Cramps in the abdomen can be the first signal of the development of a serious pathology of the internal organs. Depending on the intensity and localization, you can determine the cause that caused them.

Cramps in the stomach: causes

The following diseases can cause cramps in the abdomen:

• gastritis;
• stomach ulcer;
• appendicitis;
• pancreatitis;
• intestinal adhesions;
• cholecystitis.

Cramps in the abdomen with the listed pathologies are only the only symptom of many. Let us consider in more detail the symptoms of each of the diseases in order to timely diagnose the cause and seek medical help.

Gastritis and pain in the abdomen

Improper and irregular nutrition, diets, constant stress, abuse of bad habits can provoke the formation of gastritis. Every second inhabitant of the planet suffers from this disease.

Important! In the absence of timely treatment, gastritis from an acute form develops into a chronic one.

The main symptoms of gastritis are:

• nausea and heartburn;
• feeling of fullness in the upper part of the stomach;
• heaviness in the stomach after eating;
• sour belching;
• pain and cramps in the upper abdomen.

Gastritis is treated with the help of a special diet therapy prescribed by a doctor, timely food intake and medications. Medicines are selected by a gastroenterologist depending on the type of gastritis.

Cutting in the abdomen with a stomach ulcer

The first sign of the presence of a stomach ulcer is the appearance of sharp pains and pains in the area of ​​the affected organ. Often provokes a disease of gastritis, not cured in time.

In addition to pain and pain in the upper abdomen, the main symptoms of a stomach ulcer include:

• heartburn and frequent belching;
• nausea, accompanied by vomiting in rare cases;
• increased gas formation;
• quick feeling of fullness;
• poor appetite;
• weight loss;
• chair problems.

Diagnose the disease with the help of blood tests, abdominal ultrasound and monitoring of gastric juice.

Important! In the absence of timely treatment, an ulcer leads to stomach cancer.

For the treatment of pathology, antibiotic therapy, drugs that increase the protective function of the mucous membrane, antisecretory drugs and diet are used.

Appendicitis as a factor in abdominal cramps

One of the reasons for the development of severe pain or pain in the umbilical or iliac region on the right is appendicitis. In this case, the pain syndrome develops suddenly. The disease is an inflammation of the appendix - the appendix.

Other signs of appendicitis are:

• temperature rise;
• gas and stool retention;
• diarrhea;
• nausea and vomiting.

If these symptoms appear, you should immediately seek medical help. Appendicitis is removed only by surgery.

Pancreatitis - the cause of pain in the abdomen

Inflammation in the pancreas is called pancreatitis. The main predisposing factors for the development of the inflammatory process include:

• the use of alcoholic beverages;
• some medicines;
• hormonal disorders;
• infectious diseases;
• poisoning.

Against the background of pancreatitis, a violation of the digestion process occurs and diabetes mellitus may develop. Cramping and pain in pathology are permanent, localized in the epigastric region and can be given to the back. The pain syndrome goes away or subsides on the fifth or seventh day.

Pancreatitis, in addition to pain and pain, is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• increased gas formation;
• gray diarrhea with a specific smell.

Pancreatic disease is treated with diet therapy, pain medication, antibiotics, and detoxification therapy.

Cutting in the abdomen - a symptom of intestinal adhesions

For a long time, adhesive disease may not manifest itself in any way. In the presence of a large number of adhesions, the pathology has the following symptoms:

• pain in the abdomen;
• nausea;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• general weakness;
• flatulence.

In the acute form, adhesive disease manifests itself as pains in the abdomen without precise localization. In the chronic course of the pathology, the pain becomes less pronounced.

The danger of adhesions is the development of intestinal obstruction.

For treatment, a conservative or surgical method is used. Drug treatment, physiotherapy and gymnastics are indicated with a small number of adhesions. In other cases, adhesions are removed surgically.

Rezi in the abdomen on the background of cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder leads to the development of a disease such as cholecystitis. The first symptom of the pathological process is the manifestation of sharp pains on the right side.

Provoke cholecystitis can take a large amount of fried and fatty foods, alcohol, frequent overeating and obesity.
Pain syndrome during cholecystitis is most often moderate and gives to the right side. But in some cases, cholecystitis manifests itself as acute pain and pain.

Signs of the development of the disease are also symptoms such as a taste of buckwheat in the mouth, frequent belching, fever, icteric skin color.

