Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIndigestionGastritisGERDHeartburnGallstonesLiver AbscessAppendicitisPeptic UlcerBowel ObstructionDiverticulosisHeart AttackPneumoniaPulmonary EmbolismTrauma
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Indigestion
Gastritis
GERD
Heartburn
Gallstones
Liver Abscess
Appendicitis
Peptic Ulcer
Bowel Obstruction
Diverticulosis
Heart Attack
Pneumonia
Pulmonary Embolism
Trauma
Upper abdominal pain has many causes from indigestion and heartburn to gallstones or a liver abscess. Much of the time, the pain is temporary and resolves on its own. But sometimes upper abdominal pain is due to an urgent medical condition, like a heart attack.
Your upper abdomen contains a number of organs. These include:
Knowing which organ or part of the body is affected can help your healthcare provider determine the cause and type of treatment you need.
This article will describe the common causes of upper abdominal pain, including the treatment options and when it is time to see a healthcare provider.
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Abdominal Pain: What You Should Know
Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a common condition. It causes symptoms like:
The cause of indigestion is typically overeating, eating too fast, or eating spicy, greasy, and fatty foods. It can also occur if you lie down shortly after eating because this can make digestion more difficult.
Treatment for indigestion ranges from lifestyle changes, such as avoiding food triggers and reducing caffeine or alcohol intake, to over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications such as antacids and stomach acid reduction medicine.
7 Best Antacids for Heartburn Relief, According to Doctors
Gastritisis the inflammation of the lining of the stomach. The causes of gastritis are described as erosive and non-erosive. Erosive causes include stress, alcohol, and some drugs (includingnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugslike aspirin). Non-erosive causes include a common digestive bacteria calledHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori).
Symptoms of gastritis include:
Thetreatment of gastritiscan vary based on the cause. Options include:
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)is a condition that occurs when the acid in your stomach flows back into the esophagus. This causes irritation to the lining of the esophagus and can lead to symptoms such as:
Treatment options for GERD include weight loss, avoiding food triggers, and quitting smoking. OTC antacids, H2 blockers, or PPIs can block or suppress stomach acid production. In severe cases, a surgery known as aNissen fundoplicationcan strengthen the muscular valve between the esophagus (feeding tube) and stomach.
The Connection Between GERD and Anxiety
Heartburnisn’t a condition on its own but rather a symptom of another disorder. Health issues such as acid reflux and GERD are thought to be the main culprits behind heartburn.
Heartburn presents with burning in the chest, typically felt behind the breastbone. The pain can also radiate to the throat and neck, and you can also have a bitter, sour taste in the back of the throat.
Heartburn is rarely serious and most often treated at home using OTC medications (antacids, H2 blockers, or PPIs) and lifestyle changes.
How Long Does Heartburn Last?
Thegallbladderis an organ that is located on the right side of the abdomen beneath the liver. When the digestive fluid in the gallbladder 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 pass them on its own. If symptoms occur, surgery may be needed to remove them.
The symptoms associated with gallstones include:
If the body doesn’t pass the gallstones on its own, there are medications that can help dissolve them.
The surgical removal of gallstones can be done with a procedure called endoscopic retrogradecholangiopancreatography(ERCP). If the entire gallbladder needs to be removed, it is done with a surgery called acholecystectomy.
Gallbladder Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Symptoms of a liver abscess can include:
To treat a liver abscess, drainage of the abscess, along with antibiotic treatment, is needed. If the abscess is severe,resection surgerymay have to be performed to remove the abscess and surrounding tissues.
How to Tell Gallbladder and Liver Pain Apart
Appendicitisis the inflammation and infection of theappendix. The blockage of the part of the organ that empties into the large intestine (called the lumen) is the main cause of appendicitis. This blockage causes the appendix to swell and fill withpus. If not treated appropriately, the appendix can rupture (burst).
Symptoms of appendicitis Include:
Appendicitis is usually treated with surgery called anappendectomyto remove the appendix. Before surgery, you may be given antibiotics to help treat the infection.
Apeptic ulceris an open sore that develops in the stomach orduodenum(the first section of the small intestine). If the stomach alone is affected, it is called a gastric ulcer. If the duodenum alone is involved, it is called a duodenal ulcer.
Symptoms of a peptic ulcer include:
Symptoms may be controlled with antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors.
IfH. pyloriis involved, a combination of antibiotics and bismuth can be prescribed to clear the infection (although it may take several attempts and different combinations of antibiotics to achieve sustained clearance).
A bowel obstruction is the mechanical or functional blockage of the intestines. Common causes include:
Symptoms of a bowel obstruction include:
Bowel obstructions are treated as a medical emergency. Treatments includeenemasor the placement of a small mesh tube (stent) to open up the blockage. Surgery is needed when the intestine is completely blocked or the blood supply is cut off.
