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Having a stomach ache can happen in many situations, and for many causes. So there is no need to panic. Yet for good health, experts recommend avoiding a particular behavior, regardless of the cause.
“I have a stomach ache”. In life, the phrase comes up often. Whether you have your period, are stressed, have eaten too much or suffer from a medical problem… It’s quite simple, abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms that doctors encounter. However, it sometimes takes time to know what is behind these pains. “There are many causes of stomach pain”recognizes Dr Sunina Nathoo gastroenterologist at Huffpost“like the gallstonesulcers, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, appendicitis, etc.” The list is long. When stomach aches occur, it is sometimes necessary to undergo several examinations to find out the origin.
The thing to never do when you have a stomach ache
But there’s one thing doctors say they never do (and you should never do) when it comes to stomach pain: ignore the pain, especially if it is sudden.
“If you are experiencing stomach pain that does not feel normal, I recommend seeing a general practitioner and a gastroenterologist to find out what is happening quickly” says Dr Nathoo.
If you cannot consult a gastroenterologist immediately, experts recommend consulting your general practitioner, to at least prevent this situation from leading to other problems. Especially if it is a new symptom, or if the pain persists for several days.
If the pain is intense and acute, on the other hand, head to the emergency room. “There might be concern that the pain is due to a cause that requires urgent intervention.”explains Dr Nathoo. In short, we don’t hang around with this.
The pain could hide a more serious case
It’s also important to take any pain or symptoms seriously if you have a family history of stomach, esophagus or colon cancer, says Baltimore gastroenterologist Dr. Ekta Gupta. Colorectal cancers have in fact increased among young patients under 55 years old. So this is an issue that everyone should take seriously and keep in mind.
Abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and blood in the stools are all signs of the disease. It is therefore important to report any bowel-related symptoms to a doctor.
The idea is therefore not to panic at the slightest stomach ache, but to react to put a word on the cause (and a treatment). From gallstones and menstrual cramps to colon cancer, appendicitis and more, the causes of abdominal pain are numerous, which means it’s always a good idea to see a doctor. Because, no, simply complaining will not give you the answer to your problem. A doctor, yes.
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