Upper left side abdominal pain after eating

Digestive system is uniquely constructed to perform its specialized functions including ingestion, mechanical and chemical digestion, absorption and excretion (or defecation). Our digestive system begins at the mouth, pharynx and esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (also known as the colon) and rectum. The digestive track ends at the anus. Other important internal organs located in abdominal cavity include liver, gallbladder, bile duct and pancreas. If any particular part of these organs is damaged or impaired, warning signs and symptoms will be manifested accordingly. The most common symptom that indicates the presence of abdominal abnormalities is “abdominal pain” which can be described in different types such as cramp, ache, dull pain, intermittent pain and sharp pain. There are some serious conditions that cause abdominal pain which should not be ignored. They may further require medical attention and even emergency medical care in some critical cases.

Table of Contents Show

Abdominal pain is the primary symptom of these 9 diseases:
1. Gallstones or cholelithiasis
3. Appendicitis
7. Hepatitis
8. Diverticulitis
9. Gynecologic Disorder
What causes pain in upper left abdomen after eating?
When should I worry about upper left abdominal pain?
What causes pain under left rib cage after eating?
What can cause pain in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen?

Abdominal pain is the primary symptom of these 9 diseases:

1. Gallstones or cholelithiasis

Gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen, locates beneath liver. The gallbladder holds a digestive fluid called “bile” which is a yellowish-brown fluid used to break up and digest fatty foods in the small intestine. Gallstones are one of the most common digestive diseases which small stones are formed in the gallbladder. These stones are typically caused by the precipitation of either calcium salts or cholesterol in bile. Particular risk factors include overweight, a regular consumption of high-fat diets, hypercholesterolemia (high level of blood cholesterol), taking medications that contain estrogen such as oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, being diabetic or being diagnosed with thalassemia.

Mild to moderate symptoms of gallstones start from abdominal discomfort to flatulence and pain after consuming high-fat diets. Due to the similarity of signs and symptoms, patients with gallstones frequently misunderstand that they might have “peptic ulcer” thus only antacid or anti-ulcer medications are taken. If gallstones lodge in a bile duct and cause a blockage, it eventually results in severe life-threatening complications such as bile duct inflammation and infection, pancreatitis or cholecystitis (an inflammation of gallbladder). Aggravated symptoms include severe and sudden pain in the upper right abdomen especially when breathing in and out, back pain between shoulder blades, high fever, nausea, vomiting and jaundice with yellow tinge to the skin and white eyes. If biliary tract infection is indicated, an immediate surgery must be urgently performed. If cholecystitis remains untreated, it might lead to life-threatening sepsis. In addition, it might potentially trigger “gallbladder cancer and bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)”.

The most effective way to reduce risk of “gallstones” is to remain healthy including weight reduction if obese, avoiding the consumption of fatty diets with high calories, taking high-fiber foods such as vegetables and fruits. More importantly, having a regular health checkup every year helps to early screen gallstones before its symptom raises. If any suspected signs and symptoms of gallstones are manifested, a full physical examination and upper abdominal ultrasound scan are immediately recommended.

2. Hernias

Hernias occur when an organ especially small intestine protrudes through a weakened spot or tear in the abdominal wall. Hernias are commonly caused by a combination of muscle weakness and increased abdominal pressure.

Hernias cause a bulge or lump in the affected area such as groin (inguinal hernia), umbilicus (umbilical hernia) or surgical incision which is not properly closed (incisional hernia). Hernias can be particularly felt during standing up, bending down or coughing. The most common symptoms are pain or discomfort (usually at lower abdomen), weakness or heaviness in the abdomen, burning or aching sensation at the bulge.

Risk factors that might induce hernias are

Overweight or obesity: Being overweight increases the strain and pressure on abdominal muscles and makes them weaker and more prone to developing hernias.
Advanced age: Abdominal muscle strength decreases with advance of age, thus the elderly people are susceptible to develop hernias.
Some conditions that strain the abdominal wall such as lifting heavy weights, exercise, strain during bowel movement from constipation, strain during urination from BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and persistent cough from smoking.

If the protruding intestine is not pushed back in place, the contents of hernia might be trapped in the abdominal wall, then becoming strangulated which cuts off blood supply to surrounding tissue that is trapped. If it is left untreated, a strangulated hernia can lead to life-threatening conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis (severe inflammation of intestine) and sepsis. If there is any sign or symptom related to hernias, do not wait until it might be too late. Medical attention must be sought as soon as possible.