Conservative treatment includes taking antibiotics, antispasmodics, detoxification solutions and adherence to diet therapy.
The radical method of eliminating cholecystitis is the removal of the gallbladder.

Follicular ovarian cyst

This disease is characteristic of the female sex, and is a benign formation. Women of reproductive age are more predisposed to the formation of cysts.

Small formations may not show themselves in any way. Follicular cysts of considerable size have symptoms due to sharp pains in the lower abdomen and a feeling of heaviness in the groin.

To diagnose the disease, a gynecological examination is performed in the form of ultrasound.

If the cysts do not resolve on their own and manifest themselves as disturbing symptoms, oral contraception, antibiotics and vitamins are prescribed. In case of ineffectiveness of drug therapy, the cyst is surgically removed.

Worm infestation

Often the cause of pain in the abdomen is helminthiasis. Children are more susceptible to infection. But adults can often become infected with worms through contact with a patient or by eating food of animal origin, which has undergone insufficient heat treatment.

In addition to sharp pains in the lower abdomen, the patient has the following symptoms:

• increased fatigue;
• nausea;
• weight loss;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• increased nervous excitability.

If helminthiasis is suspected, a scraping for enterobiosis, a clinical blood test and other laboratory tests are performed.
For medicinal purposes, anthelmintic drugs and vitamins are used to strengthen the immune system.

Other factors

Not only diseases, but also stressful conditions can provoke pain in the abdomen. People who are regularly in a nervous strain may experience acute neurotic pain in the lower abdomen. After diagnosis, the person does not reveal any pathological abnormalities. In this case, it is advisable to visit a neurologist or psychiatrist.

Spasmodic colic and cramps in the abdomen can be caused by eating food that causes increased gas formation.

Food allergies can also cause severe pain. In this case, you should find out which foods have an allergic reaction to exclude them from the diet.

A plentiful feast, after a diet, can also cause an unpleasant state. The stomach cannot cope with the volume of incoming food, which leads to bouts of sharp pain.

In the female, cramps in the lower abdomen can be triggered by an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.

Intestinal infection, accompanied by diarrhea, also manifests itself as cramps and cramps in the abdomen. Vomiting can also be a symptom of an intestinal disorder.

Differential Diagnosis

With pain in the abdomen that is permanent, you should immediately seek medical help to identify the cause that caused the condition.

To this end, the doctor conducts an examination, palpation of the sore spot and listens to the patient's complaints. Based on this, the necessary study is prescribed, which will help identify the disease that provokes cramps in the abdomen.

What can cause abdominal pain?

Such a symptom as pain in the abdomen accompanies many diseases and life-threatening conditions. Unpleasant sensations and pain worsen his well-being, reducing performance. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly determine the causes of colic, for which it is necessary to seek medical help.

Often, when pains appear in the abdomen, to eliminate them, a person takes painkillers or antispasmodics. Especially often women do this, attributing unpleasant symptoms to the course of the menstrual cycle. However, it must be remembered that, in addition to the physiological causes of pain, there are also pathological developmental factors that pose a danger to life and health.

Physiological causes

Physiological causes of cutting pain in the abdomen include:

1. Stress, psychological stress, excessive emotions
2. Physical overload.
3. Binge eating.
4. Drinking food with water.
5. Abuse of alcohol or fatty, salty foods.
6. Lots of fiber in the diet.
7. Incorrect medication intake.
8. Menstruation.

Pathological prerequisites

There are many pathological causes of pain in the abdomen, some of them require medical intervention. Diseases of the gallbladder, kidneys, liver, stomach, pancreas and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract can manifest as such a symptom. For example:

