Pain in the upper part of the stomach occurs suddenly and is of a different nature. Symptoms depend on the location of the affected organ, since it can be not only the gastrointestinal tract, but also the liver or heart. However, very often the manifestations are widespread, that is, painful sensations cover all organs that are located in the abdominal cavity. Depending on the source of the disease, treatment is prescribed.

Causes of pathology

Discomfort in the upper part of the stomach can be caused by the following diseases:

• appendicitis;
• ulcer;
• cholecystitis;
• cholelithiasis;
• tumor in the gastrointestinal tract;
• cysts or neoplasms in the spleen;
• aortic aneurysm;
• heart attack;
• pleurisy;
• osteochondrosis;
• poisoning with chemical compounds.

Very often, pregnant women experience pain in the stomach area. This occurs due to compression or displacement of organs in the abdominal cavity of the increasing volume of the uterus. Symptoms may be caused by significant physical activity, eating large amounts of food, allergic reactions on food, as well as drinking alcohol and smoking.

Nature of pain and other symptoms

By palpating the abdomen you can determine the most painful place.

Pain in the upper and middle abdomen is divided into several types, each with its own characteristic features. The algorithm of actions that the patient must know and follow is to determine the damaged area by palpating the abdominal cavity. When you press on the affected organ, a characteristic reaction will instantly occur, confirming the presence of pathology.

It's a dull pain

Constant or periodic mild discomfort in the area above the navel is caused by reasons such as:

• circulatory disorders;
• mechanical damage to organs abdominal cavity;
• stretching of tendon plexuses and muscle fibers;
• disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
• pinching of the intervertebral roots of the spinal cord;
• infection of the peritoneal cavity.

Acute pain

The patient needs urgent hospitalization as there is a threat to life due to possible pathological conditions, such as:

If the disease is acute, then the development of pancreatitis can be assumed.

• perforated ulcer;
• pancreatitis;
• hepatic colic;
• acute cholecystitis;
• an abscess located under the diaphragm;
• liver injuries;
• splenic rupture;
• pneumonia;
• gastrointestinal cancer.

Sharp pain

Occurs in the upper part of the stomach when the torso bends, pierces the muscle fibers of the organs and indicates the following pathologies:

• epigastric hernia;
• osteochondrosis;
• inflammation of the appendix;
• intestinal colic;
• chronic enteritis;
• diverticulitis;
• gastrointestinal infection;
• intoxication.

Blunt pain

Lifting weights can increase unpleasant symptoms.

At the initial stages of the disease, the symptom is invisible, but as the pathology progresses, the severity of the symptom increases. It causes inconvenience continuously throughout the day, and pain in the stomach intensifies when bending forward, lifting weights, drinking large amounts of liquid, as well as static tension in the muscle fibers of the peritoneum.

Diseases that can provoke this symptom:

• cholecystitis;
• urolithiasis disease;
• pyelonephritis;
• pyloric stenosis;
• gastritis;
• stomach cancer.

Girdle pain

Painful sensations vary in intensity and duration, occur suddenly, encircling the entire surface of the abdomen. The patient experiences weakness, increased blood pressure, thirst, and may experience nausea and vomiting. Severe pain occurs after eating peppered, fried food, or drinking alcohol. A symptom characteristic of diseases that affect nerve endings.

If the symptom has spread to the entire abdomen, then the presence of shingles can be assumed.

Causes discomfort:

• gallbladder dysfunction;
• peptic ulcer;
• shingles.

Nagging pain

The patient complains of heaviness in the epigastrium, as if the chest was pressing on the stomach. Painful sensations tend to radiate to neighboring organs. When lifting a load, the negative manifestations intensify, causing bloating. The discomfort disappears if you take a painkiller. The nature of pain is associated with the following conditions:

• enlargement of the uterus during pregnancy;
• ovarian cyst;
• inflammation of the appendix;
• duodenitis;
• enteritis;
• colitis;
• prostatitis;
• oncology in the peritoneum.

If the upper part of the stomach hurts, the patient experiences vomiting, pain in the epigastrium after eating, and diarrhea. The condition provokes muscle spasms and increase in body temperature. The pain radiates up the esophagus and into the heart area. The appearance of a tumor in the abdominal cavity provokes prolonged aching pain.

A person can independently determine the affected organ by lying on his back and feeling his stomach, slightly increasing the pressure in the areas where the organs are located.

