When your body speaks, you should listen. Most people aren't very good at it, though, and it's tempting to ignore a problem that could signal something bad. Even if you do pay attention to your symptoms, it's not easy to know what they mean. That's why diagnosis is a job for a doctor. But you can use the information here to help you decide how urgently you need to see one.
A symptom you should never ignore: abdominal pain
Are you having abdominal pain?
Description: a burning sensation just below the breastbone, particularly after a large meal.
Possible causes: heartburn (reflux).
Response: take over-the-counter antacids and avoid large, greasy meals. If pain persists for several weeks, see your doctor.
Description: pain around and below your navel accompanied by gas.
Possible causes: constipation or flatulence.
Response: take an over-the-counter laxative or anti-gas medication. If pain persists for more than two weeks, see your doctor.
Description: sudden pain around your navel; may be accompanied by nausea, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, pressure to have a bowel movement or stiffening of the abdominal muscles.
Possible causes: appendicitis.
Response: go to the hospital. Appendicitis must be treated quickly or the appendix will rupture and leak infected fluid into other parts of the abdomen. Stiffening of abdominal muscles is a sign that infection is starting to spread.
Description: sudden pain in your right abdomen that may radiate to other parts of your abdomen or your back.
Possible causes: gallstones or gallbladder inflammation
Response: if pain persists or worsens after eating greasy foods, see your doctor.
Description: sudden pain below your navel that radiates to either side of the navel
Possible causes: a colon disorder, a urinary tract infection or pelvic inflammatory disease.
Response: if pain continues to worsen, call your doctor, who may order diagnostic tests or advise you to go to the emergency room.
Description: sudden sharp pain near your lower ribs that radiates down your groin.
Possible causes: kidney stones or, if accompanied by fever, a kidney or urinary tract infection.
Response: increase your water intake and call your doctor. Most kidney stones eventually pass on their own, although in rare cases, surgery is necessary. If you also have a fever, call your doctor.
Description: sudden pain and tenderness in your lower left abdomen may be accompanied by fever, nausea or vomiting.
Possible causes: crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis.
Response: see your doctor, who may recommend a CT scan. Long-term treatment may include surgery and a change in diet.
Description: sudden pain accompanied by bloody diarrhea, blood in the stool or vomiting blood.
Possible causes: a blockage in the bowel, a perforated appendix or bleeding from the bowel.
Response: these are symptoms of internal bleeding; go right to the hospital.
Description: mild pain or discomfort that comes on slowly and continues or recurs for weeks or months, sometimes accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, bloating or flatulence.
Possible causes: a chronic ailment such as lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, food allergies, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or celiac disease.
Response: see your doctor, who may refer you to a gastroenterologist for follow-up.
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