When you start to have abdominal pain you probably wonder what it could be. It is then useful to know what problems a particular pain in a particular place may indicate. Abdominal pain on the left side could be either ovarian inflammation or pancreatic problems. The potential causes are many – some serious, some less so. However, it’s always a good idea to be aware of whether the pain you’re experiencing qualifies for a visit to the emergency room or whether a quiet trip to the doctor is enough (consultation with a specialist is advisable for any pain – especially if it’s chronic).
What is located on the left side of the abdomen?
Well, on the left side of your abdomen you have a number of important organs, whose nagging pain is usually not a good indication of your health. Of course, different ailments have different causes. Pain on the left side of the abdomen does not always mean a serious disease, sometimes it can be simple bloating. Either way – it is worth knowing what and how it may hurt and what the cause may be. So what is located on the left side of the abdomen?
- The stomach, which is the organ that serves mainly to digest food (mainly the proteins in it),
- The pancreas, has its place under the stomach and produces many needed digestive enzymes,
- The spleen, is the largest lymphatic organ in the human body, but it is not essential for life,
- Part of the intestines (both small intestine and large intestine). On the left side is, among other things, the sigmoid colon, a part of the large intestine that is quite prone to disease. There is also the transverse part of the colon and the so-called splenic fold.
Pain in the left side – possible types and causes.
As we mentioned, any gastrointestinal complaints should be carefully examined to rule out any serious conditions or to introduce appropriate treatment. And believe – a visit to the doctor is often the only way to be properly diagnosed. However, if you underestimate certain symptoms, your only medication will be vitamins and the most important source of knowledge about your condition will be the Internet, you may regret it later. Below you will find information about possible causes of pain, but still for the sake of your health we encourage you to visit a specialist in the near future .
Severe abdominal pain located on its left side can mean pancreatitis. Most often it is felt in the subcostal area. The patient finds it difficult to take a breath (because it results in sharp pain). Sometimes, but not always, nausea and vomiting occur. Pancreatitis is dangerous and one should go to the hospital as soon as possible. Enlarged spleen, gastritis or inflammation of the appendages also give similar symptoms. Acute pain on the left side also occurs with an inguinal hernia. One of the worse chronic diseases, for which symptoms include pain on the left side of the abdomen, on the other hand, is ulcerative colitis. Unfortunately, sometimes it does not give characteristic symptoms, so if you often have abdominal pain in the left side area then you should do a fecal occult blood test.
If the pains are short-lived, appear suddenly and disappear on their own, and vary in severity (once stronger, once weaker), it could be irritable bowel syndrome. It is often a stabbing pain. Admittedly, these pains do not affect only the left side of the abdomen – as they appear in different parts of the abdomen (usually the lower abdominal area), but it is still worth remembering that such a disease exists and is, unfortunately, increasingly common. It is often accompanied by diarrhea interspersed with constipation and nausea.
It’s worth knowing your body and what kind of pains, when they may occur. However, the fact that you have read all the search engine articles that showed up when you typed in the phrase “left side pain” does not relieve you of the obligation to take care of yourself and perform regular examinations. If anything concerns you – consult a specialist as soon as possible, who may be able to send you for tests to make an accurate diagnosis.