When your upper abdomen hurts, you need to think about where this symptom came from. In most cases, this may be due to the internal organs that are located in this area of ​​the abdominal cavity. For example, pain can affect the stomach, liver, pancreas, intestines, gallbladder, spleen. Also, pain can move from the lungs, for example, when the patient develops pneumonia or pleurisy.

Do not forget that with myocardial infarction, pain can also move to the upper abdomen. In addition, pain in the upper abdomen can be caused by the development of osteochondrosis, pathological processes in the walls of the abdominal cavity (for example, hernia), inflammatory processes in this area (abscesses). Establishing a diagnosis and the causes of discomfort in the upper abdomen is quite difficult due to the large number of diseases that have a similar symptom. But only after confirmation of the diagnosis can treatment begin.

Gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers

If there is pain in the upper abdomen, then most often it is a stomach ache due to gastritis or peptic ulcer. In this case, the pain sensations are of the dagger type. The intensity is very high, so that almost always during exacerbations the person takes a comfortable position. During exacerbations, the stomach hurts so much that a person may experience painful shock. At the same time, it decreases arterial pressure, contractions of the heart muscle become more frequent, and cold sweat appears. The front wall of the abdomen is drawn in, then the muscles tense strongly for protection. This is due to the fact that hydrochloric acid, enzymes and other stomach contents can escape from the stomach through the ulcerative passages. In the future, this can lead to peritonitis - inflammatory processes in the abdominal cavity. In men, peptic ulcer disease occurs 8 times more often than in women. If there is a suspicion of perforation of the ulcer, then emergency surgical intervention is necessary. Treatment of the stomach with this disease can only be done surgically.

Very often, before a peptic ulcer appears, a person develops gastritis. In this case, the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus is damaged. The causes of this disease are poor diet, stress and other problems. Quite often this disease is associated with the activity of a certain bacterium. Treatment requires medication.

Myocardial infarction

The upper abdomen may also hurt due to myocardial infarction. In this case, the attack will have a gastalgic form. Due to necrotic processes on rear walls left ventricle and septum, pain appears in the upper abdomen. This is due to the fact that these parts of the heart are closest to the diaphragm, which explains the localization of pain in the upper abdomen. In addition, problems arise with the functioning of the digestive organs, which are located in this area. One-time nausea and vomiting occur.

Not only pain in the upper abdomen will help to recognize a heart attack. There are certain signs that indicate heart damage. For example, shortness of breath occurs even when a person is at rest. The heartbeat accelerates, interruptions in the functioning of the heart appear, the pulse is arrhythmic. Blood pressure increases. This pain in the upper abdomen may be due to a heart attack, which is caused by severe stress or coronary artery disease. For diagnosis, it is best to use an ECG. If there is a suspicion of an attack, then the patient must be hospitalized immediately. An intensive type of therapy will be required to treat the pain at the top.

Pancreatitis

Pain in the upper abdomen may also indicate the onset of pancreatitis. The pain is of a girdling nature. Most often, the disease passes without symptoms. But if the rules of dietary nutrition are violated, pain suddenly occurs in the middle of the abdominal cavity.

In most cases, the attack is caused by the patient eating too fatty or sweet food.

And if you combine this with drinking alcohol, the aching pain will change to acute. The irradiation of this disease is quite wide. Pain will radiate to the ribs, to the area between the ribs, and even to the back (most likely, discomfort and pain will be noticeable in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, spine, and lower back). All this is accompanied by nausea and frequent vomiting. Body temperature may rise. Often, if the bowel movement has passed, the pain increases again. There is no relief. When inflamed, the pancreas secretes too much a large number of enzymes that not only digest the contents in the stomach, but also corrode the walls of the organ. Because of this, pain appears in the middle of the abdominal cavity.

In the most severe situations, even complete necrosis of the internal organ can occur. The enzymes then enter the blood. Signs of intoxication of the body with pancreatic enzymes are cyanosis of the limbs, body and face, bleeding and red spots on the side of the body, pinpoint hemorrhages in the buttocks and navel. If these symptoms appear and additional abdominal pain occurs, then before the procedure laboratory research a doctor can diagnose this disease. The patient urgently needs to be taken to intensive care. Required intensive therapy. If massive necrosis and suppuration are observed, then surgery is necessary.

Diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts

Sometimes the upper abdomen hurts due to the development of diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. Pain spreads to the entire abdominal cavity with complications and severe disease. For example, hepatic colic occurs due to poor patency in the biliary tract. The most common cause of this pain syndrome is gallstone disease. In this case, the stones block the lumens of the ducts. Only a doctor can tell you what to do in this case.

