Sometimes, “out of nowhere” a localized discomfort appears on the left side of the stomach.. It may result in a passing pain, or it may begin 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 the pain and it is necessary to recognize it in order to solve it effectively.
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Symptoms and signs of pain in the left side of the stomach
The symptoms and type of pain can indicate the origin of the 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 pains or discomfort.
Pain in the left part of the stomach may indicate a simple passing discomfort, but if it is accompanied by fever, vomiting, fainting or sudden weight loss, then we must go immediately to the doctor 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 stomach lining, and although its clearest symptom is pain in the upper part of the stomach, it can also occur in other areas involving the entire digestive system.
The symptoms of gastritis are a stabbing pain and a lot of burning. Vomiting and even bleeding may also occur. This pain may occur after a period of consumption of drugs that tend to irritate the gastrointestinal walls, or the consumption of spicy or very fatty foods, as well as the prolonged intake of alcoholic beverages.
When gastritis is in early stages, or the pain and burning it causes occur sporadically, dietary changes and health habits are enough to counteract the discomfort. Eliminating greasy and spicy foods, drinking water and giving up carbonated beverages 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 every time food is ingested, and if it is accompanied by vomiting or black or bloody stools, 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 organism.. This can be the cause of pain in the left side of the stomach. Sometimes hardened deposits are formed in the kidney, the body looks for a way to expel them and they come out through the urethra and bladder causing great pain as they pass. This is one of the reasons why pain may appear on the left side of the abdomen.
Kidney stones present a variety of symptoms. The pain that occurs is not constant, it manifests 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 there may be urine that is very dark or even pink in color and has a very unpleasant odor.
Although kidney stones cause severe pain and a lot of discomfort, they may resolve over a period of weeks. However, it is important to remain vigilant in case of complications. During this period it is advisable to drink a lot of water and an analgesic can help 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 fever, blood in the urine or nausea and vomiting, then medical attention is required because they may be very large kidney stones that require special treatment to facilitate expulsion.
3. Intestinal obstruction
A partial intestinal obstruction may 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 certain medications can cause this intestinal obstruction.
The type of pain that occurs when there is an intestinal obstruction is like an intense and constant stabbing. In addition, there is obvious abdominal bloating and general discomfort, along with an inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas. In more severe cases, extreme weakness may be present, along with vomiting and high fever, usually due to a total intestinal obstruction.
When the intestinal obstruction is partial, it is not considered serious, although if the discomfort persists in spite of applying some solutions, a doctor should be consulted. Increasing 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 intense and is accompanied by fever, vomiting or fainting, you should go to the emergency room because there is a possibility that it is a total intestinal obstruction, in which case it requires urgent medical treatment to avoid aggravating the situation.
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4. Pancreatitis
The most common cause of pain in the left side of the stomach is pancreatitis.. This is an inflammation of the pancreas that can be sudden or chronic, and in either case immediate medical attention is required because it can be serious.
It is common for pancreatitis pain to appear suddenly. It is a very intense and very well localized twinge on the left side of the stomach, which is where it is located. It is frequently accompanied by vomiting or fever. Pain may also occur suddenly and disappear, but may be present randomly for several years or even years.
Any clear symptoms of pancreatitis require medical attention. Even if the pain “comes and goes” and does not increase in intensity. This is because it 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 check-up.
But if the pain is sudden and very intense to the point of being disabling and 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 is required.
5. Irritable colon
Irritable colon causes pain on the left side of the abdomen.. When it is an irritable colon, it can be easily detected because there is a relief of 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 irritable bowel syndrome is stabbing and continuous, the discomfort appears regularly in a moderate form and increases without becoming painful in excess. It remains so until there is expulsion of feces and regularly the pain disappears at that time completely.
Along with this twinge there may be constipation or alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation. This is usually the clearest symptom, together with the pain in the left side, that one suffers from irritable colon. In this situation, the best thing to do is to start a change of eating habits and emotional health to reduce stress.
There are also medications that can help alleviate the discomfort. In this case, the best thing to do is to go for a consultation and examine the symptoms individually, in order to determine the best treatment to follow. Although irritable colon does not represent a serious problem, it is always advisable to take care of it to avoid major problems.