Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 23: Abdominal pain is often dismissed as simple indigestion, but it can sometimes signal serious health conditions that need urgent attention. The severity, duration, and accompanying symptoms of the pain are crucial indicators. Here are five hazardous conditions commonly starting with abdominal discomfort:

Peptic Ulcers: Open sores in the stomach or upper small intestine lining cause burning pain, often between meals or at night. Symptoms may include bloating, nausea, and heartburn. Untreated ulcers can lead to internal bleeding or perforation.

Gallstones: Solidified digestive juices in the gallbladder can block bile flow, causing sharp upper abdominal pain, often after fatty meals, along with nausea, vomiting, or jaundice. Gallbladder inflammation requires immediate medical care.

Diverticulitis: Inflamed small sacs in the colon wall result in severe pain in the lower left abdomen, fever, nausea, and bowel changes. Severe cases may cause colon perforation or abscesses.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): A female reproductive infection, usually from sexually transmitted bacteria, causes lower abdominal pain, fever, abnormal discharge, and pain during intercourse or urination. Untreated PID may lead to infertility or chronic pelvic pain.

Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas leads to intense upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, worsened or relieved by eating, and accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Severe cases can cause organ failure.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Care:

Seek urgent help if pain is sudden and severe, lasts more than a few hours, is accompanied by fever, vomiting, blood in stool or vomit, jaundice, or difficulty breathing. Early intervention can prevent serious complications.

Abdominal pain is not always harmless—knowing the warning signs can save lives.