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It is prohibited to independently engage in crushing stones. The pain is felt under the right ribs, but it can also be located under the collarbone, in the chest, under the shoulder blades. At the same time, attacks of vomiting and nausea appear. Such attacks can be stopped using conventional drugs with antispasmodic properties. For example, No-shpa will do. If such remedies do not help, and the patient’s condition worsens (pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, headache, lethargy, fatigue, increased body temperature, chills and other symptoms of intoxication), that is, suspicion of the development of cholecystitis. In this case it becomes inflamed gallbladder. The attacks usually begin abruptly. Pain in the upper abdomen, temperature rises. This happens a few hours after a person has eaten too fatty food. Depending on the form of the disease, either drug treatment, or surgery.

Liver diseases

Discomfort in the middle of the abdomen can also be associated with liver disease. For example, a similar symptom appears with jaundice. This disease develops due to problems with the flow of bile. As a result, the substance accumulates in the liver. In this case, it is a mechanical form of jaundice. The liver may also be completely destroyed. These processes characterize the hepatic type of jaundice. In both cases, discomfort will be felt in the middle of the abdominal cavity, and then pain.

The second disease in which a person experiences pain in the middle of the abdomen is the portal type of hypertension. In this case, blood pressure increases in the vein, which transfers blood with nutrients from the digestive organs to the liver. The disease can be complicated by cirrhosis, ascites, and inflammation of the spleen.

Another cause of pain in the middle of the abdomen is hepatic encephalopathy. Detoxification of the liver leads to this disease. In this case, a person develops liver weakness, apathy, lethargy, bad dream. Possible hepatic coma. In most cases, if left untreated, a person dies from cirrhosis.

Spleen

If the stomach hurts in the middle, then a person can develop any disease of the spleen. In this case, the organ enlarges. There are several types of reasons that lead to this. Very often the cause is hypertrophy of the spleen. The spleen is an important organ that is responsible for the immune activity of the body.

The spleen is a large lymph node that must filter the blood every time. An enlarged spleen may be associated with chronic diseases that occur in acute or chronic form. For example, malaria, tuberculosis, sepsis, and mononucleosis can develop. It may also be an autoimmune reaction that is caused by lupus erythematosus, a serum disease. Remnants of dead red blood cells are deposited in the spleen, so that enlargement of the organ is also observed during massive hemolysis.

If the pressure in the portal vein increases, abdominal pain may also be felt. If malignant cells multiply in the blood, the organ may also enlarge. Spontaneous rupture of the organ will cause severe acute pain.

Pleurisy and pneumonia

Acute pain may be felt in the chest and upper abdomen with pleurisy and pneumonia. In this case, a person experiences damage to the respiratory system. This localization of pain is due to the fact that the lower part of the lungs is located next to the dome of the diaphragm. As a result of this, if the pleura (a special layer that envelops the chest cavity) becomes inflamed, pain can also be felt in the upper abdomen. Muscles tense for protection. The pain is constantly becoming more intense. Most often, discomfort and pain can be felt on the right side of the body. Because of this, very often patients are taken to the hospital for surgery due to a suspected attack of cholecystitis, appendicitis or other diseases that are accompanied by the “acute abdomen” syndrome.

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When there is pain in the upper abdomen, it is better not to self-medicate, as this can harm your health. Only an experienced doctor, after diagnosis, will be able to establish a diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment. It is better not to use painkillers if the middle of your abdomen hurts. This is due to the fact that it will be more difficult for the doctor to make a correct diagnosis. Until a diagnosis has been established, it is prohibited to use a heating pad. You can apply a cold compress (ice will do) to the sore area. If the situation is complicated by the appearance of nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, then you need to urgently seek medical help.

By the way, abdominal pain during pregnancy is of a completely different nature, but monitoring by a doctor in this situation should also be constant.

Pain in the upper abdomen under the ribs is a common symptom, especially characteristic of the following pathologies:

• Stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• Pancreatitis;
• Cholecystitis.

Cuts under the ribs with right side are also characteristic of liver diseases. Lung pathology is indicated by subcostal pneumalgia, occurring on the right, left, in the middle, and aggravated by coughing. The same floating pain under the ribs is also characteristic of vegetative-vascular dystonia. This article will discuss upper abdominal pain related to dysfunction digestive system.

