Introduction
Abdominal pain and headaches are two symptoms that can occur both independently of each other and together. They can be triggered by different causes and occur together with other symptoms. A common cause of these two unspecific symptoms is psychological stress or other severe psychological stress that hits your head and stomach.
A flu-like infection also often makes itself felt through these symptoms and is usually harmless. Many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can be accompanied by abdominal pain and headaches, but the symptoms vary from person to person. The so-called irritable bowel syndrome, for example, can make itself felt through stomach aches and headaches, which often occur after eating.
Irritable bowel syndrome is often triggered by severe psychological strain and stress. An infection of the intestinal tract with bacteria can also be a possible cause. For example, a typhoid infection caused by salmonella causes headaches in addition to stomach ache.
In the second week of the illness, fever is added. A doctor should be consulted immediately. A typhus infection is notifiable. In addition, severe migraines can also cause abdominal pain.
Causes
The most common cause of abdominal pain and headaches is a gastrointestinal infection caused by viruses or bacteria. Depending on age and accompanying symptoms, different pathogens may be involved. Small children in particular are often affected by such infections.
The most common pathogens are rotaviruses, noroviruses and adenoviruses. Even after travelling to distant countries, gastrointestinal infections can occur in large numbers. The imminent or incipient menstruation can also be a cause of headache and abdominal pain in women.
This is harmless and should be treated symptomatically. In addition, this complex of symptoms often occurs in connection with stress or other psychological strain. The saying “something hits us in the stomach” does not come from somewhere, but is true.
If we are in a very stressful emotional situation, this can cause stomach pain. Headaches can also be caused by the high level of tension. A migraine attack can also be the cause. This is often accompanied by sensitivity to light and/or nausea. Pregnancy can also cause these symptoms.
Other accompanying symptoms
If abdominal pain and headaches occur as symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection, they are often accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting. Diarrhoea is also a common accompanying symptom. Particularly in pre-menopausal women, abdominal pain and headaches can also be accompanied by back pain, just before or during menstruation.
If the headaches are very severe and neck stiffness is added, this is an indication of the presence of meningitis and is in urgent need of treatment. Especially in children who complain of abdominal pain, all serious diseases should be excluded. Children are not yet able to localise pain so precisely and almost always report abdominal pain.
Especially in connection with nausea, abdominal pain and headaches can occur during a migraine attack. The migraine often makes itself felt through various symptoms before the onset of the severe headache, but these symptoms vary from person to person. Often nausea and abdominal pain are then triggered by the severe headaches.
In addition, there is often a sensitivity to light. Headaches and abdominal pain can be treated symptomatically with medication. Often the affected persons take special medication against migraine before the symptoms occur in order to keep the extent of the complaints as low as possible.
Migraine affects women much more often than men. If a woman complains of abdominal pain and headaches, which are accompanied by nausea and occur without a recognisable cause, the possibility of pregnancy should be considered. Abdominal pain and nausea in particular are among the early signs of pregnancy and the hormonal changes in the female body can also explain the headaches.
These complaints usually disappear by themselves after the first three months of pregnancy. If aching limbs are added to the headaches and abdominal pain, they are usually the first signs of influenza. The effects of influenza on the human body vary greatly, and the symptoms can also vary.
Aching limbs in combination with headaches and abdominal pain usually lead to a general feeling of discomfort. A lot of rest and the avoidance of physically heavy activities are advisable here, then the flu infection should disappear by itself. In addition, a balanced diet with plenty of vitamin C should be ensured, for example by eating lots of fruit and vegetables.
The flu is usually triggered by viruses, more rarely by bacteria. It is not the rule that stomach aches occur in the case of a flu-like infection. This could indicate a bacterial infection that also affects the lungs.
It is advisable for the doctor to clarify the situation so that a possible pneumonia can be detected early and treated accordingly. If fever is added to the headache and abdominal pain, a clarification by the doctor is advisable. There is a possibility that these symptoms occur in the context of a typhoid disease.
This disease is transmitted by salmonella and is usually triggered by contaminated food. In addition to the abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea also occur. However, fever, headache and abdominal pain can also occur as symptoms of a flu-like infection that affects the gastrointestinal tract and is caused by viruses.
Diarrhoea is often added to this. Such a flu-like infection is usually harmless and will subside by itself after a few days if you get enough rest and a light diet. A vitamin C-rich diet can help to strengthen the immune system and accelerate healing.
Abdominal pain, headaches and fatigue are often an expression of stress and psychological overload. Whether stress at work, at home, private worries and problems, all these can lead to these symptoms and are often dismissed as harmless by those affected. However, it is important to interpret these symptoms correctly and to fight the cause so that serious or chronic illnesses, such as a stomach ulcer, can develop.
Women should always think of a possible existing pregnancy if they experience sudden, persistent tiredness and abdominal pain, which may be accompanied by vomiting. Due to the hormonal change, many women complain of fatigue, especially in the early stages. Children in particular suffer from sore throats and headaches in connection with a general feeling of illness and stomach ache.
A sore throat in addition to abdominal pain and headaches is probably due to an infection that has affected both the gastrointestinal tract and the upper airways. Usually such an infection is viral, this is especially the case in children. Viral infections are usually harmless and disappear again after a few days if the patient is sufficiently rested.
Abdominal pain is not necessarily associated with influenza, but is a possible symptom. However, if the infection is caused by bacteria, the symptoms are usually more pronounced than with a viral infection. For example, an infection is triggered by the group of bacteria called streptococci, which are responsible for scarlet fever.
The occurrence of abdominal pain and headaches associated with vomiting is a common symptom complex in early pregnancy. Due to the change in the hormone balance in the female body caused by the fertilised egg, the body can react with these symptoms to the beginning of pregnancy. Usually, however, these symptoms disappear by themselves after the first 3 months of pregnancy.
If the vomiting is considerable, a doctor should be consulted, as there is a risk of excessive fluid loss. In this case, something should be done to prevent vomiting or nausea, in order to avoid possible harm to the unborn child and the expectant mother. Abdominal pain, headaches and back pain are a typical symptom complex for women during or shortly before menstruation.
The rejection of the lining of the uterus, which is responsible for the bleeding, can cause abdominal cramps that spread to the back. Headaches and nausea can also occur. These complaints usually last for about 2 to 4 days and can be treated with painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol if the pain is very severe.
Pregnancy can also cause these complaints, so if your period does not occur, a test should be carried out and/or you should consult your gynaecologist. In addition, headaches and abdominal pain associated with back pain can be an indication of a tumour in the abdomen in men and women. Pancreatic cancer, for example, typically manifests itself in pain that radiates in a belt-shaped form into the back.
Abdominal pain and headaches associated with diarrhoea are characteristic signs of a gastrointestinal infection. In most cases, this is caused by viruses, more rarely by bacteria. A viral infection is usually harmless and subsides by itself after a few days.
A lot of rest, avoidance of physical activity and a light diet are helpful. If the diarrhoea is very fluid, occurs frequently or lasts longer than three days, a doctor should be consulted. Here there may be a risk of dehydration due to excessive fluid loss. The diarrhoea should then be stopped and it may be necessary to drink electrolyte solutions to counteract the loss of fluid.
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