Upper abdominal pain can be unsettling. It may start after a meal, wake you up at night, or feel like a sharp ache beneath your ribs.
While some causes are minor, others need prompt medical attention. Your symptoms and where the pain occurs can help narrow down the cause.
Where the pain is located is often the first clue.
Abdominal pain may also spread to other areas. For example, gallbladder pain often travels to the right shoulder or back. Pancreatic pain often spreads to the back.
Your doctor will also want to know:
Many different conditions can cause upper abdominal pain. Here are some of the most common.
Gas and indigestion are common causes of upper abdominal pain. You may notice pressure, fullness, or bloating after eating, especially after a large meal or if you’ve eaten too quickly. Food intolerances can also play a role. Trapped gas may cause cramping or pressure that moves from one area to another. The discomfort often improves after you burp or pass gas.
Acid reflux often causes burning behind the breastbone, but it can also cause pain in the upper abdomen. It happens when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus. You may also notice a sour or bitter taste in your mouth, frequent burping, throat irritation, or discomfort after a large meal. Symptoms often get worse when you lie down. Frequent acid reflux may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Gastritis happens when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed. It often causes aching or burning pain in the upper middle abdomen along with nausea, vomiting, or feeling full soon after eating. Taking anti-inflammatory pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen too often can irritate the stomach lining.
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the stomach or the first part of the small intestine. The pain is often dull, burning, or gnawing. It may happen when your stomach is empty or become worse after eating. Some people also have nausea, bloating, belching, or feel full quickly.
The most common causes are an H. pylori infection and regular use of anti-inflammatory pain relievers. Sometimes an ulcer can bleed. Black stools or bloody vomit are signs of bleeding and need immediate medical attention.
Gallstones can block the flow of bile, causing steady pain in the upper right or upper middle abdomen. The pain often starts after a high-fat meal and may spread to the right shoulder or back. Nausea, vomiting, and tenderness beneath the right ribs are also common.
Pancreatitis happens when the pancreas becomes inflamed. It usually causes severe pain in the upper middle abdomen that spreads to the back and often gets worse after eating. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, fever, a fast heartbeat, and a swollen or tender abdomen.
Not every case of upper abdominal pain starts in the digestive system.
Kidney stones and kidney infections can cause pain that begins in the back or side and wraps around toward the front. Lung infections and blood clots in the lungs may also cause pain near the ribs, especially when you take a deep breath.
Heart problems can sometimes feel like pressure, burning, indigestion, or pain in the upper abdomen.
Seek emergency medical care right away if upper abdominal pain occurs with:
If your upper abdominal pain isn’t going away or interferes with your daily life, don’t ignore it. While some causes improve on their own, others need medical treatment.
If your upper abdominal pain isn’t going away or keeps coming back, schedule an appointment with Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio. Finding the cause is the first step toward getting the right treatment and relief.
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