Pain in the left upper abdomen | Pain on the left side of the body

Pain in the left upper abdomen

Pain on the left side of the body in the upper abdomen can be explained by various causes. The stomach is located in this area. Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the stomach, stomach ulcers, stomach tumors and other pathologies of the organ often manifest themselves through pain in the left upper abdomen.

The pancreas can also cause pain in this area in case of inflammation. Typically, these then move around the upper body in a belt shape. Of course, a part of the intestine is also located in the left upper abdomen, from where the pain can originate.

Pain is often caused by digestive problems with increased gas formation. The excess gas can lead to intestinal cramps and cause severe pain. A pinched nerve or a muscular problem are also possible. In addition, elderly people with left-sided upper abdominal pain should consider atypical symptoms of a heart attack, especially if they experience shortness of breath and pressure on the chest or nausea.

Pain in the left lower abdomen

Pain on the left side of the body, which is concentrated on the left lower abdomen, occurs, for example, in various intestinal diseases. Older people often suffer from a so-called sigmoid diverticulitis. This involves protrusions of the intestinal mucosa in a certain section of the colon, in which stool accumulates.

These excrement bales can lead to inflammation of the intestinal mucosa in this area. The typical symptom is severe lower abdominal pain on the left side. In younger people, an inflammatory bowel disease may be considered, especially if the pain is accompanied by diarrhea, mucous and blood loss.

Last but not least a hernia should be considered. Here, tissue or intestine bulges outwards through a gap in the abdominal wall and can become trapped. In addition, the ureters, which conduct the urine from the kidney into the bladder, run through the lower abdomen on both sides.

Various circumstances can lead to the formation of kidney stones, which can then get stuck in the ureter. Strong, sudden pain is the result, which is usually cramping in the lower abdomen or groin area. Another possibility for left-sided lower abdominal pain is that the pain originates from the internal sexual organs. In women, the cause often lies in the ovaries.