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Health

Pain in the pit of stomach

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Discomfort sensations in the epigastric / epigastric zone (the area below the xiphoid process, corresponding to the projection of the stomach on the wall of the peritoneum) is commonly called pain in the pit of the stomach.

If you draw an imaginary horizontal line at the level of the lower edge of the ribs and also outline the bottom of the rib arch, then the triangular region obtained will correspond to epigastrium.

Pain in the pit of stomach, depending on the localization of the clinical syndrome, serves as a reference point for establishing a diagnosis.

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Causes of the pain in the pit of stomach

The exact location of the pain syndrome helps to identify the disease, and consequently, the causes of pain in the pit of the stomach.

Diseases that cause discomfort in the epigastric zone: 

  • pain from the side of the hypochondrium to the right can be caused by the defeat of the diaphragm, duodenum, esophagus, part of the stomach, dysfunction of the liver and bile ducts, pancreas, in case of problems with the cardiac and pulmonary system; 
  • pain on the left - the cause of development of hiatal hernia, pancreatitis or gastritis. Discomfort occurs with constipation, diseases of the spleen, large intestine, and with problems with the lungs, pyelonephritis, disorders of the urinary system; 
  • acute appendicitis; 
  • an attack of pancreatitis; 
  • myocardial infarction in gastralgic form; 
  • inflammatory processes (pleurisy) or air congestion (pneumothorax) in the pleura; 
  • purulent peritonitis (infection of the abdominal region and intestinal paresis); 
  • perforation of the ulcer; 
  • hepatic colic; 
  • infectious diseases; 
  • intoxication;
  • disease of the Crimean hemorrhagic fever (pathogens mites); 
  • typhus.

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Symptoms

Attack of appendicitis proceeds with a sharp, constant type of pain in the pit of the stomach and spread to the umbilical zone. Then the pain is localized in the ileum with a significant muscle tension.

Pain in the pit of the shingles is a consequence of acute pancreatitis. Deterioration comes after taking fatty foods and alcohol. There is frequent vomiting of bile, which does not relieve the condition.

With gestralgic form of myocardial infarction, rather acute pain initially manifests itself in the epigastric region, embracing the heart region and the scapula. There is a decrease in pressure, rapidity and arrhythmic pulse. The patient maintains a sedentary state in order to reduce soreness.

Pneumonia basal type (the location of the focus - the lower segments of the lungs) and pleurisy occur with an acute pain syndrome, which is worse with breathing and coughing. The disease is described by a frequent pulse, noise and wheezing in the sternum, tension of the abdomen and a rise in temperature to 40 ° C.

Symptoms of pain in the spoon with spontaneous pneumothorax are localized in the chest on the left or on the right.

The attack of "dagger" pain of the epigastric zone describes purulent peritonitis, which occurs with a through defect in the intestinal or gastric wall (perforation of the ulcer). The disease is accompanied by muscle tension. With time, soreness subsides.

The state of perforation of the ulcer of the posterior gastric wall characterizes the cutting pain, if the outflow occurs in the cavity of the peritoneum. Filling the stuffing box has less pronounced soreness.

Pain in the epigastrium in the process of palpation, along with nausea, vomiting, severe weakness - symptoms of exacerbation of duodenitis (inflammation of the duodenum).

Cramping, acute pain in the pit of the stomach, radiating in the hypochondrium from the right side, subsiding after taking antispasmodics, accompanies hepatic colic.

Symptoms of intoxication: 

  • headaches, dizziness, general weakness; 
  • high fever, chills; 
  • a status of a nausea, vomiting; 
  • diarrhea; 
  • fainting, convulsions.

The defeat of the Crimean hemorrhagic fever is fraught with an emetic reflex, a mildly expressed feverish symptom and a painful epigastric zone.

Pain in the spoon after eating

The most common diseases such as: gastritis, stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer indicates pain in the pit of the stomach after eating. Symptoms of diseases with increased acidity - pain, heartburn, "sour" eructation. Patients with low acidity note - a feeling of heaviness, fullness of the stomach, nausea, belching. Pain syndrome can appear on an empty stomach, which is more typical of problems with the duodenum.

Cutting pain in the epigastric zone after eating is a sure sign of an exacerbation of pancreatitis. The pains are permanent, up to several hours, sometimes days. The degree of intensity of pain manifestations depends on the stage of the disease, often radiating to the back, subcostal area. The pain is shrouded in nature. Increased pain in the pit of the stomach is observed if you take a horizontal position on the back, and a slope forward, on the contrary, reduces soreness. The disease proceeds with dry mouth, nausea, accompanied by hiccups, belching, vomiting, diarrhea. The patient often has an appetite, and he is very thin. In the critical state, the pressure drops, the pulse becomes faster, there is a rise in temperature and shortness of breath.

