Introduction
Abdominal pain and nausea are often closely related, but can also occur as individual symptoms. Abdominal pain usually indicates a problem in the abdomen. This can range from a simple stomach upset in the sense of “eating something wrong”, through gastrointestinal infection and organ damage, to malignant tumours. Depending on the cause, the abdominal pain manifests itself in different areas of the abdomen and with different pain characteristics.
General information
Often nausea is accompanied by abdominal pain, which in some cases leads to vomiting. This serves to protect the body. If the stomach is upset or there is a gastrointestinal infection, it is not advisable to eat a lot of food.
The appetite for it is usually suppressed by the nausea anyway. Nausea therefore arises in the brain. The brain signals to the body through the nausea that something is wrong or different.
The brain can recognize this because it receives signals from all organs of the body. Even from the gastrointestinal tract. If it receives the information that the person concerned has spoiled his or her stomach, the vomiting centre in the brain is activated.
In addition, the sense of balance and the psyche can also send signals to the brain and cause nausea. At the same time as nausea is triggered, the vomiting centre in the brain also activates other regions of the body. This explains why nausea is often accompanied by other symptoms such as increased salivation, paleness and sweating.
Causes for abdominal pain and nausea
The possible causes of abdominal pain and nausea are very diverse. Both are merely symptoms that can be caused by various underlying diseases. If the abdominal pain occurs at a certain point of the abdomen, organic causes can be at the root of the problem.
An irritable stomach, stomach ulcers, liver disease or gallstones are possible causes of abdominal pain in the upper abdomen. Ulcers or inflammation of other parts of the intestine can also cause complaints. This also includes malignant tumours, for example in the stomach or pancreas.
Appendicitis or chronic intestinal diseases are possible causes of abdominal pain in the lower abdomen. If the abdominal pain occurs in the entire abdominal area, it can be triggered by a gastrointestinal infection, which often occurs in conjunction with nausea. The stomach can also be irritated by certain influences, such as alcohol or medication, which can cause abdominal pain and nausea. A harmless cause of stomach ache and nausea is the so-called travel sickness. In addition, both can be an early sign of pregnancy.
Associated symptoms
Abdominal pain and nausea can occur together with various other complaints. These include: Diarrhoea (medical: diarrhoea) Flatulence (medical: meteorism) Vomiting (medical: vomiting) Weight loss Loss of appetite Taut abdominal wall Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
- Diarrhoea (medical: diarrhoea)
- Flatulence (medical: meteorism)
- Vomiting (medical: vomiting)
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Tense abdominal wall
- Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
Abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting can cause many clinical pictures. Probably the most common underlying problem is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
In most cases this is caused by viral or bacterial pathogens. The infections and thus also the symptoms usually subside by themselves. However, severe diarrhoea can lead to a fluid and electrolyte deficiency, which should be compensated symptomatically by sufficient food and fluid.
The stool is often infectious in intestinal infections, as the body excretes the pathogens in this way. Therefore, adequate toilet hygiene should be ensured. In rare cases, a dangerous intestinal obstruction can also be the cause of the symptoms.
Triggered by tumours, intestinal infarctions or numerous other clinical pictures, intestinal obstruction can lead to severe abdominal pain, nausea with vomiting, as well as constipation and diarrhoea in alternation. Flatulence is a common symptom in combination with abdominal pain and nausea. Often only normal digestive processes are behind the symptoms, which lead to increased gas formation in the intestine.
Some foods and behaviours can promote the formation of intestinal gases and increase the symptoms. In particular, pulses, alcoholic and carbonated drinks, foods containing lactose or fructose, as well as products containing gluten, can promote bloating and flatulence. Inactivity, lack of exercise, large-volume meals and insufficient chewing also promote the formation of intestinal gases.
Headaches can be accompanied by abdominal pain and nausea in several clinical pictures. Digestive problems and infections of the gastrointestinal tract can cause the abdominal pain and nausea. If vomiting and diarrhoea are added, an intestinal infection can be assumed, which can be accompanied by severe fluid loss.
Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, loss of consciousness can be the result of the lack of fluid. Headaches can also occur in turn with nausea and discomfort in the stomach. The clinical picture of migraine can, for example, affect centres in the brain that cause symptoms in the stomach and intestines, for example nausea.