Diverticular Disease
Symptoms of diverticular disease include:
If you have mild diverticulosis, you may be prescribed a course of antibiotics and be placed on afull liquidorlow-residue dietto place less stress on the intestine. Surgery may be needed to stop intestinal bleeding or repair perforations.
Aheart attack, also called amyocardial infarction, is the result of a blocked artery to the heart. Abdominal symptoms are not uncommon, which are sometimes mistaken for gastritis.
Symptoms of a heart attack include:
Treatment for a heart attack is done in the hospital and can include medications such as aspirin, antiplatelet agents, blood-thinning medications, nitroglycerin to help improve blood flow, and ACE inhibitors to reduce blood pressure.
How Many People Survive a Heart Attack?
Pneumonia often presents with sharp or stabbing chest pain that can worsen when someone coughs or breathes deeply. Severe abdominal pain sometimes occurs when the lower lobes of the lungs are affected.
Other symptoms include:
The treatment of pneumonia can include antibiotics, fever-reducing medications, andoxygen therapyin severe cases.
Types of Pneumonia
Apulmonary embolismis a blood clot in the lungs. The condition can be life-threatening and cause damage to the lungs because of restricted blood flow and a decrease in oxygen levels. As many as 30% of people who suffer from pulmonary embolism will die from the condition.
Abdominal symptoms can develop when the clot affects blood circulation between the lungs, heart, and liver. The blockage can also affect circulation the thediaphragm(the thin muscle separating the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity), triggering pain.
Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism can include:
Pulmonary embolism is usually treated in a hospital, and treatment can involve anticoagulants (blood thinners), compression stockings, and sometimes surgery to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots in the future.
Bodily trauma can also lead to upper abdominal pain. Trauma to the abdomen can damage several of the internal organs including the bowel, liver, intestines, andspleen.
Blunt trauma to the upper body can cause upper abdominal pain. Common causes of blunt trauma and injury to the abdomen include car accidents, assaults, falls, or various types of recreational accidents.
The other symptoms that are associated with trauma will depend on the type of injury and other parts of the body that are affected. It is thought that trauma to the abdomen is one of the leading causes of death in young people worldwide.
If you were involved in an accident or were injured and are now experiencing upper abdominal pain, it is best to see your healthcare provider. Treatment will vary depending on the extent of the damage and the type of injury.
When Abdominal Pain Is an Emergency
How and When to Use Chest Seals
Summary
There are many causes of upper abdominal pain. Most are directly related to the digestive tract, such as heartburn, indigestion, gastritis, GERD, gallstones, cholecystitis, appendicitis, liver abscess, peptic ulcer, bowel obstruction, and diverticular disease.
But upper abdominal pain can also be a symptom of a heart attack, a serious lung problem like pneumonia or pulmonary embolism, or a traumatic injury.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Madisch A, Andresen V, Enck P, Labenz J, Frieling T, Schemann M.The Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Mar 30;115(13):222-232. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0222National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of gastritis and gastropathy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for GERD.MedlinePlus.Heartburn.Njeze GE.Gallstones.Niger J Surg.2013 Jul;19(2):49-55. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.119236Longworth S, Han J.Pyogenic liver abscess.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken).2015 Aug 24;6(2):51-54. doi:10.1002/cld.487Bhangu A, Søreide K, Di Saverio S, Assarsson JH, Drake FT.Acute appendicitis: modern understanding of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1278-1287. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00275-5American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease.Catena F, De Simone B, Coccolini F, Di Saverio S, Sartelli M, Ansaloni L.Bowel obstruction: a narrative review for all physicians.World J Emerg Surg. 2019;14(1). doi:10.1186/s13017-019-0240-7American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease.Fang J, Luncheon C, Ayala C, Odom E, Loustalot F.Awareness of Heart Attack Symptoms and Response Among Adults - United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2019 Feb 8;68(5):101-106. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6805a2American Lung Association.Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis.American Lung Association.Pneumonia treatment and recovery.Tarbox AK, Swaroop M.Pulmonary embolism.Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci. 2013;3(1):69-72. doi:10.4103/2229-5151.109427Mehta N, Babu S, Venugopal K.An experience with blunt abdominal trauma: evaluation, management and outcome.Clin Pract.2014 Jun 18;4(2):599. doi:10.4081/cp.2014.599Mehta H.Abdominal pain.Clic Pathway Emerg Med.2016 Feb 22:329–345. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_26
