Abdominal Pain 101

If you have abdominal pain, the list of possible causes is long, so it’s important to try to focus on specific symptoms to help determine what’s wrong. Abdominal pain could signal something as harmless as overdoing it at the office holiday buffet or something as serious as a rupturing appendix.

Some causes of abdominal pain include:

• Heartburn: Heartburn pain occurs just below the breastbone in the upper abdomen. It can happen when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. Conditions that can make heartburn pain worse include obesity, pregnancy, asthma, and diabetes. Heartburn is usually harmless, but if you suffer from it often, ask your doctor for advice to make it less uncomfortable.
• Menstrual cramps: If your abdominal pain is crampy (and you’re a woman), your pain could be menstrual related. Polycystic ovarian syndrome can also cause abdominal pain similar to menstrual cramps.
• Appendicitis: A key symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain that is sharp and near your belly button. If this sounds like your pain, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.