Left abdominal pain is usually caused by a mild condition, such as flatulence. Although it is common, left abdominal pain should not be underestimated because it could be a sign of a serious disease, such as kidney stones or ovarian cysts.
The left abdominal pain that is classified as mild will usually go away on its own within 1–2 days. However, if the abdominal pain is prolonged or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is necessary to have an examination by a doctor so that it can be treated according to the cause.
Different Types of Diseases That Cause Left Abdominal Pain
Doctors can usually suspect the cause of left-sided abdominal pain from where the pain is present, either on the upper left or lower left side of the stomach. The following are some of the causes of left abdominal pain based on the location of the pain:
Upper left abdominal pain
There are several causes of upper left abdominal pain, including:
- Heart attack
- Chest pain
- Pericarditis or inflammation of the lining of the heart
- Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas
- Spleen enlargement
- Pneumonia
- Pleuritis or inflammation of the lining of the lungs
- Pneumothorax
- Costochondritis or inflammation of the cartilage
- Broken rib
- Injury
- Endocarditis
- Appendicitis
Lower left abdominal pain
Meanwhile, lower left abdominal pain can be caused by the following conditions:
- Diverticulitis
- Hernia
- Shingles or shingles
- Gastroenteritis
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Colorectal cancer
- Kidney infection
- Crohn's disease
- Inflammation of the colon
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm or inflammation of the aortic artery in the stomach
- Twisted intestine
Especially in women, lower left abdominal pain can be caused by ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps, endometriosis, twisted ovaries, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammation, infection of the fallopian tubes, or problems with the cervix.
In addition, there are several other conditions that can also cause you to experience left abdominal pain, both at the top and bottom. Some of these conditions include constipation, food poisoning and allergies.
How to Overcome Complaints of Left Stomach Pain
Management of complaints of left abdominal pain must be adjusted to the cause. Left abdominal pain that is classified as mild can generally be treated in the following ways:
Home care
As an initial treatment, you can reduce left abdominal pain by doing the following simple things:
- Compress the stomach with a towel soaked in warm water
- Drink more water
- Eat small, frequent meals and choose foods that are soft in texture
- Chew food slowly
- Avoiding spicy, sour and fatty foods
- Avoid the consumption of caffeinated drinks, sodas and alcohol.
Drug use
In addition to some of the simple ways above, to reduce or treat left-sided abdominal pain, you can also take medicines, including:
- Simethicon medicine, to get rid of gas in the stomach
- Antacids or acid reducers, to treat stomach aches due to acid reflux
- Stool laxatives or softeners, for constipation-induced abdominal pain
- Loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate , to relieve stomach cramps due to diarrhea
Avoid taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, because they can cause stomach irritation. You need to remember, left abdominal pain due to serious conditions requires treatment from a doctor, even though the pain has subsided with medication.
See a doctor if your left stomach pain does not go away or is accompanied by severe pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, swollen stomach and pain when touched, or there are blood spots in the stool. The doctor will perform an examination to determine the cause and provide appropriate treatment.
Label : Health
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