Aching in the pit of the stomach

The "sucking" feeling in the pit of the stomach is a reminder of the body to eat. Such a feeling often accompanies a state of heightened excitement, a nervous experience. Aching pain in the pit of the pulling type, especially after a meal, is a clear sign of gastritis.

A disease occurs if: 

  • there was an unpleasant smell from a mouth, there was an eructation; 
  • decreased or loss of appetite; 
  • aching / sucking in epigastrium.

Insidious disease - stomach cancer may not manifest itself long enough. Symptomatic of early stages of the development of the disease is similar to chronic gastritis, ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, pancreatitis or cholecystitis. Many patients self-medicate and seek help only at the stage of exacerbation, when treatment is difficult or impossible.

For stomach cancer, the pain in the pit of the stomach is often aching and very severe. Soreness can be tied to food intake: arise after eating or on an empty stomach. In some patients there is a change in eating habits or a complete lack of appetite. Vomiting with contents, similar to coffee grounds, and black stools are dangerous signs that may indicate gastric bleeding. In patients' complaints, general weakness and fatigue are revealed.

The hernia of the white line of the abdomen also provokes aching pains, not associated with eating. With the tension of the abdomen, a tubercle is prominent, which disappears with relaxation.

Severe pain in the pit of stomach

The body signal, which in no case can not be ignored, is a severe pain in the pit of the stomach. Acute pain syndrome can catch you both in a state of rest, and during a period of maximum physical or mental activity. Such a soreness may indicate a myocardial infarction. Conditions of dizziness, active sweating, an unreasonable fear of death are indicative symptoms. The pain often grasps the area of the arm, jaw and back.

Acute, sometimes shingles, the pain speaks of the stage of exacerbation of pancreatitis. It should be noted that the place of manifestation of pain can be judged on the nature of the disease. If severe pain is localized to the left, then the cause of discomfort is the tail of the pancreas. Shinging tenderness indicates the defeat of the whole organ.

Stomach ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcer occur with sharp, sharp, burning, stitching pain. Studies have shown that men suffer from this disease twice as often as the female part of the population.

Dull pain in the pit of stomach

The process of acute atony of the stomach is a rare disease in which the muscle tone of the stomach is disturbed and its stretching occurs. The disease can have a reflex character or appear as a result of myocardial infarction, peritonitis, pneumonia, thrombosis of the gastric vessels and a number of infectious lesions. Postponed surgical intervention, withdrawal from anesthesia can lead to gastric atony.

The condition is characterized by dull pain in the spoon, heaviness, a feeling of a full stomach, hiccough. Vomiting with greenish liquid is noted. Symptomatic develops rapidly, often resulting in a violation of blood supply to the gastric walls, the possibility of their rupture.

Chronic gastritis with increased secretion is characterized by dull, aching pain in the epigastric zone. Among the symptoms are: heartburn, acidic eructation, a violent or pressing feeling in the pit of the stomach, constipation, less often - vomiting. The aggravation occurs, as a rule, after eating, with alcohol intake or non-compliance with the diet.

Pain in the pitcher on the right

Paroxysmal, severe pain in the pit on the right is inherent in biliary colic when the process of outflow of bile is violated. Soreness is caused by the muscles that try to overcome the barrier created by the sand / stone. Factor of the development of the disease can serve as a mucous mass in cholecystitis, bile duct dysfunction, tumor processes.

The aggravation of the state provokes errors in the diet - excessive, excessively fatty, fried foods, soda, alcoholic drinks, shaking in transport, physical and mental stress. Soreness of the epigastric zone to the right passes to the back, the right side of the sternum, the zone above the clavicle, the scapula and the right arm. Among the complaints of patients often meteorism, constipation, icterus, temperature, nausea. The emetic process does not bring relief.

Sharp pain in the pit of stomach

The symptomatology of painful manifestations in pancreatitis can be so strong that the patient often loses consciousness during an attack. Inflammatory disease of the pancreas is insidiously rapid development. Acute pain in the pit of the stomach appears suddenly, covering the back area, the hypochondrium on the left side.

Soreness in pancreatitis has a daily dependence: before noon, most often, it does not show up. Further, the pain intensifies, which reach its peak at night. Changing the position of the body you can feel the whole gamut of unpleasant sensations - from strong pressure to unbearable burning and drilling in a lying condition. The soreness syndrome decreases sitting.

An emergency medical intervention is necessary, otherwise the crisis may turn into a fatal outcome due to pain shock.