1. Acute appendicitis. It develops very quickly. One of the first symptoms of the disease is sudden severe pain in the abdomen, most often it is most pronounced in the lower right side. Along with bouts of pain, vomiting, nausea, deterioration of well-being can be observed. Gradually, the intervals between bouts of rezi decrease. Sometimes abdominal pain may temporarily disappear, but this symptom is alarming, as it may indicate a rupture of the appendix.
2. pancreatitis. The acute form is accompanied by pains in the abdomen, which can be given to the shoulder blade, chest or lower back. Unpleasant symptoms appear after too salty, spicy or fatty foods. Other signs of pancreatitis are belching and heaviness after eating.
3. A perforated ulcer is a sharp pain that appears in the upper abdomen. The disease poses a danger to human life, therefore, requires prompt medical intervention. In addition to pain, with a perforated ulcer, weight loss, lack of appetite, nausea, frequent belching, bloating, and flatulence are noted. To diagnose the disease, an analysis of gastric juice, ultrasound of the stomach and intestines is carried out.
4. Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder. Symptoms of this condition are: pain in the side, becoming stronger after eating, nausea, unpleasant taste in the mouth.
5. Helminthiases. This pathology is more common in children. It is accompanied by a deterioration in well-being, loss of appetite, weight loss, sleep disturbance, increased fatigue, anemia may develop. Rezi occur in the center of the abdomen. To diagnose the disease, a scraping analysis from the surface of the skin adjacent to the anus can be prescribed.
6. Intestinal infections. Typical symptoms of pathology: abdominal pain, high fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

Unpleasant sensations in the abdomen are also for reasons unrelated to the organs of the digestive system. These include: pneumonia, diabetes, diseases of the spine, inflammation of the kidneys, herpes.

Determination of causes by accompanying symptoms

Severe pain in the abdomen

Severe pain in the abdomen can cause cholelithiasis or increased gas formation. Among the diseases accompanied by this symptom, pancreatitis and appendicitis stand out. With the first of them, severe pain is observed in the stomach area, with the second - in the lower abdomen, more often on the right side. Painful cutting colic can occur with poisoning and intestinal bleeding. And in women with a cyst or ovarian cancer.

Cutting and nausea

A common cause of pain with vomiting is infectious diseases that occur when pathogenic microorganisms enter the digestive system. Other diseases manifest themselves in a similar way, for example, poisoning, appendicitis, pancreatitis. To make a correct diagnosis, it is better to consult a doctor. He will determine the treatment regimen and the need for hospitalization.

Cutting colic with diarrhea

Diarrhea and sharp pains in the peritoneum can appear with peritonitis and pancreatitis. At the same time, there is increased tension in the abdominal muscles. Pain in such pathologies is acute and severe, against their background diarrhea, nausea, vomiting develop, and the temperature often rises. All diseases accompanied by pain in the abdomen require inpatient treatment, and often urgent surgical intervention. Similar symptoms are characteristic of appendicitis. With it, the pain is first aching or dull, gradually it becomes more pronounced, diarrhea, vomiting, high fever are added.

With temperature

Temperature and cramps in the abdomen can be observed in many diseases, the most famous of them include:

1. Infections. Viruses and microorganisms can become causative agents. Symptoms of infectious ailments: pain in the peritoneum, stool disorders, fever (up to 40 degrees), vomiting, headaches. The reason for such manifestations is intoxication of the body. Treatment is prescribed by a doctor, it includes antibiotics or antiviral agents, depending on the pathogen.
2. Dysentery is an infectious disease that poses a threat to human life and health. Signs: high temperature, weakness, severe diarrhea, attacks of pain, tachycardia.
3. Colitis and enteritis - inflammation of the tissues of the intestine (thick or thin). Symptoms are: light diarrhea with a strong unpleasant odor, pain in the lower abdomen.
4. Acute inflammatory diseases of the digestive system: appendicitis, pancreatitis, peritonitis.

Cramps and bloating

Pathological prerequisites: colitis, intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, enteritis, appendicitis and other diseases.

Often, severe flatulence and discomfort in the abdomen occur due to malnutrition. Food-related symptoms are less pronounced and not constant. Excessively fatty or spicy foods, smoked meats or salinity, carbonated or alcoholic drinks can provoke them. From products: cabbage, legumes, apples, dairy.

Common causes in different categories of patients

Cutting in the abdomen in women

In women, cramps are quite common. They can be explained by menstruation or be a sign of diseases of the reproductive system. The pathological causes of the condition include the following:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• hormonal failure, leading to a change in the menstrual cycle;
• inflammatory processes in the ovaries or uterus;
• miscarriage;
• cystitis;
• endometriosis;
• follicular cysts.

