Abdominal Pain On The Left Side: What Could It Be Due To?
Most of the time, abdominal pain occurs as a result of the accumulation of gas. However, depending on the intensity, it may be a symptom of a condition that requires medical attention. The important thing is to observe the discomfort: does it persist? When does it appear? What relieves it and what does not?
Regardless of its location, pain is always a symptom of a certain reality, of greater or lesser scope. For this reason, it should not be overlooked. Given its onset for a long time and of medium to severe intensity, it is best to go to the doctor for a physical evaluation.
Abdominal pain on the left side
The United States National Library of Medicine notes that the abdomen, a region that runs from the chest to the groin, houses many organs of great importance. For this reason, pain in this area should not be underestimated.
Abdominal pain on the left side should not be neglected or overlooked, since it is in this area that organs such as the pancreas, stomach, left kidney, or the left part of the liver are located. Here, you can discover three variables to consider:
- Duration: abdominal pain on the left side will be considered significant when you suffer from it regularly or when you experience it right after meals.
- Pain traits: is it like a hot plate or a very sharp, dry pain? If so, it is not a minor annoyance that comes and goes, as it would be in the case of gases.
- Interaction with medications: when taking an analgesic to relieve abdominal pain, the discomfort may disappear, although it becomes apparent again within a few hours or the next day.
Possible causes
The American College of Gastroenterology explains that the causes of abdominal pain can be many, from the simple presence of gas to diseases that require medical intervention. Here are some of the most common.
1. Pancreatitis and abdominal pain
Pancreatitis is one of the most common causes, citing the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases . Pancreatitis manifests itself in an obvious way, given the intensity of the pain and with symptoms such as fever, vomiting and palpitations, among others.
It is important to pay attention to the way you chew, how fast you eat, how digestion is and, of course, what foods make you feel heavy and abdominal pain on the left side when you finish eating.
2. Bowel obstruction
Liquids and food that cannot be evacuated stay in the same place and cause great discomfort that includes everything from inflammation of the organs to vomiting, according to data presented in MedlinePlus.
In this case, the abdominal pain on the left side is very intense and spreads to the rest of the stomach. Those who suffer from an intestinal obstruction may have a fever, weakness and, of course, the inability to pass gas through the anus as well as to evacuate.
3. Diverticulosis, possible cause of abdominal pain
The MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia states that diverticulosis is about pus-filled lumps along the digestive tract. Inflammation and infection are the causes of the pain being so severe. In these cases, they suffer from nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea (in interspersed episodes) and even rectal bleeding.
4. Kidney stones
Left side abdominal pain can be caused by kidney stones. During their training, the experts from the American Kidney Fund argue that no discomfort of any kind is common. However, when they reach a relevant size, they can cause pain when trying to leave the body.
It should be noted that this discomfort can be localized as abdominal pain on the left side, but it is also usually reflected in the lumbar area on that same side, at the level of the kidney.
5. Polycystic ovarian syndrome
When a woman has one or more cysts on the left ovary, pain may appear in that part of the abdomen. How does it manifest? Well, a discomfort may appear in this area, without having done exercises or having received a blow.
On the other hand, menstrual irregularity, nausea, and persistent discomfort in both the general abdomen and the left side can indicate the presence of cysts, as information from the Office on Women’s Health suggests .
Other possible causes
There are foods that make you feel bad and, therefore, your body reacts, defends itself. The gases produced by certain foods can cause abdominal pain on the left side. And, although it may seem curious, it is common for them to accumulate on only one side of the abdomen.
On the other hand, psychosomatic disorders can cause localized pain in a specific point of the body. These are generally accompanied by poor digestion, gas, and other general discomforts. In view of this, it is important to learn to manage emotions correctly.
To conclude, remind you once again that, when abdominal pain persists and the resulting symptoms prevent a normal life, it is necessary to go to the doctor to evaluate the situation and prescribe a timely treatment .
Self-medication is totally discouraged, since with this you can hide the symptoms of a major problem. Do not underestimate abdominal pain and in the face of its continued presence, visit your doctor.
