Left Side Stomach Pain

You may experience stomach pain in the upper or lower left part of the abdomen. At its worst it may not allow you to walk or stand on your feet. In the beginning, when it is not so severe, you may think, it is due to gas or a muscle pull. However, the underlying cause of left side stomach pain could be one of many. Following is brief note on left side stomach pain, which you may find informative.

What Causes Pain on the Left Side of Stomach

A major part of the digestive system is found on the left side of the abdomen. The pain in left side of stomach is generally associated with the problems related to digestive system.

Obstructions
The pain on left side of stomach could be due to constipation, which can be easily cured. However, if it is accompanied with vomiting and loose or no stool, then you need to opt for medical advice. You may also find that it is because of obstruction in the left part of the large intestine, sigmoid or descending colon.

Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is condition in which inner wall of the colon bulges at a weak point and forms a pouch, and obstructs the flow of food. Diverticulitis is a common condition among the elderly people and could cause nausea and bloating along with constipation. Diverticulitis is not a life-threatening condition and doctors advise low-fiber diet to treat it.

Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis infection may give you a dull pain in left side of stomach. A slight yellowing of eye whites and the skin may serve as an indicator of it. It is a dangerous disease and can threaten your life, if you don't seek proper and timely medical advice.

Kidney Stones
A source of left side stomach pain that you may know about, is kidney stone. If you are experiencing stomach pain on the left side of your body then it indicates that the stone has dislodged from the left kidney or left ureter. If you have a history of suffering from kidney stone or if you think the pain you are experiencing is due to it, seek medical advice instantly. Left sided stomach pain can also be due to malfunction of left adrenal gland or left kidney.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Left side stomach pain may indicate pelvic inflammatory disease in women. In some cases, female patients may experience persistent dull pain and fever due to it. Timely medical advice and treatment can help you in preventing severe complications that this disease may cause.

Digestive Problems
Stomach pain on left side, as well as upper stomach pains, may also indicate some major problem with the liver, spleen, or pancreas which are located in the upper left hand side of the abdomen. Use of painkillers may offer short-lived relief.

In Children
Children may experience left side stomach pain because of eating too much or due to consumption of spicy food. These are often main causes of stomach aches in children. Children tend to swallow food before it is properly chewed, which may result in constipation and pain. If your child is suffering from chronic stomach pain, then it is better to seek medical advice. It could be because of gastroenteritis or intestinal parasites.

Other Causes

• If you are experiencing a burning pain in left side of stomach, then a bacterial infection due to H. pylori (Helecobactor pylori) may be the cause.
• The Crohn's disease, pernicious anemia or gallbladder disease may also form its cause.
• In women, a problem with the left ovary or left fallopian tube is also worth investigating.
• Problems with the blood vessels, muscles, nerves or the skin covering on the left side of the abdomen.
• Normally, appendix and other organs are found on the right side of the abdomen. Situs Invertus is a medical condition in which these organs are located on the left side of the abdomen. Any problems with these organs cause pain on the left side.

Following is a list of health problems which a doctor will consider while arriving at a diagnosis for the pain on the left side of the stomach:

• Infectious mononucleosis
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Heartburns
• Stomach ulcer
• Ulcerative colitis
• Stomach or bowel tumor
• Porphyria
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Coeliac disease
• Hereditary Angioedema
• Sickle Cell Disease

If the left side stomach pain is not relieved within 1 or 2 days, it will be prudent to seek your physician's advice. The timing of your decision of doing so may have huge impact on how long you suffer because of the pain and how fast you can recover from it.