Most pathologies require medical intervention, as they threaten the life of a woman. Therefore, with the appearance of pain in the abdomen, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

In pregnant women

Sharp cramping colic at the very end of pregnancy, most likely associated with the onset of childbirth. However, there are also dangerous reasons, which include:

1. Violation of the tone of the muscles of the uterus. The woman feels cutting pains in the lower part of the peritoneum. This condition can occur during emotional and physical overload.
2. Detachment of the placenta. The process can be provoked by prolonged toxicosis, especially in late pregnancy, injuries, high blood pressure.
3. An ectopic pregnancy, which is characterized by the attachment of the fetal egg not in the uterus, but in the fallopian tube. As the fetus grows, the tube breaks, which is accompanied by severe sharp pains.
4. Risk of miscarriage. The first sign of the condition is pulling and cutting pains in the lower abdomen, which gradually increase.

In men

The causes of cutting pain in adult men can be prostatitis - sharp pronounced colic in the lower abdomen, scrotum or perineum. Localization can be vague. In the absence of proper treatment, discomfort intensifies, urination becomes difficult and potency decreases.

Prostatitis can lead to the development of prostate adenoma - the prostate gland increases in size and compresses the urethra. This causes constant pain, aching and cutting.

Prostatitis can become chronic. In this case, the pain becomes less sharp. The disease is periodically exacerbated by: hypothermia, alcohol abuse, after infectious diseases, overwork.

Diseases characteristic of rheum and their symptoms

Gastritis

Causes of gastritis: unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol abuse, unbalanced diets, frequent stress and depression.

Symptoms: feeling of pressure and heaviness after eating, belching with a sour taste, nausea, frequent heartburn, pain in the upper abdomen.

Treatment is prescribed by a gastroenterologist and depends on the course of the disease. Usually it includes taking medications, following the regimen and diet.

stomach ulcer

One of the first symptoms of a stomach ulcer is a cutting pain in the abdomen. An ulcer can develop as a complication of gastritis in the absence of adequate treatment. Other signs: belching, nausea, up to vomiting, increased gas formation, bloating and flatulence, stool disturbance, loss of appetite and weight loss. To diagnose an ulcer, ultrasound, analysis of gastric juice and blood are used.

To treat the disease, antibacterial drugs, drugs that protect the gastric mucosa and reduce its secretion, diet are prescribed. In the absence of therapy against the background of an ulcer, tumor processes can develop.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis - severe pain in the lower abdomen, often on the right. Cramps appear suddenly and quickly intensify. Other symptoms of appendicitis include fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Treatment of inflammation of the appendix is ​​only surgical.

pancreatitis

The development of pancreatitis can be caused by factors such as: improper medication, infectious diseases, poisoning, alcohol, hormonal disruptions. In this case, there is a violation of the processes of digestion of food, the development of diabetes is possible. Cramps and pains are permanent, localized in the under the stomach, often giving back. Pain relief usually occurs within a week. In addition to pain, there is gray diarrhea with a pungent odor, nausea and increased gas formation. Treatment: antibiotics, painkillers and detoxification agents.

Intestinal adhesions

Intestinal adhesions at the first stages do not appear in any way. With the formation of a large number of adhesions, the following symptoms appear: nausea, flatulence, abdominal cramps, indigestion, deterioration of health. The disease can occur with severe colic, which do not have a clear localization. Treatment of pathology can be conservative or surgical.

Cholecystitis

The first sign of cholecystitis is a sharp spasm in the side (right). The disease can develop against the background of obesity, overeating of fatty and fried foods, as well as alcoholic beverages. Also, the symptoms of cholecystitis include: constant belching, fever, bitter taste in the mouth, yellow skin and mucous membranes. Antibiotics, antispasmodics, detoxification agents, and diet are used for treatment. In extreme cases, surgery is performed to remove the gallbladder.

Helminthiasis

When infected with worms, pain in the peritoneum can also be observed. The causes of helminthiasis can be: food from poorly processed meat or fish, contact with an already infected person, lack of hygiene. In addition to colic, helminthic invasion is manifested by weight loss, weakness, increased fatigue, excitability, nausea, and indigestion. For diagnosis, scraping and blood analysis, other research methods are carried out. Treatment: anthelmintic drugs and vitamin therapy.

Other diseases

Stress and constant nervous tension can become the cause of pain and discomfort in the stomach. Against the background of emotional arousal, there are acute pains in the lower abdomen, which are of a neurotic nature. During the examination, it is not possible to identify the pathology.

