Pain in the middle of the upper abdomen

Any pain or discomfort that occurs in the area from the costal arch to the navel is referred to as upper abdomen pain. The upper abdomen is divided into three sections: the right upper abdomen, the middle upper abdomen and the left upper abdomen. Pain that occurs in a certain area of the upper abdomen can indicate diseases of various organs. Pain in the central upper abdomen is less frequent than pain in the right upper abdomen, but still requires urgent clarification by a doctor. In most cases they are caused by diseases of the stomach, which is located in this area, or by pathological changes in the pancreas.

Localization

Pain in the middle upper abdomen sometimes cannot be distinguished directly from the right and left sides. Therefore, pain caused by organs of the right or left upper abdomen may sometimes radiate to the middle and manifest there. If the abdominal pain is strongest in the middle, this may be an indication of gastritis. Is the pain more under the ribs?

Right

Central upper abdominal pain, which tends to orient itself towards the right upper abdomen, can indicate various diseases. An acute stabbing and pulling pain can be caused by an inflammation of the gall bladder. If these complaints occur after eating and have a collicular character, they may be gallstones. Pain can also be caused by the liver on the right side, sometimes radiating to the middle upper abdomen. The causes can be hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver.

Left side pain

Pain in the middle of the upper abdomen, which is more oriented towards the left upper abdomen, can also be an expression of a disease of the spleen, which is characterized by a severe swelling of the organ.

Causes

There are various causes that can trigger central upper abdominal pain. In many cases, the pain is caused by the stomach or pancreas. The most common cause of central upper abdominal pain is stomach disorders.

An acute inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis) can occur after a high-fat meal or increased alcohol consumption. Inflammation of the stomach mucosa can also be caused by the colonization of the stomach with a certain bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Any acute inflammation can also develop into a chronic irritation of the stomach lining, which then causes symptoms over a longer period of time.

A stomach ulcer or an ulcer in the area of the duodenum can also cause central upper abdominal pain. Another disease whose symptoms are projected onto the central upper abdomen is the inflammation of the pancreas. The most common cause of this is an increased consumption of alcohol over a longer period of time.

Tumorous changes can also be a cause. Inflammation of the lung skin may in some cases project onto the upper abdomen. It is always important to remember that a heart attack or inflammation of the pericardium can also cause pain in the central upper abdomen.

Aortic aneurysm can also be a possible source of pain. Parts of the intestine that are located in the upper abdomen can also cause problems there. This can be caused by flatulence as well as inflammation or an infarction of a part of the intestine.