Upper abdominal pain originates in the organs and tissues located between your ribs and belly button.
Pain in the upper abdomen often begins in an organ.
However, muscles in the area and tissues lining the abdominal cavity may be involved.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Gastritis
Gastritisis inflammation of the tissues lining the stomach.
There are two types of gastritis: erosive and nonerosive.
Erosive gastritis
Erosive gastritis includes conditions that wear away the stomach lining and cause ulcers.
This bang out is usually sparked by anH.
pyloribacterial infection, but can also begin with a viral or fungal infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms of gastritis include:
Thetreatment of gastritiscan vary based on the cause.
A weak LES allows stomach acid to reflux.
Treatment options for GERD include weight loss, avoiding food triggers, and quitting smoking.
In severe cases, a surgery known as aNissen fundoplicationcan strengthen the LES.
Heartburn
Heartburnis a symptom of acid reflux, GERD, and other upper abdominal problems.
You experience the intense burning and pain of heartburn when stomach acid gets into the esophagus.
In some cases, the stomach acid can travel into your throat, causing a bitter, sour taste.
The discomfort is worse after a meal, when lying down after eating, or bending over.
You’re also more likely to have heartburn if you eat spicy foods or wear tight clothes.
Occasional heartburn is common and seldom causes long-lasting health problems.
Recurrent heartburn is the primary sign of GERD, which can cause esophageal erosion.
Gallstones
The gallbladder storesbile, a greenish-yellow fluid that supports digestion by breaking down fats.
When hardens, it formsgallstones.
These gallstones can be as large as a golf ball or as small as a grain of sand.
Many people with gallstones will have no symptoms, and the body will eliminate them through stool.
Or, you may need surgery.
Your healthcare provider can surgically remove gallstones with a procedure called endoscopic retrogradecholangiopancreatography(ERCP).
If the entire gallbladder needs to be removed, it is done with a surgery called acholecystectomy.
Pain resulting from kidney conditions may feel like it’s under your ribs.
Or, the pain may radiate to your lower abdomen or groin.
If the stomach alone is affected, it is called a gastric ulcer.
If the duodenum alone is involved, it is called a duodenal ulcer.
The most common causes are infection byH.
pyloriand the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) likeAdvil (ibuprofen)andAleve (naproxen).
pyloriis involved, your healthcare provider may prescribe a combination of antibiotics and bismuth to wipe the infection.
(It may take several attempts and different combinations of antibiotics to eliminate the infection.)
Pancreatitis
The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach.
It produces insulin and enzymes that digest foods.
You havepancreatitiswhen the organ becomes inflamed and swollen.
Transverse Colon Conditions
Your large intestine (colon) is like a frame around the small intestines.
The part that goes across your abdomen, the transverse colon, is in the upper abdominal cavity.
The artery travels through the center of your chest and abdomen.
An aorticaneurysmoccurs when a bulging pouch develops in the artery wall.
Blood flowing through the artery flows into the bulge, gradually enlarging it and filling it with blood.
When it gets too large, it can rupture, allowing blood to flow into your abdomen.
you’ve got the option to develop anabdominal aortic aneurysmanywhere between the ribs and belly button.
The symptoms of a rupture include:
A rupture is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.
For example, a heart attack may cause stomach pain.
The pain of appendicitis often begins around your belly button, feeling more like upper than lower abdominal pain.
Referred pain works both ways.
you’re free to have an upper abdominal condition that causes pain in a different area.
Upper abdominal pain can also signal a condition needing immediate medical attention.
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