Eating foods that provoke an increased accumulation of gases can lead to the appearance of colic and pain. These products include: cabbage, legumes, soda and more.

An allergic reaction to foods can also lead to severe cramps. To get rid of them, the allergen is detected and the product containing it is excluded from the diet.

Improper nutrition is often accompanied by discomfort in the abdomen. These are the consequences of overeating and eating fatty foods.

First aid for severe colic

Treatment for severe colic depends on the causes that caused their appearance. Only a gastroenterologist can prescribe it after making a diagnosis. However, with severe pain before the doctor arrives, you can try to reduce them.

1. If an attack of pain is associated with nervous tension, you can take a sedative, for example, motherwort tincture, Novopassit, Corvalol, and so on.

When to call a doctor?

If pain in the abdomen appears regularly, then it is worth visiting a doctor. Often such symptoms indicate a disease. It is necessary to go to the doctor if, in addition to abdominal pain, there are chills, nausea, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and other signs of illness.

It is necessary to call an ambulance if spasms occur in a person who has previously undergone surgery on the digestive organs, with severe intense pain, the rapid development of the disease. It is worth knowing that appendicitis is manifested by cutting pain, which may not be localized on the right side, but spread throughout the abdomen. At the same time, it is not always very strong, it often rolls in attacks, becoming sometimes stronger, sometimes almost imperceptible. Dangerous symptoms include a sharp disappearance of pain. This may indicate a rupture of the appendix and the development of peritonitis.

Severe incessant diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, significant fever and abdominal cramps - all these symptoms are characteristic of intestinal infections. These diseases also require a visit to the doctor.

The causes of cramps in the abdomen can be completely different, as well as its intensity and duration. Similar sensations can also occur in a healthy person after eating poor-quality food or overeating, but most often this symptom indicates the presence of pathologies from the gastrointestinal tract. In some cases, acute pain in the epigastric region can signal serious organ damage and internal bleeding, which requires urgent medical intervention.

What is abdominal cramps

Cramps in the abdomen are often a symptom of dangerous diseases.

A condition in which a person experiences severe stabbing or cutting pains of a clear localization or girdle character refers to a symptom complex called "acute abdomen". This term in medicine is understood as an acute surgical pathology, accompanied by irritation of the peritoneum, severe abdominal pain, muscle tension of the anterior abdominal wall (board-shaped abdomen).

A similar clinical picture can be observed:

• with a sudden exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• with severe poisoning;
• with gallstone disease.

Patients with acute abdomen syndrome are subject to urgent hospitalization in the hospital of the surgical department, while there is a ban on taking painkillers and food.

Note: the ban on taking analgesics in an acute abdomen is due to a possible distortion of the clinical picture.

In a situation where pain is critically expressed, and it is not possible to deliver the patient to a medical facility, taking painkillers is allowed. It is better to use complexes that combine an analgesic and antispasmodic component.

Causes of cutting pain

Projection of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity

Upon admission to the hospital with pain in the abdomen, a person is immediately sent for a diagnostic examination of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis. Based solely on the patient's complaints, the doctor will not be able to accurately determine the origin of the disease, since everything is interconnected in the body and pain can manifest itself in a place different from its real source. In other words, it radiates to other, healthy areas. The causes of pain in the abdomen can be the following pathological conditions:

Appendicitis

Signs of the development of appendicitis

This is a condition in which the vermiform appendix (appendix) of the caecum becomes inflamed. The patient feels severe cutting pains, which are most often localized in the solar plexus, and later can radiate to other parts of the abdomen. The intensity and nature of pains can constantly change, usually this condition is also joined by:

• dyspepsia,
• vomit.

With pancreatitis, there may be severe cramps in the abdomen

With acute inflammation of the pancreas, accompanied by necrosis of the organ, a person feels severe cutting and stabbing pains in the abdomen of different localization, often girdle. The process is accompanied by:

• general deterioration of well-being;
• toxic syndrome;
• possible infection.

Inflammation of the gallbladder occurs due to a violation of the outflow of bile, which is most often observed in the calculous form of the disease, and also if pathogenic microflora is present in the lumen of the bladder. In the presence of calculi, pain is cutting in nature and can respond to any part of the epigastric region (especially in the right hypochondrium) and radiate to the right arm or lower back. With cholecystitis, there is often:

• increase in body temperature;
• vomit;
• tachycardia;
• mechanical jaundice.