Dull, or, on the contrary, sharp pain in the anterior hypochondrium of the abdominal cavity is caused by increased or normal acidity. This pathology is characterized by the occurrence of painful sensations in a state of hunger, due to the fact that gastric juice irritates the inflamed gastric mucosa.

But eating does not alleviate the condition, but on the contrary, it can increase the pain, because after eating, the inflamed mucous membrane is irritated by the food taken, especially if it is hard and has a high acid content. Therefore, patients with gastritis are recommended to eat starch-containing soups, jelly and other dishes that envelop the walls of the stomach.

Gastritis with high acidity is also characterized by symptoms such as unstable stools prone to constipation. It's a dull pain and a feeling of heaviness under the solar plexus indicate the presence of gastritis with low acidity. This condition is especially worse after eating.

One of the signs confirming this diagnosis may be belching something bitter, sour, or something eaten. with this form of gastritis it brings relief. Malabsorption leads to weight loss, increased sweating hands and feet, chronic anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency.

Stomach and duodenal ulcers

Gastric ulcers are characterized by sharp pain localized in the left half of the hypochondrium.

As a result of digestive disorders, the body does not receive the necessary nutrients, causing the patient to lose weight, develop general exhaustion of the body and vitamin deficiency.

Pancreas cancer

When a cancerous tumor occurs in the pancreas, the pain is similar to acute attacks pancreatitis. The pain comes from the location of the tumor. If the tumor affects the head of the pancreas, then the pain is concentrated in the right side. Malignant neoplasms The body or tail of the pancreas makes itself felt by intense pain under the left rib at night. The pain radiates to the back.

Hepatic colic and cholecystitis

Chronic cholecystitis manifests itself with moderate pain under the right rib, radiating under the right shoulder blade or into the epigastrium. As a rule, pain occurs when the diet is violated, when eating spicy and fatty foods. Accompanied by bitter belching, vomiting, heartburn. Chronic cholecystitis is complicated by cholelithiasis, which requires surgical intervention.

May indicate acute cholecystitis sharp pain in the front of the abdomen under the right rib.

Acute cholecystitis or inflammation of the gallbladder may be indicated by acute pain in the front of the abdomen under the right rib. Unbearably acute pain forces the patient to rush around in search of a position that would help make the pain less acute.

In this case, the patient suffers from fever and incessant vomiting. The disease is accompanied by yellowing of the skin and eyeballs. If inflammation is suspected, the patient must be hospitalized in the surgical department.

The occurrence of hepatic colic is associated with the entry of a stone into the bile duct. She is characterized by a stabbing pain under the ribs on the right. But there are no chills or vomiting. An attack provoked by the movement of a stone may go away on its own after a few hours. It can be treated with antispasmodic drugs.

Subphrenic abscess

Injuries to organs can lead to subdiaphragmatic abscess.

The cause of subdiaphragmatic abscess is surgical interventions in the abdominal cavity, injuries to organs located in the abdominal area. An abscess can also occur as a consequence of complicated liver inflammation, accompanied by tissue suppuration, which can also affect the diaphragm.

But this rarely happens when liver disease is not treated. The impetus for this pathology can also be one that developed as a result of appendicitis or cholecystitis. With a subphrenic abscess, acute pain appears in the anterior part under the ribs on the right or left side, which intensifies with a sharp sigh, coughing, or sneezing.

The pain radiates to the shoulder blade or collarbone of the side where it is localized, and is accompanied by a fever and signs of poisoning of the body. If pain of this kind occurs for the first time, do not try to self-diagnose and self-medicate, do not suppress it.

Through pain, your body lets you know that it needs help, and above all medical help. Contact the professionals to get the correct one. If the diagnosis is in doubt, undergo examination in two or three different medical institutions. This advice is especially relevant when the diagnosis requires surgery. Because erroneous diagnosis, and especially the dishonest attitude of doctors who think not so much about the recovery of patients, but about personal enrichment, still occur in our society.

Pain always takes us by surprise. Unpleasant sensations in the upper abdomen can ruin all plans and lead to real suffering. As you know, the upper abdomen is an area where several vital organs are located, so pain in this place may indicate a number of pathologies - from to.

Note: if the pain lasts more than half an hour, you should immediately consult a doctor, since taking analgesics will only temporarily relieve the symptoms, but will not eliminate the cause of the disease.

Overeating and stomach pain

Overeating is one of the most common and relatively safe reasons abdominal pain. In particularly severe cases, it can lead to chronic pain and dysfunction. digestive tract. Frequent consumption of other products containing lactose may result in intolerance to lactose-containing products.

