Pain in the left part of the stomach: causes, symptoms and solutions

Sometimes, "out of nowhere" a discomfort localized to the left side of the stomach appears.. It can result in temporary pain, or it begins to occur frequently, although at other times the pain persists and only increases or decreases in intensity over time.

The causes of pain in the left side of the stomach can have various origins. Several organs are located in this area, any of them can be the cause of pain and it must be recognized in order to solve it effectively.

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Symptoms and signs of pain in the left side of the stomach

Symptoms and type of pain may indicate the source of discomfort. It is necessary to identify if the pain is stabbing, constant, if it is rather burning, if it appears suddenly or goes from mild to intense or if it appears together with other pain or discomfort.

Pain in the left side of the stomach may indicate a simple temporary discomfort, but if it is accompanied by fever, vomiting, fainting or sudden weight loss, we must go to the doctor immediately so that he can assess our Health.

1. Gastritis

Gastritis is one of the most common causes of pain in the left side of the stomach. It is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach, and although its clearest symptom is pain in the upper stomach can also occur in other areas involving the entire apparatus digestive.

The symptoms of gastritis is a stabbing pain and a lot of burning. Vomiting and even bleeding may also occur. This pain can come after a period of consumption of drugs that usually irritate the gastrointestinal walls, or of the consumption of spicy or very greasy foods, as well as prolonged intake of alcoholic beverages.

When gastritis is in the early stages, or the pain and burning that it causes appear in sporadic, dietary changes and changes in health habits are sufficient to counteract the discomforts. Eliminating greasy and spicy foods, drinking water and quitting carbonated drinks, and consuming probiotics will help eliminate gastritis.

On the contrary, if the burning and pain in the left part of the stomach is constant, even each time some food is ingested the discomfort appears, and if it is accompanied by vomiting or black stools or with blood, then a medical consultation is required to start with some studies and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

2. Kidney stones

Kidney stones cause pain when they try to be expelled from the body. This may be the cause of pain in the left side of the stomach. Sometimes hardened deposits form in the kidney, the body looks for a way to expel them and they exit through the urethra and bladder causing great pain in their wake. This is one of the reasons why pain may appear on the left side of the abdomen.

Kidney stones have a variety of symptoms. The pain that occurs is not constant, it manifests itself suddenly and varying in intensity. In addition, there is discomfort when urinating, and the pain goes from the abdomen and towards the ribs. Along with this, urine of a very dark or even pink color and a very unpleasant odor may occur.

Although kidney stones cause severe pain and a lot of discomfort, they can resolve over a period of weeks. However, it is necessary to remain vigilant in case of complications. During this period, it is advisable to drink a lot of water and you can help with an analgesic to make the process more bearable.

However, if the kidney stones cause too much pain to the point of not being able to sit still and there is also a fever, blood in the urine or there is nausea and vomiting, then medical attention is required as it can be very large kidney stones that require special treatment to facilitate expulsion.

3. Intestinal obstruction

A partial bowel obstruction can cause pain in the left side of the stomach. When the intestine cannot expel stool or gas, inflammation occurs and this causes pain and discomfort. Severe constipation or some medications can cause this intestinal obstruction.

The type of pain that occurs when there is a bowel obstruction is like a constant, intense twinge. In addition, there is obvious abdominal bloating and general malaise, along with an inability to evacuate or pass gas. In more severe cases, extreme weakness, in addition to vomiting and high fever, can occur regularly due to a total intestinal obstruction.

When the intestinal obstruction is partial, it is not considered serious, although if the discomfort persists despite applying some solutions, a doctor should be consulted. Increasing your water intake, ingesting light and preferably natural laxatives, massaging the abdomen, and consuming fiber can help dissolve the obstruction.

However, if these solutions do not work, if the pain is very severe and is accompanied by fever, vomiting or fainting, you should go to the emergency room because there is the possibility that it is a total intestinal obstruction, in which case it requires urgent medical treatment so as not to aggravate the situation.

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4. Pancreatitis

The most common cause of pain in the left side of the stomach is pancreatitis. It is an inflammation of the pancreas that can be sudden or chronic, and in either case, immediate medical attention is required as it can be serious.

Pancreatitis pain often appears suddenly. It is a very intense and very well localized twinge in the left part of the stomach, which is where it is located. It is often accompanied by vomiting or fever. Pain can also appear suddenly and disappear, but appear randomly for several years, even.

Any clear symptoms of pancreatitis require medical attention. Even if the pain "comes and goes" and does not increase in intensity. This is because you may need immediate treatment that does not aggravate the situation or delay the deterioration of this organ. For this reason, a pain in the left area of ​​the stomach requires a medical examination.

But if the pain is sudden and very intense to the degree of being disabling and it is also very well located on the left side of the stomach, it is best to go urgently as immediate medical attention may be required to determine if hospitalization.

5. Irritable bowel

Irritable bowel causes pain on the left side of the abdomen. When it comes to irritable bowel, it can be easily detected as there is relief in pain on the left side once it has been evacuated. When it produces pain on the left side, it is because it is the descending colon that is damaged.

The pain caused by the irritable bowel is sharp and continuous, the discomfort regularly appears in a moderate way and increases without becoming excessively painful. It remains like this until there is expulsion of stool and regularly the pain disappears at that time completely.

Along with this twinge, there may be constipation or alternate episodes of diarrhea and constipation. This is usually the clearest symptom, along with pain in the left side, of irritable bowel disease. In this situation, it is best to start a change in eating habits and emotional health to reduce stress.

There are also medications that can help relieve discomfort. In this case, it is best to go to a consultation and examine the symptoms in a particular way, in this way you can determine which is the best treatment to follow. Although irritable bowel does not represent a serious problem, it is always advisable to take care of it to avoid major problems.

Bibliographic references

• Hansen, John T. (2019). 4: Abdomen ". Netter's Clinical Anatomy, 4e. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.
• Masters, Philip (2015). IM Essentials. American College of Physicians.
• Tytgat GN (2007). Hyoscine butylbromide: a review of its use in the treatment of abdominal cramping and pain. Drugs. 67 (9): 1343–57.