The most dangerous consequence of pancreatitis is peritonitis, in which the filling of the peritoneum with enzymes of the pancreas during its rupture is observed.

Acute pain of the epigastric zone, disorders of the digestive function manifests the formation of a false cyst.

Cancer, infectious processes, intoxications, appendicitis also lead to the development of acute, severe pain syndromes of the epigastric region.

Pain at inspiration in the pit of stomach

An indicative symptom in the diagnosis of renal colic is pain in the inhalation in the pit of the stomach, giving in the hypochondrium to the right, and spreading to the entire abdomen.

Osteochondrosis of the thoracic region may initially be taken for lung or heart disease. Constant, aching nature of pain intensifies with inhalation, sneezing. The accompanying signs: a sensation of "goosebumps" on the skin, tingling, numbness, restriction of the motor function of the hands, a crunch when moving with shoulders.

The problems of pulmonary and cardiac systems are accompanied by a restriction of the mobility of the ribs and pains during breathing in the epigastric zone. For example, with myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, pneumonia or pleurisy.

The localization of soreness depends on which part of the lung is affected. To the common pulmonary symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, temperature, chills, etc.) pains are attached during the breathing process.

Pain and burning in the pit of stomach

Complaints about a burning sensation, eructation, heaviness after eating, fast saturation - are recognized as most widespread among residents of all countries. Unpleasant symptoms interfere with active life activity, are forced to change taste preferences, reduce the quality of life.

This phenomenon is called functional dyspepsia. The mechanism of the development of the disease includes changes in the motility of the stomach and duodenum. The causes of the appearance of the disease are: 

  • smoking; 
  • alcohol consumption; 
  • pharmacological agents (among them aspirin); 
  • hypersensitivity of the stomach; 
  • reactions from the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Dyspepsia necessarily accompanies pain and burning in the pit of the stomach. Some patients describe a burning sensation as a manifestation of heat. And pain can be perceived as a condition of tissue damage. When identifying all the symptoms, it is necessary to exclude the presence of organic pathology.

The course of acute gastritis occurs when the burning sensation and pain of the epigastric zone of different intensity occur. Patients note an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. When the disease can manifest herpes, febrile state. Sometimes the primary sign in diagnosing is a vascular collapse (a condition of vascular insufficiency). Acute gastritis develops rapidly, but not for long (up to 5 days).

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Treatment of the pain in the pit of stomach

Before the appointment of treatment, pain in the pit of the stomach is followed by a thorough examination to identify the causes of pain and establish an accurate diagnosis. For this purpose, according to the patient, data on the manifestation and localization of pain, concomitant symptoms, lifestyle and medications are collected. The following studies are also required: 

  • general blood analysis; 
  • tests that determine the functions of the liver and kidneys; 
  • general urine analysis; 
  • an analysis of the efficiency of the gallbladder, pancreas; 
  • feces analysis for detecting hidden blood; 
  • X-ray methods; 
  • ECG (for determining the state of the heart system); 
  • Ultrasound of the peritoneum; 
  • endoscopy (fibrogastroduodenoscopy); 
  • gastric sounding (for the study of secretion).

Treatment of pain in the pit of the stomach is based on the findings and the diagnosed cause of its occurrence. The treatment scheme can be aimed at combating the root cause or reducing symptoms. Some conditions require immediate surgery - cancer tumors, ulcers, an attack of acute appendicitis, breaks in the integrity of internal organs, etc.

Medicines with a curative and supportive purpose are prescribed by a specialist. The patient requires the exact implementation of all recommendations.

Prevention

Prevention of pain in the pitcher includes: 

  • weight control (with excessive body weight should take action); 
  • building a rational diet (food should be rich in fiber, avoid fried, share food for small portions with a more frequent intake); 
  • compliance with moderation in physical activity; 
  • the absence in the diet of products provoking an attack (alcohol, food with emulsifiers, dyes and other additives); 
  • drinking water in small sips; 
  • rest after meals for up to 30 minutes; 
  • training in methods of relaxation and control of nervous breakdowns; 
  • to give up smoking; 
  • walks in the open air; 
  • sanitation and health improvement.

"Life" and "belly" are Old Slavonic words with the sign of equality. The daily activity and joy of human life largely depends on the state of the abdominal organs. It is difficult to smile when the pain in the pit of the stomach "twists", stiffs the movement, delivers a painful sensation. And if it is inflated so that the pain is felt even when motionless?

The reasons for a painful syndrome under a spoon can be mass. If you missed the fate of emergency hospitalization, still do not delay your trip to the doctor. The best prevention is the detection of the disease at an early stage.

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