Eating fatty foods can also cause heaviness. Such food provokes increased gas formation, which often leads to damage. internal organs and problems with stool. Abdominal pain associated with overeating is acute and can last 3-5 hours, after which it gradually subsides.

Pain in the upper abdomen: what do they indicate?

Most often, pain under the breasts indicates a dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract.

Note! The strength and intensity of unpleasant sensations in this area can directly depend on the location of the nerve endings in the damaged organ.

To better understand how pain forms and spreads in this area, it is necessary to become familiar with the different areas of the abdominal cavity. These include:

• epigastric or epigastric zone - covers the area from the sternum to the navel;
• left and right hypochondrium - located to the sides of the epigastric zone;
• mesogastrium - the area around the navel;
• lateral areas - located on both sides of the mesogastrium;
• suprapubic zone - covers the lower abdomen to the place where the pubic bones connect;
• iliac fossa - left and right suprapubic region.

Pain in the epigastric region is not necessarily associated with organs located in the upper abdomen; it can spread here and from other areas. Often it becomes difficult to determine its source.

The nature of pain in the upper abdomen in diseases of the esophagus

If the cause of pain is a dysfunction of the esophagus, then the pathologies most likely affect its peritoneal part. It is 1 to 3 cm long and occupies the area between the stomach and the diaphragm.

Another cause of pain is disruption of the sphincter - the muscle between the esophagus and stomach.

If the sphincter malfunctions, pain is often felt in the upper abdomen 1-2 fingers to the left of the center. For other pathologies of the esophagus - in the lower part of the sternum, behind it, at the top of the abdominal cavity. Sometimes it hits you in the back.

The stomach is one of the causes of pain in the upper abdomen

Above and to the right, the stomach is in contact with the liver, and the pancreas is located behind. Some parts of the organ are located near the spleen, intestines and omentum. It is worth noting that the size of the stomach, as well as its relationship with neighboring organs, changes depending on whether it is empty or full.

The stomach is connected on each side by sheets of peritoneum, so even the slightest spasms of this organ are accompanied by severe pain in the upper abdomen.

Pain due to spasm and stenosis of the gastric pylorus (sphincter pathologies) is characterized by:

• aggravated by overeating, after eating, especially solid foods ( usually after 1.5-2 hours);
• localization slightly lower and to the right of the epigastrium;
• average intensity and frequency;
• with sour contents (usually after a heavy meal);
• belching and...

Since the surface of the stomach is covered with mucous membrane from the inside, and muscle fibers are located between the outer and inner layers, spasms can be evidence of pathologies of the outer layer of the stomach and inflammation of the mucous membrane itself.

The mucous membrane of the stomach contains a huge number of cells that are responsible for the normal functioning of the organ. The most important role in the digestion process is played by cells that produce hydrochloric acid necessary for the breakdown of food. During normal functioning of the organ, acid does not damage the walls of the stomach, but imbalances in the acid balance often lead to inflammation of the gastric walls -. In this case, the patient complains of moderate, prolonged pain in the upper abdomen (under the stomach). It is characterized by hunger pains that subside after a small meal.

With the development of destructive changes and the appearance of a defect in the mucous membrane, pain occurs either on an empty stomach or half an hour to an hour after eating. At the same time, hunger pains only intensify with eating. The patient may experience heartburn, vomiting of acidic contents, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen,.

When the ulcer is complicated by bleeding, the typical picture of pain does not change, but the stool becomes black and liquid, and the vomit resembles coffee grounds.

Perforation of the gastric lining leads to severe tension abdominal wall and bloating of the upper abdomen. The pain is unbearable, dagger-like.

How does it hurt in the upper abdomen if the large and small intestines are affected?

The small intestine begins after the gastric section, its walls are formed from smooth muscle tissue. The main task of this system is to continue digesting food and subsequently pushing its remains through the digestive tract.

Spasm small intestine can cause abdominal pain, which is called. In this case, cramping pain occurs. Most often - in the middle of the abdomen, sometimes they radiate (give) to the upper parts of the abdominal cavity. In some cases, pain in the upper abdomen is evidence of inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, its ulcerations, and other pathologies of the organ.

As for the large intestine, most of it is located much lower in the abdominal cavity. At the same time, pain in the upper abdomen is often associated with pathologies of the transverse colon located below the stomach. These can be various dysfunctions caused by stretching of the walls and oncological pathologies.

