About Stomach Pain
Abdominal pain can range from mild temporary discomfort to symptoms requiring medical assessment. Location and associated symptoms matter.
Possible causes vary widely and can involve digestion, infection, muscles and other body systems.
What to note
Consider location, duration, severity, relation to meals, bowel changes, vomiting, fever and other symptoms.
General guidance
Avoid using a general online guide to diagnose abdominal pain. Persistent or concerning pain deserves professional evaluation. When to seek help Seek urgent medical assessment for severe or rapidly worsening pain, significant bleeding, fainting, severe vomiting or other alarming symptoms.
What should you consider?
- How long the symptom or concern has been present.
- How severe or disruptive it is.
- Whether it is improving, stable or getting worse.
- Whether other symptoms are occurring at the same time.
- Age, medications, existing health conditions and individual circumstances.
When should you seek professional advice?
Consider speaking with a qualified healthcare professional when a health concern is persistent, worsening, severe, unusual or interfering with normal daily activities. Urgent or life-threatening symptoms require appropriate emergency medical care.