Pain in the left side stomach is a common symptom that arises from a milder problem to a serious condition. Left side abdominal pain is frightening when you have no idea of the exact reason behind this. Less serious health issues like gas and indigestion can be prevented and treated at home. However, several serious conditions, like kidney stones, can be a reason for emergency hospital visits. So, a proper treatment at the right time is required to save a person’s life from a deadly condition. In this blog, we explore about the causes and proper treatment for the left side of stomach pain. As well as we also discuss that when a patient needs medical help.
What is Left-Sided Abdominal Pain?
The left side of the abdominal pain means discomfort in the left part of your body. This discomfort is ranges from the bottom of the ribs to the pelvis. Location of discomfort is one of the important factors to determine the exact problem. Doctors categorize your abdomen into four parts or quadrants. Pain in certain quadrants helps doctors to determine the root causes
behind the issues.
Organ on the Left Side of the Abdomen
A diagnosis of left-sided abdominal pain requires an understanding of the organ that lies on the left side of the stomach. This knowledge helps in identifying the sources of the discomfort. The organs on the left side of the abdomen are:
- Spleen: It filters the blood and fights with existing infection in your body.
- Stomach: The work of the stomach is to break down the food and digest it.
- Pancreas: The Pancreas secretes the enzymes that are responsible for the digestion. As well as it also produces insulin to manage the blood sugar level in the body.
- Kidney: The main work of the kidney is to remove toxic items from the body. It also helps to regulate the fluid level in the body.
- Urethra: It is used by the body to transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
- Intestines: Intestines break down the waste products of the body and absorb the nutrients.
- Fallopian Tube and Ovary: This part of the body is responsible for reproduction in the female.
If these body parts have any serious or mild issues, then they produce abdominal pain.
Symptoms of Left Side Stomach Pain
Left side stomach pain originates from the internal organs of the body. The severity of the left side stomach pain depends on the causes behind it. This pain has several range of intensities. So this situation can be categorized in the following words:
- Dull: It is a continuous low-intensity pain that affect the patient’s regular activities.
- Sharp: It is a sudden and intense stomach pain that hurts badly.
- Achy: Achy is a continuous pain that occurs in the left side of the stomach.
- Crampy: It is a wave-like pain that comes and goes on a regular intervals of time.
- Burning: This type of stomach pain gives a hot sensation in the stomach and is mainly related to the acid reflux problem.
- Twisting: This type of pain causes a twisting feeling in the stomach and make a person fully uncomfortable.
- Pulsing: In this condition, pain occurs like a regular rhythm that coincides with the heartbeat.
Causes of Left Side Stomach Pain
There are various factors that causes pain in the left side of the stomach. These factors are disease and injury. In several conditions a serious medical problem shows mild discomfort. Due to this reason, it is necessary to investigate the proper cause behind the left-side stomach pain. Some serious as well as minor factors that contribute to left side stomach pain are:
- Diverticulitis: In this condition, inflammation occurs in the small pouches in the colon. It is one of the common causes of left lower side stomach pain.
- Gastritis: Sometimes, inflammation in the lining of the stomach can also cause pain in the left side of the abdomen.
- Indigestion and Gas: If stomach produces excessive acid, then it also causes twisted pain in the left side of the abdomen.
- Kidney Stones: Kidney stones also cause sharp left-sided abdominal pain.
- Pancreatitis: Some pancreatitis issues also cause acute upper left side abdominal pain.
Some Common Left Side Stomach Pain Causes in Men as well as Female
Common Causes in Men
- Testicular Torsion: In this condition spermatic cord bends and stops the flow of blood supply to the testicles.
- Prostatitis: This condition occurs due to inflammation of the prostate gland.
- Inguinal Hernia: This condition is occurs when intestine forms a bulging mass in the groin area.
Common Causes in Women
- Ovarian Cysts: It is a fluid-filled sac developed on the ovaries. If it become large, then cause serious problem along with left side abdominal pain.
- Endometriosis: In this disease, uterine-like tissues grow out of the uterus. This tissue can grow to the intestine and cause pain.
- Ectopic Pregnancy: When a fertilised egg grow outside of the uterus in a fallopian tube. It cause serious problem along with symptoms of left side stomach pain.
How to Prevent Pain in the Left Side of the Stomach?
You can’t prevent all causes of stomach pain. However, a patient can reduce as well as prevent the left side abdominal pain that arises due to mild and common causes. To prevent the pain in the left side of the abdomen, you can do the following things.
- A patient should eat food items that provide nutrition.
- Drink enough amount of water to remove the toxic elements from the body.
- Eat food items that contain a rich amount of fibre.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking so that your stomach can recover easily.
- Always do some easy exercise to relieve stomach pain and bowel movement problem.
Diagnosis of Left-Side Abdominal Pain
To know the underlying cause of the left side of the stomach pain, doctors take various diagnostic tests. Because a proper diagnosis helps in the treatment of the patient.
Here is the comprehensive approach to diagnosing the left side abdominal pain:
Medical Assessment
- See the detailed clinical history and do physical examination of the patient.
- Your doctor also sees the duration and factors that may accelerate the symptoms.
Evaluation to Identify the Cause
- Blood test to determine the wrong thing happen in the body, such as infection and inflammation.
- A urine test to determine the functioning of the kidneys and detect infections.
- Healthcare provider also use imaging techniques such as X-ray, CT-scan, and ultrasound to examine the internal anatomy of the body.
- Doctor also perform some colonoscopy and endoscopy processes to directly examine what is wrong with the gastrointestinal tract.
How is Left Side Abdominal Pain Treated?
If abdominal pain persists for more than a week, then it requires immediate treatment to correct the root cause. Here are some strategies to treat the left-side abdominal pain:
- Gas Relief: If your problem occurs due to gas, then, lot of solutions and medications are available to break down the gas bubble and provide relief.
- Diverticulitis Management: Diverticulitis can be managed by using the antibiotics to fight with the infections along with some dietary adjustments.
- Appendicitis: It generally requires the urgent surgical process to remove the inflamed appendix.
- Kidney Stone Treatment: By using the medications, a patient gets relief from the pain that occurs due to a kidney stone. As well as proper hydration is required to facilitate the stone passage for easier elimination.
- Constipation Relief: To eliminate the pain that occurs due to constipation requires proper modifications in the lifestyle.
- Ulcer Management: To reduce the symptoms of ulcers, a patient’s needs proper medications and lifestyle modifications.
When to Consult a Doctor about Left Side Stomach Pain?
Less severe abdominal pain can be managed and prevented with some home remedies and lifestyle changes. But some symptoms cannot be ignored and require medical treatment.
A patient must need a doctor if they see any of these symptoms:
- Weight Loss: If you feel sudden weight loss, then it can be a sign of cancer and gastrointestinal disorders. Patient requires proper medical support in this condition.
- Severe Stomach Pain: Continuous stomach pain for more than a day can be due to gastric ulcer.
- Pain along with Fever: If stomach pain with fever occur then it indicates that your body is fighting with infection.
- Nausea and Vomiting: Continuous nausea and vomiting with pain is due to gastritis and intestinal blockage.
- Changes in Bowel Movements: If you feel diarrhea and constipation for more than few days. Then it indicates a certain digestive disorder.
- Difficulty in Breathing with Chest Pain: If a patient feel chest pain with difficulty in breathing, then it can be a symptom of severe heart problem.
Conclusion
Sometimes people think left-side stomach pain is a normal problem and ignore it. But persistent pain that occurs for more than a day can be a cause of serious illness. A proper diagnosis and treatment are required to reduce these symptoms. I hope this blog helps you to understand the sources of stomach pain and helps in its prevention.