Liver diseases, which may cause pain in the upper abdomen

The liver is located in the upper right part of the peritoneum. It performs a number of important functions - the removal of toxic substances, the formation of bile and proteins, the accumulation of glycogen, etc. are developing due to various reasons and can manifest themselves in different ways.

Unpleasant sensations are often associated with the enlargement of the organ, because its internal surface is devoid of nerve endings, and the destruction of the liver parenchyma is painless. However, the tissue that surrounds the organ is quite sensitive, so with moderate enlargement of the organ, the pain is insignificant - in the form of discomfort in the right hypochondrium. Its intensification is observed during bending, sharp turns, and physical activity.

Severe enlargement of the liver can lead to severe pain. Another reason why the liver hurts is a purulent accumulation (abscess) affecting the outer capsule.

Pathologies of the spleen

The spleen is located in the area of ​​the left hypochondrium. This organ is responsible for immune control of the blood - the accumulation of blood cells, providing protection to the body, etc. Considering that the spleen is covered with sheets of peritoneum on each side, the patient usually feels slight discomfort in the left hypochondrium, caused by an increase in the size of the organ. Acute severe pain are rare.

Palpable pain can be observed with such pathologies as:

Pain in the upper abdomen due to pathologies of the pancreas

The pancreas is located behind the stomach almost completely to the left of the midline of the abdomen. It comes into contact with the peritoneum only with the anterior wall, so pain is felt in this area. Almost all of the gland consists of alveoli, inside which a digestive enzyme is synthesized, which activates bile.

In acute inflammation of the pancreas (), the pain is sudden and intense from the first minutes of onset, intensifying with movement and deep inspiration. The main location is the epigastric and navel areas; pain often radiates to the back and hypochondrium. The pain is often accompanied by repeated pain.

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by milder pain, often worse after eating and lasting several hours or even days.

If bile gets inside the alveoli, this can cause necrosis of the walls of the gland, which leads to severe unbearable pain in the upper left abdomen.

Other causes leading to upper abdominal pain

If your stomach hurts in the upper part, this may be the body’s response to any irritants - getting into foreign body, cell necrosis, blood flow disorders. The nature of the pain and its intensity directly depends on the organ or system where inflammation develops. In this case, the following pathologies can be diagnosed:

• . Pain under the sternum is an atypical location for such a disease. It is not accompanied by other symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, but paleness of the skin, changes in blood pressure, pulse rate and rhythm, and increased sweating are observed.
• Mechanical abdominal injuries. The nature and intensity of pain depends on the location of the injury, its intensity, and the degree of damage to the affected organs.
• Diaphragmatic hernia. Dilatation of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm can be asymptomatic, sometimes with a slight feeling of discomfort behind the sternum or minor pain after eating in the upper abdomen. When food escapes beyond the diaphragm and such a hernia is strangulated, acute pain occurs, indicating a threat to the patient’s life.
• . In some cases, the onset of pain is observed not in the iliac fossa on the right, but in the epigastric region. The pain is moderate, and only after 30-60 minutes does it move directly to the location of the appendix and become intense.

Pain in the upper abdomen in pregnant women: what causes it?

Pregnancy is not only a wonderful time of waiting for a baby, but also many months of fears, worries and anxieties. At this time, the health of the expectant mother requires special attention, so the appearance of even the slightest pain is a serious reason to consult a doctor.

Most often during pregnancy, a woman feels sharp pains that quickly pass. They usually accompany stretching of the uterus, which presses on the peritoneum, causing discomfort. This kind of pain in the upper abdomen in a pregnant woman can intensify with sneezing or a sudden change of position. In this case, you should not immediately take painkillers - just calm down and accept the fact that the body is changing in anticipation of the birth of the baby.

Unfortunately, sometimes it is also threatening. So, sharp unpleasant sensations on early stages may indicate a threat of miscarriage, as well as gynecological problems. In this case, the pregnant woman’s stomach ache, and it seems that contractions are starting.

Important! Pain in various parts of the abdomen may also indicate

Pain in the upper abdomen is a symptom, finding the cause of which is a difficult task. In this area there are a large number of organs in which the disease may be hidden: the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, liver, spleen, heart muscle, spine. The pain may be localized elsewhere, but it feels like it can be felt in the stomach.

Only a doctor can determine the exact cause of the symptom. It is important to understand that pain is the body's natural way of signaling a problem. And if a person ignores it, the pathology that provoked the symptom progresses, which is fraught with numerous complications.