Gastritis

Inflammatory processes in the gastric mucosa can be accompanied by various unpleasant sensations, especially in the acute course of the disease. Rezi can occur both on an empty stomach, and after the next meal. The pain may be localized in the upper abdomen.

peptic ulcer

The nature of pain in a stomach ulcer depends largely on the location of the damaged area and on what stage of development the disease is at. Cutting, aching and stabbing pains most often occur when:

• pyloric canal;
• subcardial and cardiac parts of the stomach.

Crohn's disease

This is a disease in which inflammatory processes affect the entire gastrointestinal tract or only part of it. In the acute form of the pathology, severe pains of a different nature can be observed, including a feeling of pain in the abdomen.

Other reasons

In addition to the above diseases, the causes of cutting pains can be:

Thus, pain in the abdomen can be a symptom of completely different diseases, many of which pose a threat to human life and health. Doctors strongly recommend not to endure this kind of pain, but to immediately seek medical help for diagnosis and treatment.

Relationship between symptom and nutrition

People who lead a healthy lifestyle rarely experience such problems, because their diet does not include harmful foods and alcohol. But most people are still prone not only to eating excessively fatty and spicy foods, but also to systematic overeating, which can also cause pain and cramps in the stomach.

• You should not eat foods that cause increased gas formation, this can lead to spastic colic.
• In addition, it is recommended to avoid the consumption of natural freshly squeezed juices on an empty stomach. The food acids they contain negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract.

The danger of pathology

If pain in the abdomen is not caused by overeating, then it should be perceived by a person as a signal of the presence of serious health problems, and not as temporary discomfort. The main danger of prolonged pain, which is a symptom of any pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, lies in the most severe consequences, which can be:

• perforation of the stomach wall;
• rupture of the appendix with the development of peritonitis and sepsis;
• partial or complete necrosis of the diseased organ;
• rupture of the intestinal wall, extensive internal bleeding.

Constant pain in the abdomen may also indicate the presence of a growing benign tumor, which over time can degenerate into a malignant neoplasm. In this regard, it is important for every person to remember that there is no causeless pain, and therefore its appearance is always a reason to visit a specialist.

Treatment and first aid for abdominal cramps

The treatment tactics is developed by the doctor after all the necessary diagnostic procedures have been carried out, taking into account the results of the tests and the presence of concomitant diseases in the patient. The main task of physicians is to determine the root cause of pain in the abdomen and eliminate it in the safest way. There are situations in which the only possible way to treat the pathology is a surgical operation. These include:

• perforated ulcer;
• appendicitis;
• peritonitis;
• the presence of large stones (more than 1 cm) in the bile ducts or ureter.

If the cause of severe pain is an exacerbation of gastritis or food poisoning, the patient will be prescribed the necessary treatment in an inpatient or outpatient setting. The effectiveness of therapy largely depends on the timeliness of seeking medical help, as well as on the actions of the patient before the ambulance arrives. Many people, trying to alleviate their condition, begin to take various medications that can blur the clinical picture, thereby making it difficult to diagnose the disease. If a person becomes ill, he is forbidden until a medical examination.

Abdominal pain is a fairly common symptom of many diseases in both children and adults. Depending on the severity and nature of the pain, the severity of the problem can be determined.

The most well-known types of pain are two: somatic and visceral. Somatic pain is the result of irritation that is located in the peritoneum itself. It most often occurs in pathological processes. Visceral pain is a process of irritation of nerve endings. As a rule, such pain is dull in nature, but can also be given in other parts of the human body.

Of course, the most common cause of stomach cramps is the intake of foods that irritate the internal organs of the digestive tract. As a rule, it is salty, fatty, too cold or hot. Some of the foods stimulate the movement of stones in the gallbladder or its ducts, which also leads to colic.

Abdominal cramps can appear with diseases of the spine, disorders of the thyroid gland, with anemia, infectious diseases of the urinary tract, etc. Taking certain medications (antibiotics, hormones, and others) often causes pain.

