20 Causes of Stomach Pain

Taking care of our health can sometimes be difficult. We are constantly told that if we notice anything unusual about the way we feel, that we should go and see a doctor immediately.

But if we do that, we’re often left feeling like fools for wasting their time. When we go because we have a mild headache, indigestion or cramp, it’s certainly embarrassing and it can make us reluctant to go unless we know for certain that we have a serious cause for concern.

Knowing when that’s the case is hard too though. After all, there are some symptoms that seem to crop up all the time and that can point top anything from something minor and harmless to something very severe and dangerous.

Stomach pain is just one example of this. There are countless things that can cause stomach pain and countless different illnesses and conditions that can cause the problem. And without knowing what our stomach pain is trying to tell us, we have no way of knowing whether it is worth a trip to the doctor or how we should go about dealing with it ourselves.

Should you wait it out and see if it feels better in the morning? Should you take an antacid? Or should you call the hospital?

Let’s take a look at 21 common causes of stomach pain and see if any of them hold the answer to your complaint…

1.  Cramp

Many of us associate cramp with something we get in our legs or feet. We also tend to think it comes after exercise.

Actually though, cramp can come at any time and there are many different things that can trigger it. The abdominal muscles are also an area that can suffer from cramp and if you feel your stomach seemingly ‘spasming’ and the pain is very sharp, then cramp becomes a likely culprit. The pain tends to be blinding and you are left grasping but it should pass quickly.

To prevent this happening often, try increasing your intake of electrolytes such as potassium and sodium. Drink plenty too.