Nearly everyone will experience some kind of stomach pain at one point in their lives and sometimes pain that is very painful. Pain in the stomach area can range from a slight stomach ache to severe pain. It can often be nonspecific and can be caused by many different conditions. There are many causes that are not usually serious and can be quickly diagnosed and treated. On the other hand, pain can also be a sign of a much serious problem. It is important to recognize and evaluate your symptoms and know when they are serious enough to see a doctor.

Many times abdominal pain may be caused by a particular organ in the body:
~Organs that aid in digestion- stomach, small intestines, large intestines, gallbladder, pancreas, liver and the end of the esophagus.
~The aorta- the large blood vessel running down the inside of the abdomen.
~The kidneys- two organs shaped like beans that are located deep in the abdominal cavity.
~The appendix- an organ found in the lower right abdomen and does not serve much function for the body.
~Spleen- the body’s organ involved in controlling infection and blood maintenance.

These are only some areas of the body that may be causing sharp stomach pain; the pain may also start in areas of the pelvic and the chest. The body may also have a generalized infection, like strep throat or the flu that can affect many different parts of the body.

Sharp stomach pain can have many different causes. Just a few include: indigestion, constipation, menstrual cramps, food allergies, food poisoning, gas, ulcers, hernia, gallstones, urinary tract infection and many more. Some of these can cause very painful stomach pain and will sometimes go away on their own.

If stomach pain is considered severe or if it accompanied by any of the following, it is important to contact a doctor right away:
~Fever
~Vomiting blood
~Bloody stools
~Difficulty breathing
~Inability to pass stools
~Painful urination
~Pain while pregnant
~Pain lasting several days
~Pain from injury to the stomach

The symptoms listed above can be indications of a possible internal issue that requires immediate treatment. Many times is important not to overlook sharp pains in the stomach. You need to evaluate your pain, consider how long the pain has lasted and call a doctor when needed.

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