This shows that headaches can be closely related to intestinal complaints. However, the combination of abdominal pain, nausea and headaches can also cause too much stress. Our psyche is closely linked to our physical condition and can then trigger such unspecific symptoms.
In everyday life, therefore, make sure that you do not overload yourself and take enough breaks. Dizziness often occurs together with nausea. Abdominal pain can be caused by the increased movement of the stomach lining associated with nausea.
The cause can also be a migraine attack, for which nausea and dizziness are particularly typical. Dizziness can be a warning symptom of an acute disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Dizziness is in many cases caused by a lack of electrolytes and fluids.
This can occur particularly in nausea with vomiting and diarrhoea in the context of an acute gastrointestinal infection. The quickest possible intake of fluids and food should be made in cases of dizziness and impending fainting. A stomach ulcer could also be the cause of the symptoms.
The ulcer destroys the stomach lining and is attacked by stomach acid. This can lead to abdominal pain and nausea, as well as a circulatory weakness. In rare cases, dizziness can also be caused by diseases of the inner ear.
In these cases, the dizziness is primarily caused by a malfunction of the vestibular organs and can subsequently cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, which are closely related to dizziness. However, the symptoms mentioned are very unspecific. You should consult a doctor for a reliable clarification.
Fatigue is a very unspecific symptom that can indicate many different clinical pictures. Tiredness can be a normal reaction of the body to various disease processes. Both temporary harmless infections of the intestines and chronic disease processes can strain the body’s powers and lead to fatigue.
Long-lasting fatigue, together with weakness, dizziness and fainting, can be a warning symptom for disease patterns that develop dangerously. These can also include gastrointestinal infections with severe water and energy loss. Digestive problems, for example, can lead to deficiencies and thus to fatigue due to the disturbed absorption and utilization of food.
Diarrhoea, for example, can often lead to a lack of potassium, which makes you tired. Furthermore, fatigue and exhaustion is an accompanying symptom of gluten intolerance (coeliac disease). Crohn’s disease or diverticula of the small intestine, on the other hand, often lead to anaemia, which results in vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency, which then causes fatigue.
In some cases, abdominal pain can be accompanied by back pain. The cause can be in the abdominal area as well as in the back. Back pain can therefore radiate into the abdominal cavity and obscure an actually orthopaedic symptom on the back.
On the other hand, diseases in the abdomen can be mistakenly perceived as back pain. This is due to the fact that altered organs such as a stool-filled intestine, bleeding, tumour or diseases of the pancreas, spleen or liver can put pressure on the spine and cause pain. If the abdominal pain radiates into the back and is accompanied by nausea or digestive problems, this can also indicate an inflammation of the pancreas, a so-called pancreatitis.
In addition, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach could cause the problems. Also in the case of gallstones, the abdominal pain can spread to the back up to the right shoulder blade. In rare cases, back pain in the area of the lumbar vertebrae can also occur in the case of appendicitis.
You suspect an inflammation of the pancreas as the cause of your symptoms?fever associated with abdominal pain and nausea are typical symptoms of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). The abdominal pain is colicky and located in the upper abdomen. In addition to the nausea, patients usually experience a feeling of fullness and loss of appetite.
Another cause of fever can be the so-called “acute abdomen“. It is usually also conspicuous by a tense abdominal wall and is an umbrella term for various diseases. These include intestinal obstruction or the perforation of an organ by an ulcer.
The acute abdomen is an urgent emergency and a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. You want to diagnose an intestinal obstruction?heartburn is a very common and widespread symptom in the western world, which is caused by an overproduction of stomach acid with reflux into the esophagus. There can be various causes behind this, but in most cases the production of stomach acid is triggered by the consumption of stimulants such as fatty foods, nicotine, caffeine and alcohol.
In the long term, damage to the sphincter muscle of the oesophagus can occur, which promotes permanent heartburn. If heartburn occurs more than 2-3 times a week, a medical examination is strongly recommended. In the long term, the unpleasant heartburn can develop into a change in the mucous membrane of the oesophagus with a significantly increased risk of cancer.
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