Epigastric Pain Causes And Symptoms

Epigastric pain causes and symptoms. What is Epigastric ? It is a region of the abdomen. Epigastric is the region that lies above the stomach. It is a medical terminology and demarcation method. However, many people too know about this demarcation and use these terms when they consult a doctor. Any pain that is felt in the upper central region of the abdomen above the navel is called epigastric pain. A pain that is localized in this region helps the doctor to narrow down the conditions which can cause such a pain.
Causes of epigastric pain and their symptoms : 
The major causes of most epigastric pain are :

• Stomach ulcer : If ulcers develop in the stomach, then they cause sharp pain just after eating food. This pain is felt in the epigastric region and sometimes in the left side of abdomen only. 
• Liver disease can cause pain in the epigastric region. The liver is a very large organ and it spans many regions of the abdomen. If the liver is affected by a disease, like hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis etc, then it usually shows up yellowing of eyes and skin. These symptoms are the greatest help in suspecting a liver disease. 
• Gallbladder attack : Gallbladder is a pouch shaped organ attached to the liver. It stores and sends bile to the digestive tract. In some people, stone like deposits gather in the gallbladder. These are gallstones. If they block the normal flow of bile, it leads to an intense pain in the epigastric and right side of the abdomen. This kind of epigastric pain is a medical emergency. 
• Pancreas inflammation : This condition is not very prevalent. But, it cause pain in the epigastric region which can even be felt in the middle back region. Nausea and often vomiting occurs. This condition is a medical emergency too. 
• Intestinal blockage : If there is some blockage in the intestine near the epigastric region, then it causes pain. This usually occurs more often in children. Intestinal obstruction causes violent vomiting and generally the vomit is more foul smelling. A major cause of intestinal obstruction is volvulus ( a rotation or twisting of the intestine at some place ). 
• Hernia of the stomach, in which the stomach crosses into the chest cavity is a painful condition that causes pain in the epigastric region of the abdomen. 
• Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease that indicates irregularity in bowel movements. Sometimes there is constipation and sometimes there is diarrhea. This condition affects many people and it causes random pain in the abdomen. Many times it leads to pain in the upper abdomen. 

There are many more specific causes of epigastric pain. Many times, the cause of pain is not the digestive system, but something else, like heart attack and lung diseases like pneumonia. 
Severe epigastric pain should not be ignored. One should carefully notice the location of most intense pain and other symptoms that show up. They can be very useful in diagnosis. The abdomen is a large region consisting of numerous organs. It can become difficult to pin point the exact cause of pain.