Everybody experiences a stomach ache once in a while, and most of the time it is short lived and not serious to be concerned about. But a severe abdominal pain needs urgent treatment. Patients should check in with their GP or a Specialist in Gastroenterology at the earliest.

 

 

 

Symptoms

 

The stomach ache is often described as the stomach feels crampy, dull, intermittent, sharp or burning. It may start suddenly and unexpectedly, and often concentrated in a particular area. Short-term discomfort and a recurring stomach pain usually have different causes.

 

 

 

Causes

 

The stomach ache can be caused by many conditions including indigestion, inflammation or infection in the stomach, stomach ulcer caused by h. pylori infection, bowel obstruction, gastric polyps, and other chronic diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

1. Patients might get indigestion from eating too much or too fast. Indigestion can cause stomach pain or bloating, or loss of appetite.
2. Sudden stomach cramps can be caused by eating contaminated foods. Gastroenteritis is a condition involving inflammation of the lining of the gut. Infections in the stomach, intestines, and blood can make bacteria enter into the digestive tract, and result in watery diarrhoea and abdominal cramps, nausea, and sometimes fever.
3. A sudden stomach pain can be a sign of stomach polyps. When the polyps are small, they usually don't cause signs or symptoms. But larger polyps may cause internal bleeding or severe abdominal pain.
4. Patients may suffer from stomach pain and a swollen belly when something blocks the large or small intestine.
5. A recurring stomach pain or a burning sensation (heartburn) in the chest (usually after eating) may be related to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. It is caused by stomach acid reflux due to disorders of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS), a muscular valve at the junction between the oesophagus and stomach. In normal digestion, the LOS opens to allow food to pass into the stomach and closes to prevents acid and stomach contents from travelling backwards.
6. H. pylori bacteria is identified as a principal cause of stomach ulcers which can cause persisted or repeated stomach pain. The bacteria are usually found in stomach and duodenum. It survives in the acidic environment of our stomach. H. pylori has protective layers around them and produces urease to convert urea from gastric juices into ammonia. H. pylori infection can induce chronic gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcer.
7. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is another common disorder that affects the large intestine and stomach. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhoea or constipation, or both.
8. Apart from the stomach-related diseases, pain in the upper abdomen can be caused by other organ conditions including the heart , liver, gallbladder, pancreas and lymphatic system.

 

Diagnosis and treatment

 

The majority of conditions which cause stomach ache will pass on their own without treatment. But if a recurring stomach ache or a severe situation, the doctor may require a gastroscopy for further diagnosis. The treatments for stomach pain depend on the diagnosis. For H. pylori-infected patients, the doctor will prescribe triple therapy which consists of an acid suppressor and two to three antibiotics.

 

 

 

Prevention

 

Citizens are recommended to have a healthy diet which is rich in fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and communicating with the doctor if noticing any abnormal discomfort.

 

 

 

*The above information is for reference only, please consult your doctor for detail.