How Frequent are Stomach Pains?
According to the National Institute of Health and the CDC, abdominal pain is the primary reason people visit an emergency room, accounting for 12.5 million visits to the ER in 2016. One reason abdominal pain occurs so frequently is that problems can develop in any one of a large number of essential organs located in the stomach area. As a result, when pain occurs in the abdominal region, it is difficult to identify either the source or cause. While abdominal pain is not always an indication something is wrong, some pains result from severe or even life-threatening conditions. Further, the severity of the pain does not necessarily indicate the severity of the underlying disease; an acute condition may cause mild discomfort, while a mild condition may cause severe pain.
When to Go to the Emergency Room
Whenever you have concerns about your health or medical condition, you should visit a medical professional. It is not a good idea to self-diagnose. This is especially true if you have abdominal pains, even if the pains are mild. Self-diagnosis is never recommended because abdominal pains can be caused by many different medical problems, some of which are very serious. The abdomen contains many vital organs. As a result, pain in the stomach may be caused by many different medical problems. Prompt medical attention provides both a diagnosis and a treatment plan if warranted.
Should you have one or more of the following symptoms, you should immediately seek medical attention. The following list is not complete, so seek medical attention should you have any of these abdominal related symptoms or any other troubling health issue:
- Your abdominal pain occurs with associated pain in the chest, shoulder, arm, or neck.
- Abdominal pain occurs suddenly and is sharp.
- Your abdominal pain lasts more than a week, even if mild.
- You believe you have blood in your stool, or you are vomiting blood.
- You sustain an injury to the abdomen, and the pain is persistent.
- You are vomiting and, also, cannot have a bowel movement.
- Your abdomen is tender to touch, stiff, or hard.
Problems Associated with Stomach Pain
If you have these or any other troubling symptoms, be sure to see a medical professional. The Emergency Health System’s ER’s are open 24/7/365 for your convenience and are there for you. If you do not have a primary care doctor or for any other medical reason, please visit one of our Emergency Hospital Systems’ ER’s for any medical problem. You can call for an appointment or walk-in. Our wait times are short, and we have plenty of close-in free parking.
Abdominal pains can indicate many serious medical problems. Some of the common issues related to abdominal pain can include:
- Crohn’s disease
- IBS or irritable bowel syndrome
- Indigestion or constipation
- Food allergies
- Hernia
- Gallstones or kidney stones
- Appendicitis
- Diverticulitis, and
- Others
Abdominal or stomach pains can indicate serious underlying medical problems and should never be ignored. For prompt attention, should you have abdominal pains, visit one of Emergency Hospital Systems’ emergency rooms located in Cleveland (2), Spring, and Humble. Our staff of medical professionals is there for you. When you need medical attention for any issue, call on the professionals at Emergency Hospital Systems. Feel free to walk-in or call for an appointment, 281-592-5400.