Let's figure out what can cause pain in the upper abdomen, how to choose the right one from a wide list of causes using medical diagnostics, and what methods exist to eliminate abdominal pain.

Causes of pain in the upper gastrointestinal tract

In order to understand why pain in the upper abdomen may occur, you need to consider common pathologies of organs located in this area, the clinical picture of which includes this symptom.

Stomach

Pain in the upper part of the peritoneum most often occurs due to pathologies of the digestive system.

There is a simple way to determine that the pathology is localized specifically in the digestive organs: if, against the background of pain, a person experiences nausea, and vomiting brings him a feeling of relief.

Pain in the upper gastrointestinal tract may be a signal of stomach disease:

• With gastritis or ulcers, pain occurs directly during a meal, or after a meal for half an hour. The symptom lasts for at least an hour, and after the stomach copes with the process of digesting food, the discomfort goes away. With gastritis, the inflammatory process affects the gastric mucosa, but it does not have nerve endings, so the pathological sensation is localized in the muscle fibers of the organ. Patients often describe the pain as paroxysmal, stabbing, cutting. Along with pain, a person experiences nausea, heartburn, and vomiting.
• Pain in the stomach when walking occurs not only against the background of gastritis and ulcers, but also with polyps, oncology, infection and poisoning.
• Pain in the abdominal area on the left or right can also occur with a functional upset stomach against the background of vegetative-vascular dystonia. There are no specific signs indicating that the cause is VSD, and not organic damage to the stomach. But if the examination does not reveal other pathologies that can provoke this symptom, most likely to assume a functional disorder against the background of chronic stress.

The examination usually includes an endoscopic examination of the organ using a flexible probe.

Esophagus

If the painful sensations are localized in the upper abdomen and are more reminiscent of a burning sensation than pain, it is most likely to suspect the presence of a pathology of the esophagus: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

• A distinctive feature of pain is its relationship with food intake. Pain in the upper body can be relieved with alkalis: mineral water or a solution of soda in water.
• The second common symptom that may indicate the presence of GERD is heartburn.

Diagnosis is carried out by collecting anamnesis and examining the gastric mucosa using endoscopic examination - esophagoscopy.

Duodenum

Symptoms of a stomach ulcer or duodenum are in many ways similar, with the exception of one nuance: pain in the upper abdomen does not occur immediately after eating, as with gastritis or a stomach ulcer, but 1.5-2 hours after a meal or simultaneously with a feeling of hunger.

Usually the pain is localized in the area slightly above the navel, but the sensations can radiate to other areas, including the upper abdomen. Along with pain, a person may experience the following symptoms:

• bloating;
• nausea and vomiting;
• heartburn;
• belching;
• constipation;
• weight loss with a normal diet.

Diagnosis requires FEGDS, an endoscopic method for examining the upper part of the digestive system, carried out by inserting a flexible probe orally. An abdominal ultrasound, stool test and blood test may also be required, which may show a decrease in hemoglobin levels and an increase in total protein.

Liver

Most often, liver diseases - cancer, cirrhosis, hepatitis - occur in a latent form, without pain. But as the pathology of the organ progresses, a person may experience a dull girdle pain in the upper part of the peritoneum on the right.

The only exception is hepatic colic, when the pain is acute and sharp, in the form of short-term attacks. Sometimes changes in liver function can be caused by a violation of the outflow of bile.

As the disease progresses, a person develops a specific symptom that can quickly be used to determine which organ has the pathology: yellowing of the skin and sclera. When palpating the abdomen, a dense edge of the liver can be detected; pressing on this area will cause pain to the patient.

Laboratory blood tests reveal the following abnormalities in hepatitis and cirrhosis:

• ALT and AST – in hepatitis they are moderately increased, in cirrhosis – slightly, the Ritis coefficient (AST/ALT = 1.3) is reduced;
• alkaline phosphatase - in case of cirrhosis, slightly higher than normal, a strong increase indicates jaundice;
• lactate dehydrogenase – moderately increased in hepatitis, unchanged or slightly increased in cirrhosis.

Pancreas

Pain in the upper abdomen may indicate inflammation of the pancreas - pancreatitis. Painful sensations do not have an exact localization; they surround the person’s torso. Symptoms may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

The main cause of pancreatitis is poor diet, which is dominated by fatty, salty and fried foods. Therefore, exacerbation of pain occurs after a meal that includes unhealthy foods.

A characteristic feature of an attack is that the pain intensifies in the lying position.

