cleared for the most common conditions triggered after eating, your doctor may consider other illnesses that are not necessarily caused by eating or trigger symptoms after eating. The Mayo Clinic reports that gastritis is a group of infections that cause the lining of the stomach to become inflamed resulting in infrequent bowel movements and hard stools. Eating can irritate symptoms of gastritis. An intestinal obstruction blocks food and fluid from passing through the small intestine and colon, leading to discomfort or pain. Eating can trigger symptoms quickly.
Treatment
The NIH suggests avoiding solid foods for a few hours after your symptoms first appear. Drink clear liquids like water, tea or broth. Avoid dairy, alcohol, caffeine and carbonated beverages. Taking an antacid can help treat heartburn and indigestion. Only take an antacid if the discomfort occurs high in your abdomen after eating. Call your doctor immediately if you cannot move your bowels and are vomiting, have blood in your stool, if your pain occurs in your shoulder or chest, if your belly pain is sharp and sudden and if your stomach is hard and tender to the touch.
