Left abdominal pain is usually caused by mild conditions, such as flatulence. Although common, left abdominal pain also cannot be underestimated because it can be a sign of a serious disease, such as kidney stones or ovarian cysts.
Left abdominal pain that is relatively mild will usually subside on its own within 1-2 days. However, if the abdominal pain is experienced for a long time or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor so that it can be treated according to the cause.
Various Types of Diseases that Cause Left Stomach Pain
Doctors can usually guess the cause of left abdominal pain from where the pain appears, either in the upper left or lower left abdomen. The following are some of the causes of left abdominal pain based on the location of the pain:
Upper left abdominal pain
There are several causes of upper left abdominal pain, including:
- Heart attack
- Chest pain
- Pericarditis or inflammation of the lining of the heart
- Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas
- Spleen enlargement
- Pneumonia
- Pleurisy or inflammation of the lining of the lungs
- Pneumothorax
- Costochondritis or inflammation of the cartilage
- Broken ribs
- Injury
- Endocarditis
- Appendicitis
Lower left stomach pain
Meanwhile, lower left abdominal pain can be caused by the following conditions:
- Diverticulitis
- hernia
- Smallpox snake or smallpox fire
- Gastroenteritis
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Colorectal cancer
- Kidney infection
- Crohn's disease
- Colitis
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm or swelling of the aortic vein in the abdomen
- Twisted intestine
Especially in women, lower left abdominal pain can be caused by ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps, endometriosis, twisted ovaries, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammation, infection in the fallopian tubes, or problems with the cervix.
In addition, there are several other conditions that can also cause you to experience left side abdominal pain, both at the top and bottom. Some of these conditions include constipation, food poisoning, and allergies.
How to Overcome Complaints of Left Stomach Pain
Handling of complaints of left abdominal pain must be adjusted to the cause. Mild left abdominal pain can generally be treated in the following ways:
Home care
As an initial treatment, you can reduce left abdominal pain by doing the following simple things:
- Compress the stomach with a towel that has been soaked in warm water
- Drink more water
- Eat food in small portions, but often and choose soft-textured foods
- Chew food slowly
- Avoid spicy, sour, and fatty foods
- Avoid consumption of caffeinated drinks, soda, and alcohol.
Use of drugs
In addition to some of the simple ways above, to reduce or treat left abdominal pain, you can also take drugs, including:
- Drug simethicone, to get rid of gas in the stomach
- Antacids or acid reducers, to treat stomach pain due to acid reflux disease
- Laxatives or stool softeners, to treat stomach pain due to constipation
- Loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate, to get rid of stomach cramps due to diarrhea
Avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, because they can cause stomach irritation. You need to remember, left abdominal pain due to a serious condition requires treatment from a doctor, even though the pain has been reduced with medication.
Consult a doctor if you experience left abdominal pain that does not go away or is accompanied by severe pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach swelling and pain to the touch, or blood in the stool. The doctor will conduct an examination to determine the cause and provide appropriate treatment.