Should you take a painkiller for every stomach ache?

Of course, stomach pain does not necessarily mean the existence of a serious health problem. When it comes to the reason behind stomach pain, people should take into consideration a lot of factors. Stomach pain itself is not enough for a diagnosis. Age, sex and the duration of the stomach pain are also important factors for a medical examination. Stomach pain that is moderate but long-lasting may underlie stomach cancer while strong and writhing stomach pain may be a symptom of a simple complaint.

How do you distinguish the primary cause from other factors?

In such a situation, the primary thing is to look through an individual’s medical history. Sometimes, the reason for stomach pain is so obvious that many doctors can easily determine the cause through a simple medical examination. To illustrate, a medical examination is enough to diagnose a hernia, the protrusion of an organ, without requiring any further debate.

Is it necessary to go to a doctor for every stomach ache?

A person may not need to go to a doctor for short-term stomach pain if there are no other complaints. However, if the pain is long-standing and severe and an individual has other complaints such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation or hemorrhaging, seeing a doctor may be beneficial as delays may lead to serious complications in the medical treatment. For example, a person suffering from a peptic ulcer requires immediate surgery.

Is it a good idea to take painkillers while suffering from stomach pain?

It is sometimes difficult to diagnose an illness because taking painkillers can cause the symptoms underlying the disease to disappear. As doctors, we generally do not suggest that a person suffering from stomach pain use painkillers. We encounter problems with those who are suffering from appendicitis. When the first pains of appendicitis start, people generally take painkillers. Even though they take painkillers to quell the pain, appendicitis continues to progress. These people finally come to the doctor with acute appendicitis.

Can similar illnesses be confused?

Of course they can be confused. However, a doctor’s task is to find the correct diagnosis for an illness. A doctor should listen to all the sick person’s complaints and examine the patient carefully in addition to carrying out the necessary physical examinations. There are many illnesses that can be confused because the symptoms are similar. For example, appendicitis can be easily confused with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) or ovarian diseases. The pain of a peptic ulcer can also be confused with a heart attack.

What should people do when they experience stomach pain?

The most important thing is not to take painkillers immediately. Common complaints such as dyspepsia or a cold may result in stomach pain. However, if people suffer from stomach pain for many hours and they are unable to go about their daily activities, they should go to a doctor.

What should we do if a baby or a child has a stomach ache?

If babies are uncomfortable and there is anything unusual about their physical activity, this is a cause for worry. Some diseases can easily progress and disturb the balance of the body for babies and children. An inguinal hernia may be discovered too late, and this delay can sometimes result in a baby’s death.

What should pregnant women do?

There are many reasons why pregnant women may suffer stomach pain, but first of all, it is necessary to determine whether the pain is because of the pregnancy.

Which doctors should you visit?

Firstly, the family practitioner is the appropriate doctor for people suffering from stomach pain to see. If medical procedure is necessary, babies should be sent to pediatric specialists and adults should see a general surgeon. If people have severe long-term pain, they should see an internist.

Is there any psychological reason for stomach pain?

People who are worried about being ill often complain of stomach pain. For example, if intestinal cancer is a family disease, people often visit a doctor just because of a simple stomach ache.