It can emanate from the stomach, small or large intestines, liver, gall bladder or pancreas. DR BRIGID MONDA gives pointers to when it’s important to see a doctor

Your abdomen is the area between the chest and hips. Any pain experienced in this area — whether on the left or right side, in the upper or lower parts, inside or outside — is abdominal pain.

There are many organs in the abdomen and pain can originate from any one of them; from the stomach, small and large intestines, the liver, gall bladder and pancreas, to the aorta, the appendix and the kidneys.

What you eat or drink may cause pain and generalised infection affecting the whole body. Sometimes, there may not be an obvious cause for the abdominal pain.

Abdominal pain may be a twinge, cramp, stabbing sensation, dull and constant ache, or a combination of any of these. It may be in a specific place or vague and generalised. The type, spot and intensity may vary from one episode to another. Its intensity can be mild to excruciating but this does not always reflect the seriousness of the condition causing the pain.

Mild conditions, such as gas or the cramping of a stomach virus can cause severe abdominal pain while relatively mild pain or no pain may be present with life-threatening conditions like cancer of the colon or an early appendicitis. The pain may be short-lived and can be controlled with medication, or long-term lasting more than three to six months and is often more complex.

The best person to determine the cause of abdominal pain is your doctor. When you visit, it is important to give your doctor as much information as possible.

Have a symptom checklist to help you remember and describe what sort of pain you are feeling, the exact spot you feel it, how often you get it, how long it lasts and what makes it go away. Is it related to your bowel movements and what eases the pain or makes it worse? This information is useful when the doctor decides on the investigations and treatment to put you on.

Home care for mild pains:

• Sip water or other clear fluids.

• Avoid solid food for a few hours.

• If there has been vomiting, wait a few hours then eat small amounts of mild foods.

• Avoid citrus, high-fat foods, fried or greasy foods, tomato products, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages.

• Antacids may provide relief for heartburn.

• Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and narcotic pain medications unless your doctor prescribes them.

When does it become an emergency? When your pain is severe, sudden and sharp and you have a fever along with your pain. If you are unable to pass stool.If you are vomiting more so if it is blood stained or have bloody diarrhea.

When the abdomen is rigid and painful to touch.

When you have chest, neck, or shoulder pain and feel dizzy or lightheaded. This could be a sign of a heart attack.

You have nausea and no appetite.