Of course, first you need to determine the exact diagnosis. For example, consider the classic cases when colic or cramps appear in the abdomen. Pain in the pubic region (lower abdomen) in women indicates a pathology of the urinary system (bladder, uterus, appendages, ovaries). Inflammatory processes of the pelvic organs of the reproductive system are accompanied by pain in the lower part of the peritoneum. Pelvic pain is a common symptom of menstrual cramps or endometriosis. Acute cramps in the abdomen can be a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy or menstrual irregularities.

If there is pain in the navel, then this is a clear sign of diseases of the small intestine, in the stomach - diseases of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach itself, duodenum, etc.). Pain in the abdomen can accompany inflammation of the lungs. Pain on the right side of the hypochondrium, which increases significantly after eating one or another food, is an indicator of gallbladder disease (cholecystitis, Acute pain in the abdomen on the left side - pancreatitis.

Of course, in no case should you continue to endure pain and take various analgesics and antispasmodics, since pain in the abdomen can be the first symptom of a fairly serious disease that can lead to death. Also, you can not self-medicate until the exact cause of pain is established. For example, many people start using warm compresses, which help in one case and are absolutely contraindicated in another.

Thus, to exclude adverse effects on the body, seek the help of a specialist in the field of therapy and surgery. Very often, the lack of timely assistance in acute appendicitis leads to serious consequences. Such a disease is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, a sharp pain in the navel (then throughout the abdomen and on the right side in particular). Often, after an acute attack, the pain subsides, but such an attack should be the reason for providing emergency care to the patient. The main way to eliminate the disease is the surgical removal of the appendix. Before the arrival of ambulance doctors and transporting the patient to the hospital, in no case give the injured person food and drink, which can only aggravate the situation and lead to rupture of the contents of the process.

There are many different factors that can cause severe stomach pain. Regardless of location, intensity and other distinguishing features, attacks of severe cutting pain, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, are a symptom of digestive system dysfunction. In order to prevent the development of a serious illness, if acute symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor to determine the disease.

Pain typification

Or the abdomen can have many manifestations - from constant weak and aching to sharp attacks that appear periodically. In order to correctly describe the nature of the symptoms on examination by a doctor, it is worth understanding the features, the classification of pain sensations.

Depending on the time of occurrence

To quickly and correctly determine the causes will help to observe at what point they appear, to trace the connection between eating and the occurrence of pain. Uniform pain sensations that appear within about an hour from the last meal and do not go away for another two hours have been defined in medical practice as early symptoms. This may be a sign of inflammation of the gastric tissues, a signal for the development of the initial stage of a stomach ulcer or gastritis. Another option is the formation of a growth on the rectal cavity (polyposis).

Late sudden pain is pumpable and appears for a longer time after eating. Such a symptom may indicate the following diseases:

• stomach or duodenal ulcer;
• gastritis, high acidity;
• oncological diseases;
• cholelithiasis;
• pancreatitis;
• duodenitis.

If the stomach hurts after 5-6 hours from the last meal or at night, this is called hunger pain. It usually goes away after a small snack or a few sips of tea or plain water. This may be a sign of a pre-ulcerative condition.

depending on localization

From this point of view, gastric cramps are divided into two types - spilled, when it is difficult to determine where it hurts, and an attack concentrated at one point. With decentralized discomfort, there is a suspicion of the presence of a stomach ulcer or the formation of a malignant tumor. Accurately localized pain, depending on the location of the lesion, indicates a problem in the work of the organ, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich it cuts strongly:

• below the ribs - the esophagus, liver (hepatitis, cirrhosis), disease of the upper stomach;
• below the ribs, on the right - appendicitis;
• intestinal zone - food poisoning, worms;
• under the spoon - an ulcer, duodenitis;
• under the chest (right) - cholecystitis, cholelithiasis;
• on the left - pancreatitis.

depending on the intensity

The intensity of pain spasms can be very diverse - from barely noticeable, aching to appearing sharply, with characteristic influxes. It must be taken into account that:

• Strong cramps are a sign of an acute stage of gastritis, an increased level of acidity in the stomach, pancreatitis, and stomach ulcers.
• Aching - gastritis with a low level of acidity.
• Spilled, spreading to the back or left side of the chest (approximately as with heart pain) - a sign of peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum.

