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About half of adults in the United States experience abdominal pain at some point. Because many causes are mild and short-lived, people often put off seeing their doctor. But not all pain goes away on its own, and even when it does, the right care might help you feel better faster.
At Stoneleigh Medical Group in Brewster, Jefferson Valley, Pawling, and Carmel, New York, our experienced primary care and gastroenterology providers don’t think you should suffer through your abdominal pain.
Here, we share some common causes of abdominal pain and how to treat them.
Changes in bowel habits may also come with abdominal pain. Constipation may cause pressure or dull belly pain, while diarrhea can trigger sudden and sharp cramps.
Adding more fiber and water to your diet is a first-line treatment for constipation. If that’s not enough help, we may recommend medications to get things moving. Treatment for diarrhea may depend on the cause. For a stomach bug, we recommend fluids and rest, or an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection.
While time is part of the treatment plan for constipation and diarrhea, expert medical advice may help speed things along.
Over-the-counter (OTC) antacids can ease the occasional heartburn you get after a spicy meal, but frequent indigestion can signal something more serious. If you experience acid reflux more than twice a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
We treat GERD with medications that reduce or stop stomach acid production, helping to minimize pain and prevent long-term damage to the esophagus.
If your pain is sharp and localized to the right side of your abdomen, you may have gallstones, hardened deposits of bile that form in the gallbladder. Bile helps you digest fat and is made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder until it’s needed.
Gallstones form when your bile contains too much cholesterol or bilirubin, or it stays in the gallbladder too long.
Removing the gallbladder is the primary treatment for gallstones that cause pain.
IBS is a chronic digestive disorder that causes abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits that can disrupt daily life. While there’s no single cure for IBS, we can manage symptoms with lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medications.
Eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and finding healthy outlets for stress can help reduce symptoms. Limiting gassy foods like beans, broccoli, and milk may help too.
We may also try medications to ease diarrhea or constipation, or prescribe IBS medications that relax the digestive muscles to ease cramping and pain.
Pain in the upper abdomen that worsens at night or when your stomach is empty may mean you have a peptic ulcer, an open sore in the lining of your stomach.
Though stress and drinking too much alcohol are contribute to peptic ulcers, they are often caused by the Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) bacteria. Treatment for a peptic ulcer may require an antibiotic, along with medications that lower stomach acid production.
Getting the right medical care for a peptic ulcer promotes healing and reduces the chance of it coming back.
Abdominal pain has many causes, but not all of them resolve with rest and time. If pain is frequent, severe, or disruptive, it’s important to get checked.
At Stoneleigh Medical Group, we help uncover the cause of your discomfort and create a plan to bring relief. Call us today or request an appointment online.