Diagnosis is carried out using ultrasound. Markers of the inflammatory process (ESR, leukocyte count) increase in the blood; a biochemical blood test reveals elevated enzymes: lipase, amylase, trypsin.

Spleen

A tumor of the spleen can cause pain, but in practice this happens extremely rarely. However, if a person has pain in the upper abdomen, the symptom is not accompanied by other signs, and the examination does not reveal pathologies of other organs, it makes sense to check for cysts and cancerous tumors.

A diagnosis can be made for sure only after functional diagnostics:

• x-ray;
• punctures;
• determination of osmotic resistance of erythrocytes.

Heart muscle

The term "acute abdomen" in medicine means a condition that requires immediate surgical attention. But often pain in the center of the body turns out to be a consequence of pathologies of the heart muscle.

Even a specialist cannot immediately differentiate a heart attack (infarction, ischemia) from an “acute abdomen”, but there are several distinctive features, by which heart disease can be recognized:

• dyspnea;
• blood pressure surges;
• a feeling of constriction (heaviness) in the chest, making it difficult to breathe freely.

In order to differentiate a heart attack from other pathologies, it is necessary to perform an electrocardiogram.

Lungs

If pain occurs when inhaling, this may indicate the presence of pleurisy - an inflammatory process in the pleura with the formation of plaque and fluid effusion. It is not difficult to recognize the disease, since in addition to pain, the clinical picture includes elevated body temperature and chills.

The pain in the diaphragm itself is not present continuously, but occurs when coughing or taking a sharp deep breath.

Diagnostics is carried out in the following order:

• X-ray of the lungs;
• clinical blood test: increased levels of ESR, leukocytes;
• blood test for the level of seromucoids, fibrin and sialic acids;
• pleural puncture.

The cause of the pathology is determined during a pleural biopsy.

Osteochondrosis

With osteochondrosis, pain can occur in any area of ​​the body, depending on which part of the spine the nerve roots are pinched.

It is difficult to determine from the nature of the pain whether it is caused by the spine or the organs of the digestive system. As with chronic gastritis, an attack can occur suddenly.

• During some attacks, you can accurately determine the localization of sensations, for example, that the stomach hurts in the upper middle.
• During other attacks, on the contrary, the pain can be girdling, radiating to the lower back and lower abdomen.

Muscles

The cause of discomfort in the area under the breasts may be related to the muscles:

• their overvoltage;
• stretching;
• microtraumas;
• rupture of abdominal ligaments.

You can make sure that the unpleasant sensations are of muscular origin through a simple test: if the pain intensifies when you try to raise your legs, most likely it is the muscles.

Pregnancy

The only cause of abdominal pain that is not a pathology is pregnancy. In the last trimester, discomfort in this area is normal, as the fetus puts pressure on the organs of the upper digestive system.

This does not mean that a pregnant woman should not consult a doctor about the pain syndrome that has arisen: on the contrary, this will eliminate pathologies that may occur during pregnancy.

Diagnosis and treatment

Pain is a good reason to see a doctor. If the sensation is very severe, you should call an ambulance service. While waiting for the doctor to arrive, it is better to refrain from visiting medicines, as they can distort clinical picture and complicate the diagnostic process.

• It is strictly forbidden to use a heating pad without a doctor’s instructions due to the risk of worsening your health.
• However, you can apply an ice pack to your stomach.

There are a lot of reasons why pain in the stomach occurs, radiating into the chest, so it is difficult to determine what exactly caused the occurrence of such a symptom: the stomach, liver, gallbladder or another organ - right during a visit to the doctor.

Diagnostics includes:

• collecting anamnesis, which makes it possible to prescribe a more accurate list of studies;
• physical examination: inspection, palpation (feeling), percussion (tapping), auscultation (listening with a stethoscope);
• radiography;
• ultrasonography;
• magnetic resonance or computed tomography;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy;
• clinical and biochemical analysis blood.

As a result of the diagnosis, the cause of the symptom is identified, which is eliminated with the help of treatment prescribed by the doctor.

In some cases, surgical intervention is required:

• perforation of a stomach ulcer;
• stomach bleeding;
• acute pancreatitis;
• acute cholecystitis;
• splenic rupture;
• ruptured appendicitis;
• peritonitis.

In other cases, drug treatment is required.

There is no universal treatment regimen; a set of drugs is selected individually, based on the severity and nature of the pain, the identified disease and concomitant pathologies. In some cases, the doctor may recommend changing your diet, lifestyle, or giving up bad habits. The complex effect provides a quick and lasting effect.