Abdominal pains: When to see a doctor

What many of us refer to as a stomach ache can indicate different things that are happening in the abdomen, not all of which affect the stomach. Often the discomfort we’re feeling is due to indigestion, gas or an intestinal virus. 

But certain symptoms may signal something more serious that you should have checked by a doctor, especially if it involves severe pain or persists beyond a few days. Here are four examples. 

This is the hallmark sign of a peptic ulcer, and usually comes with bloating, burping, poor appetite and weight loss. The pain can often be relieved by taking antacids or eating certain foods, such as those high in fibre (like oatmeal). 

Peptic ulcers are sores on the lining of the stomach or at the top of the small intestine. And despite what many think, they’re not caused by stress. Instead, you can blame one of two major culprits: Helicobacter pylori (or H. pylori), a bacterium that damages the mucous coating of the stomach; or the overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. 

If you also experience symptoms including nausea, vomiting, blood in your stool, chest pain or back pain, you should see a doctor right away.

This kind of pain could be caused by appendicitis, especially if you also have a low-grade fever, vomiting and constipation or diarrhea, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you do have appendicitis, the pain will likely increase whenever you move around or take deep breaths, cough, or sneeze. 

If you think you have appendicitis you should see your doctor

Appendicitis happens when the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus, often from an infection. Treatment usually requires surgery to remove the appendix before it ruptures and spreads infection throughout the abdominal cavity.

If this type of pain is coupled with dull pain near the shoulder, and seems to act up after eating fatty meals, gallstones may be to blame. And if you’re over the age of 40 and you’ve been pregnant, you’re at greater risk than the rest of the population. This is because spikes in estrogen, common during pregnancy, may cause these tiny stones to form in the gallbladder.

According to Dr. Lawrence J Brandt, a gastroenterologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, gallstones can go undetected for years. They are generally painless unless they get stuck in the cystic duct—a tube that connects the gallbladder with another tube that carries bile from the liver—in which case you should discuss surgical and medication options with your doctor.

If abdominal pain strikes suddenly, along with gas, it may signal diverticulitis. This is an inflammation of small pouches called diverticula that can form in the large intestine. Diverticulitis is a fairly common gastro­intestinal disorder among older adults, and risk factors include being overweight, smoking, the overuse of NSAIDs and having a diet that is high in animal fat but low in fibre.

Rest, diet changes and antibiotics can treat mild diverticulitis

Most people don’t have any symptoms, but when they do occur, they usually include fever, nausea, cramping and a change in bowel habits.

According to the Mayo Clinic, mild diverticulitis can be treated with rest, changes to your diet and antibiotics. Severe or recurring cases may need surgery.

For drug free relief from abdominal pain and IBS symptoms, some gels found online can be an option.

Read more: Scary health symptoms: Warning signs to look out for

Read more: Everything you need to know about bowel disorders

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