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Madisch A, Andresen V, Enck P, Labenz J, Frieling T, Schemann M.The Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Mar 30;115(13):222-232. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0222National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of gastritis and gastropathy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for GERD.MedlinePlus.Heartburn.Njeze GE.Gallstones.Niger J Surg.2013 Jul;19(2):49-55. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.119236Longworth S, Han J.Pyogenic liver abscess.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken).2015 Aug 24;6(2):51-54. doi:10.1002/cld.487Bhangu A, Søreide K, Di Saverio S, Assarsson JH, Drake FT.Acute appendicitis: modern understanding of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1278-1287. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00275-5American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease.Catena F, De Simone B, Coccolini F, Di Saverio S, Sartelli M, Ansaloni L.Bowel obstruction: a narrative review for all physicians.World J Emerg Surg. 2019;14(1). doi:10.1186/s13017-019-0240-7American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease.Fang J, Luncheon C, Ayala C, Odom E, Loustalot F.Awareness of Heart Attack Symptoms and Response Among Adults - United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2019 Feb 8;68(5):101-106. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6805a2American Lung Association.Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis.American Lung Association.Pneumonia treatment and recovery.Tarbox AK, Swaroop M.Pulmonary embolism.Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci. 2013;3(1):69-72. doi:10.4103/2229-5151.109427Mehta N, Babu S, Venugopal K.An experience with blunt abdominal trauma: evaluation, management and outcome.Clin Pract.2014 Jun 18;4(2):599. doi:10.4081/cp.2014.599Mehta H.Abdominal pain.Clic Pathway Emerg Med.2016 Feb 22:329–345. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_26
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Madisch A, Andresen V, Enck P, Labenz J, Frieling T, Schemann M.The Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Mar 30;115(13):222-232. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0222National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of gastritis and gastropathy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for GERD.MedlinePlus.Heartburn.Njeze GE.Gallstones.Niger J Surg.2013 Jul;19(2):49-55. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.119236Longworth S, Han J.Pyogenic liver abscess.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken).2015 Aug 24;6(2):51-54. doi:10.1002/cld.487Bhangu A, Søreide K, Di Saverio S, Assarsson JH, Drake FT.Acute appendicitis: modern understanding of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1278-1287. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00275-5American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease.Catena F, De Simone B, Coccolini F, Di Saverio S, Sartelli M, Ansaloni L.Bowel obstruction: a narrative review for all physicians.World J Emerg Surg. 2019;14(1). doi:10.1186/s13017-019-0240-7American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease.Fang J, Luncheon C, Ayala C, Odom E, Loustalot F.Awareness of Heart Attack Symptoms and Response Among Adults - United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2019 Feb 8;68(5):101-106. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6805a2American Lung Association.Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis.American Lung Association.Pneumonia treatment and recovery.Tarbox AK, Swaroop M.Pulmonary embolism.Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci. 2013;3(1):69-72. doi:10.4103/2229-5151.109427Mehta N, Babu S, Venugopal K.An experience with blunt abdominal trauma: evaluation, management and outcome.Clin Pract.2014 Jun 18;4(2):599. doi:10.4081/cp.2014.599Mehta H.Abdominal pain.Clic Pathway Emerg Med.2016 Feb 22:329–345. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_26
Madisch A, Andresen V, Enck P, Labenz J, Frieling T, Schemann M.The Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Mar 30;115(13):222-232. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0222
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of gastritis and gastropathy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for GERD.
MedlinePlus.Heartburn.
Njeze GE.Gallstones.Niger J Surg.2013 Jul;19(2):49-55. doi:10.4103/1117-6806.119236
Longworth S, Han J.Pyogenic liver abscess.Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken).2015 Aug 24;6(2):51-54. doi:10.1002/cld.487
Bhangu A, Søreide K, Di Saverio S, Assarsson JH, Drake FT.Acute appendicitis: modern understanding of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1278-1287. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00275-5
American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease.
Catena F, De Simone B, Coccolini F, Di Saverio S, Sartelli M, Ansaloni L.Bowel obstruction: a narrative review for all physicians.World J Emerg Surg. 2019;14(1). doi:10.1186/s13017-019-0240-7
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease.
Fang J, Luncheon C, Ayala C, Odom E, Loustalot F.Awareness of Heart Attack Symptoms and Response Among Adults - United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2019 Feb 8;68(5):101-106. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6805a2
American Lung Association.Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis.
American Lung Association.Pneumonia treatment and recovery.
Tarbox AK, Swaroop M.Pulmonary embolism.Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci. 2013;3(1):69-72. doi:10.4103/2229-5151.109427
Mehta N, Babu S, Venugopal K.An experience with blunt abdominal trauma: evaluation, management and outcome.Clin Pract.2014 Jun 18;4(2):599. doi:10.4081/cp.2014.599
Mehta H.Abdominal pain.Clic Pathway Emerg Med.2016 Feb 22:329–345. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2710-6_26
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
