Abdominal pain

Abdominal pain related to digestion: Guide to causes

Abdominal pain is an extremely broad symptom. However, when the pain is specifically related to the digestive organs, it often has certain characteristics that help suspect its source. It may be pain that occurs after eating, accompanied by indigestion, bloating, or changes in bowel movements. Understanding the relationship between the type of pain, its location, and the function of a particular organ is key to diagnosis.

Types of pain and their significance

• Spasms/colics: Wave‑like pain that alternately intensifies and lessens. Usually associated with contraction of the smooth muscle of hollow organs, such as the intestine (in constipation or gas) or the bile ducts (biliary colic).
• Burning pain: Often described as "heartburn". Usually linked to irritation of the mucous membrane by stomach acid, as in gastritis, ulcer disease, or gastro‑esophageal reflux.
• Dull, aching pain: Often a sign of inflammation of parenchymal organs, such as the liver (hepatitis) or pancreas (pancreatitis).

Common causes of digestion‑related pain

• Functional dyspepsia and gas: Feeling of heaviness, fullness, bloating after meals.
• Gastroenteritis and food poisoning: Usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Appendicitis: Classically begins with a dull pain around the navel that later moves to the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, becoming sharp and constant.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Chronic functional disorder characterized by abdominal pain associated with changes in frequency or consistency of bowel movements.

Read more about abdominal pain in general on the page "Abdominal pain".