Abdominal pain is a problem that can be experienced by everyone. Whatever it feels like or wherever it is located, abdominal pain can seriously interfere with a person's daily activities. Therefore, treatment is needed to overcome it.
Abdominal pain is generally divided into lower abdominal pain and upper abdominal pain. The difference between the two abdominal pain lies in the condition that causes it and the organ that is affected. Handling lower and upper abdominal pain is also not necessarily the same because it needs to be adjusted to the cause and severity.
Lower abdominal or upper abdominal pain can occur due to inflammation, infection, muscle contractions, or blockages in the organs in the abdomen. Symptoms that accompany abdominal pain vary widely, depending on the cause. Pain that arises sometimes can be in the form of cramps or heartburn, it can also be a burning sensation or bloating.
Not only that, the nature and duration of lower and upper abdominal pain also varies. Pain may persist or come and go, appear suddenly or gradually, last for a short time or for a long time, and decrease or get worse in certain positions.
This is the difference between lower and upper abdominal pain
The boundary that separates lower and upper abdominal pain is a transverse line on the abdomen that is parallel to the navel. It is said to have upper abdominal pain if the pain is felt above this line, and it is said to be lower abdominal pain if the pain is felt below this line.
In the stomach, there are various organs, each of which can cause different symptoms when disturbed. Apart from the symptoms that appear, the location of the abdominal pain can also be an indication of which organ is causing the pain.
Most abdominal pain is caused by indigestion, but it can also be caused by disorders of other organs located in the stomach. The following are various conditions that are often the cause of lower or upper abdominal pain:
Causes of lower abdominal pain
Lower abdominal pain can arise due to disorders of the pelvic bones, bladder, and large intestine. Some diseases that cause lower abdominal pain are:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Bladder stones
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Intestinal obstruction (obstruction)
- inguinal hernia
- Inflammation of the intestine
- Appendix
- Colon cancer
Especially for women, lower abdominal pain can also be caused by disorders of the reproductive organs, including:
- Menstrual pain
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Ovarian cyst
- Endometriosis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Cervical cancer
Causes of upper abdominal pain
Upper abdominal pain can be caused by problems with the stomach, liver, bile, spleen, pancreas, heart, or lungs. Some examples of diseases that can be the cause are:
- Acid reflux disease (GERD)
- Hepatitis
- Gallstones
- Constipation
- Coronary heart disease
- Pneumonia
Differences in symptoms of upper abdominal pain and lower abdominal pain
Upper Abdominal Pain | Lower Abdominal Pain |
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Medicine for Lower and Upper Abdominal Pain
Treatment of lower and upper abdominal pain needs to be tailored to the cause. For example, abdominal pain that feels like squeezing, twisting, and cramping, as in irritable bowel syndrome or menstrual cramps, can be relieved with drugs containing hyoscine butylbromide.
Hyoscine butylbromide is an effective drug to relieve lower abdominal pain, especially those caused by cramps in the muscles of the digestive organs, urinary organs, or female reproductive organs.
This drug works by relaxing the tense muscles of the organ so that the pain is reduced. It works quite fast. If consumed as directed and prescribed by a doctor, hyoscine butylbromide can relieve pain within 15 minutes of drinking.
Upper abdominal pain caused by stomach acid can be treated with drugs that reduce stomach acid production or neutralize stomach acid, such as antacids. Meanwhile, if the cause is infection and inflammation, the drugs that can be given are antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as NSAIDs.
In addition to taking medication, abdominal pain can also be relieved by placing a warm compress on the painful area, soaking in warm water, drinking more water, reducing tea and coffee consumption, and getting enough rest.
In some cases, medication alone is not enough to treat the pain or the cause of the pain, so surgery is required. Examples of conditions that cause abdominal pain that need to be treated with surgery are intestinal obstruction and cancer.
The difference between lower and upper abdominal pain is the condition that causes it and the organ that is experiencing abnormalities. Sometimes doctors can find out the cause of abdominal pain just by doing a physical examination, but sometimes additional tests, such as a CT scan or ultrasound, are needed to determine the cause.
Check with your doctor if you experience lower or upper abdominal pain that does not improve or gets worse even though you are taking over-the-counter pain relievers, especially if the pain is accompanied by high fever, bloody stools, vomiting blood, vomiting, and shortness of breath. breath.
