|  | Conditions Treatments | Digestive Health

Left Upper Stomach Pain

Stomach pain, or the more precise medical term, abdominal pain, can be caused by many different illnesses and medical conditions. Some nonspecific complaints, such as indigestion, may not appear in a specific location of the abdomen, while other more severe conditions are confined to one of the "corners," or quadrants of the abdomen. Discomfort in the upper left area of the stomach, or abdomen, is often the result of inflammation--the question is to determine what exactly is inflamed. A physical examination and diagnostic testing can help doctors find out what is causing pain to the left upper quadrant.

  1. Defining Left Upper Stomach

    • The left upper abdomen is defined by the "Merck Manual" and the online Abdominal Pain Centre as being between the belly button and the nipples on the left side of a person's body. Many internal organs, including the heart and spleen, as well as part of the intestines, stomach and pancreas are located in the upper left quadrant.

    Types of Pain

    • Pain in the left upper area of the stomach can be classified in different ways, according to the Merck Manual. Visceral or somatic pain refers to discomfort caused by the nerves and by local infection. Referred pain may be felt in the abdomen but is actually coming from another area of the body. Disorders of the bowel and infections of the stomach's lining are examples of left upper quadrant pain that is visceral or somatic. Referred pain in the same area may stem from angina or other heart conditions.

    Causes

    • Causes of upper left abdominal pain range widely, according to the Mayo Clinic. Gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions such as diverticulitis, pancreatitis or gastritis can cause pain on the upper left side. Kidney stones, cancer, a ruptured spleen, pneumonia or even shingles can also be felt in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen.

    Diagnosis

    • A physical examination by a doctor can determine the cause and severity of this type of stomach pain. Questions about the frequency and duration of the pain, as well as other symptoms experienced concurrently may be used to confirm a diagnosis. Imaging technology such as MRI or ultrasound may be used to assist diagnosis.

    Red Flags

    • Upper left stomach pain that is present along with a drop in blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and mental confusion can be signs of shock and serious illness, according to the Merck Manual. People who experience these symptoms, or have such severe pain that they cannot "unfold" their bodies from a fetal position should seek immediate medical attention.

Digestive Health - Related Articles