3. Appendicitis

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix which is a finger-shaped pouch that projects from colon on the lower right side of the abdomen. The appendix doesn’t seem to have a specific function. Major cause of appendicitis is a blockage in the lining of the appendix, resulting in infections. Subsequently, pathogenic bacteria multiply rapidly and cause the appendix to become inflamed, swollen and filled with pus. If it is not treated promptly, appendicitis can cause serious complications such as a pocket of infection (abscess) and a ruptured appendix which spreads infection throughout abdomen (peritonitis). Since symptoms of appendicitis are frequently similar to other ailments such as peptic ulcer and gastritis, history taking and physical examination play a major role to make differential diagnosis. Signs and symptoms of appendicitis may include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, sudden pain that begins around umbilicus and often radiates to lower right abdomen, pain that worsens while walking or making jarring movements with low-grade fever as the illness progresses. The site of pain may vary depending on the position of appendix. If appendicitis is left untreated, appendix ruptures might lead to fatal conditions. Surgical removal of appendix (appendectomy) must be immediately performed. If appendicitis is suspected particularly with abdominal pain that shifts to lower right abdomen, immediate medical care is highly advised.

7. Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Major cause of hepatitis is viral infections including hepatitis virus A, B and C. Other risk factors include alcohol drinking, side effects of certain drugs, auto-immune diseases and ingestion of toxic substances. The condition can be self-limiting or cab progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or unfortunately, liver cancer. Most commonly found symptoms are pain or discomfort in the upper right quadrant of the stomach and high fever presented with jaundice (a yellowish pigmentation of the skin and whites of the eyes). Diagnosis of hepatitis is made on the basis of patient’s signs and symptoms, medical history, blood tests to determine liver enzymes level and functions combined with radiological imaging tests such as abdominal ultrasound, CT scan (computerized tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

8. Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is inflammation or infection of small pouches called “diverticula” that develop along the walls of the intestines. The inflammation of diverticulitis can eventually result in a bowel obstruction which frequently causes chronic constipation. Typical presented symptoms are abdominal pain and cramping on either left or right side of the abdomen. If the obstruction persists, acute diverticulitis might develop complications which may include an abscess, a blockage in colon or small intestine, an abnormal passageway (fistula) and severe bleeding characterized by blood in stool. Treatment depends on the severity of signs and symptoms. In case of uncomplicated diverticulitis, medications will be mostly prescribed while surgical procedures might be considered in patients with complicated conditions.

9. Gynecologic Disorder

A gynecological disorder is a condition that affects the female reproduction system which consists organs in the abdominal and pelvic areas including the womb (uterus), ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina and vulva. The most common unique manifestation of gynecological disorder is “abdominal pain in the lower abdomen” that might be in the middle, left side or right side depending on the affected organs. This particular type of abdominal pain is usually a warning symptom to potentially indicate certain abnormalities in the reproductive system, mainly uterus and fallopian tubes. Abnormal menstruation patterns such as menstrual flow that is much heavier or lighter than usual, periods that last longer than seven days or periods that occur infrequently are also typical signals of gynecologic diseases. If these abnormalities have been presented, gynecologic examinations and ultrasound are highly advised.

Abdominal pain caused from these 9 conditions entirely affects daily activities and quality of life. If these warning signs and symptoms are showed up, immediate medical attention must be sought. Since certain abdominal diseases are presented with similar symptoms, mostly abdominal pain, accurate and timely diagnosis enables the doctors to differentiate diseases, resulting in effective treatment plans and reduced disease severity. To early detect the abnormalities, regular annual checkups with blood test might not be sufficient. Abdominal ultrasound, as a baseline noninvasive imaging test, is additionally advised in order to screen and identify it there are any abnormal findings at the begining stage.

What causes pain in upper left abdomen after eating?

Pain in the upper left abdomen can be caused by a stomach ulcer, acute gastritis, a viral infection, or indigestion. But it may be an issue with your lungs, like pneumonia. If symptoms persist, talk to your doctor.

When should I worry about upper left abdominal pain?

Some of the causes of pain in the upper left abdomen may be treated at home, but others can be life threatening. So it's important to contact your doctor if your pain is unexplained, persistent, or severe — even if you don't think it's serious.

What causes pain under left rib cage after eating?

Pain below your ribs can be caused by your GI tract, like GERD, indigestion, gallbladder disease, or constipation, or problems with your lungs, like pneumonia. You may also have nausea, bloating, chest pain, coughing, or pain that's worse when you breathe in.