Causes of pain and cramps in the stomach

Any sudden pain by its nature is a signal sent by nerve endings or receptors as a result of exposure to a certain stimulus. By analogy, cutting pain in the stomach is provoked by damage - mechanical, chemical:

1. Mechanical damage. It mostly occurs in young children or people with serious mental disorders. Irritation of the gastric mucosa is provoked by the impact on the tissues of a sharp object that was accidentally or deliberately swallowed.
2. Chemical damage. It can be not only about the defeat of the mucous membrane with toxic substances, acids, alkali. In turn, several types of such damage can be distinguished:
   • Exposure to aggressive chemicals. Most often, they enter the body by accident - through carelessness or if a person does it intentionally.
   • Damage to gastric juice. The stomach produces a fairly strong acid for digestion, but the mucus produced by the cells of the digestive tract protects the tissues from damage. Failure of these same cells leads to an imbalance of substances, which, in turn, has a detrimental effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. As a result - the development of gastritis, ulcers, erosion.
   • Toxic effects due to infection. The vital activity of microorganisms or their death is a source of toxins that can damage the walls of the digestive tract. In this case, spasms are not associated with meals.
   • Remote irritation. The appearance of pain due to diseases of other organs - the liver, heart, etc. Such phenomena are called referred pain.
   • Stomach cramps can occur during pregnancy. Usually they are caused by internal changes in the body of a woman, but it is still better to consult a doctor.

Origin mechanism

Mostly the reasons why the stomach grasps sharply and strongly are defined as a violation of the digestive process, namely, the ability of organs to move food around the body during digestion. An unhealthy diet, the wrong approach to diets, stress and other circumstances not related to the digestive system lead to organ dysfunction. Malfunctions in the work of the gastrointestinal tract provoke a deterioration in the mechanism of contraction of the muscles of the digestive organs, pain spasm.

Symptom Danger

Often, temporary spasms in the intestinal region associated with food intake or those that occur after eating do not cause much concern. Although this is still a good reason to worry about your health than a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. Eliminating spasms with painkillers without going to the doctor for a long time is not an option, because even the weakest spasms can cause not the intended gastritis, but, for example, appendicitis, pancreatitis or exacerbation of peptic ulcer.

All these diseases expose the entire body as a whole to serious danger, and their rapid development can lead to a significant deterioration in the patient's condition in a matter of hours. Unpleasant stomach pain in combination with vomiting, nausea, fever is an alarming signal about a disorder in the gastrointestinal tract. Particular attention should be paid to your health during pregnancy, because it is pregnant women who make the mistake of often attributing any discomfort in the intestinal area to their position.

Possible Complications

The launched acute stage of gastritis with improper treatment or in the absence of treatment as such, after a certain period, passes into a full-fledged peptic ulcer. Minor formations of polyps, erosions on the inner walls of the stomach, according to doctors, can eventually turn into a malignant tumor.

A stomach ulcer is a dangerous condition. Deviation from the diet recommended by the doctor, ignoring it can lead to its discovery, and in this case only immediate surgical intervention can help. In addition, if you do not start treating an ulcer, all neighboring organs are at risk of damage, because ulcers can also appear on the intestines.

In what cases should you immediately call a doctor?

Cutting in the stomach is far from a harmless symptom, as it may seem at first. Therefore, it is important to seek advice as soon as possible, conduct an examination and identify the reason why the stomach seized. But there are also symptoms that should not be endured to the last, it is better to protect yourself from possible complications and immediately call an ambulance. The following signs are a clear sign that you need urgent medical attention:

• intermittent stabbing pains in the stomach;
• constant severe pain;
• change in the area of ​​its localization;
• changing the nature of such feelings, strengthening;
• the appearance of concomitant symptoms (chills, vomiting, nausea, fever).

First aid

First aid - put the patient to bed.

If the stomach seized with attacks, began to hurt unbearably, before the ambulance arrives, it is important to take measures that will not allow a sharp deterioration in the patient's condition. First aid tips are as follows:

• put the patient to bed;
• apply a cold compress to the abdomen;
• give him complete rest;
• in no case should you give the patient food or drinks, alcohol is strictly prohibited;
• do not eliminate unpleasant pain with anesthetics - this will distort the clinical picture of the disease upon the arrival of doctors, which will increase the time for determining the diagnosis;
• do not do bowel lavage, enemas on your own, doctors will do this if necessary;
• in no case do not warm the painful areas, especially with nausea, vomiting - perhaps this is appendicitis, and heat will provoke its rupture.