Severe abdominal pain
The best tips against cramps in the abdomen
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Severe abdominal pain mainly affects women, but men can also suffer from it. We explain the most common causes and what helps against them.
Abdominal pain: definition
Anyone who speaks of abdominal pain mainly means complaints during the period of use – this is between the palpable hip bones and runs from the navel to the pubic area. Severe abdominal pain can be limited to individual parts of the lower abdomen or affect the entire abdomen and be pressing, pulling or stabbing.
What does severe abdominal pain mean?
Severe abdominal pain is often referred to as a classic women’s problem, because these complaints are considered to be a side effect of menstruation. But men can also be affected by abdominal pain. With them, a prostate or testicular disease is often the cause of the symptoms. Irrespective of gender, a disease such as a disorder of the digestive system or a urinary tract infection can also trigger severe abdominal pain.
Attention: If the abdominal wall feels very hard and at the same time there is severe pain when touched, a so-called “acute abdomen” can be responsible for this. This is potentially life-threatening – the emergency doctor should be called immediately!
Causes of severe abdominal pain
The following are the causes of severe abdominal pain are possible:
In women
- Menstrual problems (including cramps, heavy menstrual bleeding, missed periods, spotting instead of periods, irregular bleeding)
- endometriosis
- ectopic pregnancy
- cysts on the ovaries
- descent of the uterus
- Inflammation of the lining of the womb, ovaries or fallopian tubes
- Benign tumors, e.g. B. Fibroids
- Malignant tumors, such as cervical cancer or ovarian cancer
In men
- Epididymis are inflamed
- Prostate is inflamed
- prostate cancer
Gender-unspecific causes of severe abdominal pain
- Urinary tract infection (often accompanied by painful urination)
- urinary stones
- bladder cancer
- appendicitis
- constipation
- Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, e.g. B. Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Inflammation of intestinal sacs
- hernia
- rectal cancer (cancer of the lowest part of the intestine)
- intestinal obstruction
- Mesenteric infarction (closure of an intestinal artery)
When should I see a doctor for severe abdominal pain?
Not every abdominal pain requires immediate medical attention. However, an examination is advisable if the following signs are present:
- The pain keeps getting worse instead of better.
- The abdominal wall feels hard and hurts when touched.
- There is blood in the stool or urine.
- Other symptoms appear, e.g. B. fever, vomiting or nausea.
- Low blood pressure combined with rapid heart rate.
Help and tips for severe abdominal pain
Acute pain can be treated with antispasmodic drugs and painkillers. Further therapy is determined based on the cause of the abdominal pain. Those affected can also treat milder symptoms with home remedies. Good are:
- heat, e.g. B. a hot water bottle on the stomach or a warm bath
- Tea with bearberry leaves for diseases of the urinary tract (e.g. inflammation of the bladder)
- Gentle abdominal massage
- Diet: bland diet for indigestion