{"id":13427,"date":"2021-06-28T13:30:15","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T18:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=13427"},"modified":"2023-12-12T10:43:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T16:43:15","slug":"just-a-belly-ache-or-something-worse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/just-a-belly-ache-or-something-worse\/","title":{"rendered":"Just a belly ache \u2026 or something worse?"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all experience abdominal pain from time to time. Sometimes, the pain is dull. Other times, it\u2019s more severe.<\/p>\n

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There are numerous potential causes, including constipation, acid reflux, appendicitis, kidney stones, urinary tract infections and others that are specific to men or women. But what are the most common causes that doctors see on a regular basis?<\/p>\n

\u201cBy far, constipation is the cause I see most often,\u201d said Sarah Joseph<\/a>, MD, a family practice physician at OSF HealthCare.<\/a> \u201cAfter that, food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary tract infections, muscle strains and viral infections are other common causes.\u201d<\/p>\n

When to see a doctor<\/h2>\n

Like other aches and pains, abdominal pain sometimes shows up and then seems to end as quickly as it arrived. But for pain that lingers, it\u2019s important to know when it\u2019s OK to self-medicate at home, when you should make an appointment<\/a> to see your doctor, and when you should rush to a hospital emergency department.<\/p>\n

\u201cA stomach ache may result from something you ate and typically is mild and goes away in a couple hours. If a person is backed up with stool due to constipation, taking a stool softener may help relieve the discomfort,\u201d said Dr. Joseph. \u201cHowever, there are times when waiting it out or taking over-the-counter medications aren\u2019t the right approaches.\u201d<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n