The pain on the left side of the belly is most often a sign of excessive gas or constipation, especially when it is not very strong, appears in slings or causes other symptoms such as swollen belly, feeling of weight in the belly or burp more frequent .
However, this type of pain can also indicate problems that need treatment, such as kidney stone, endometriosis or diverticulitis, for example.
Thus, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist or general practitioner when:
- The pain is very intense or it suddenly appears;
- Other symptoms appear such as fever, blood in the stool, intense vomiting or yellowing of the skin;
- Symptoms do not improve after 2 days;
- It happens weight loss without apparent cause.
Rarely, pain on the left side of the belly is a sign of a heart attack, but this can happen when there are symptoms such as chest pain radiating to the belly, severe nausea, shortness of breath, and tingling of the arms. Know the top 10 heart attack symptoms.
1. Excess gases
Excess intestinal gas is a very frequent cause of belly pain and is more common in people who suffer from constipation due to the fact that the stool spends a lot of time in the intestine and therefore the bacteria have more time to make the fermentation and release gases.
However, the increase in intestinal gas also occurs through ingestion of air, such as talking while eating, chewing gum or drinking soft drinks, for example.
Other symptoms : swollen belly, feeling of heaviness in the belly, lack of appetite and frequent belching.
What to do : Take fennel tea 3 times a day as it helps to decrease the amount of gas in the intestine, as well as massaging the belly to push the gases and allow them to be released more easily. Here's how to do this massage.
Also check how you can change your diet to reduce the amount of gas:
2. Diverticulitis
This is one of the major bowel problems that cause pain on the left side of the belly. Diverticulitis occurs when small pockets of the bowel, known as diverticula, inflame causing a constant pain that does not improve
Other symptoms : fever over 38 ° C, loss of appetite, nausea, swollen belly and intercourse periods of constipation and diarrhea.
What to do : You should go to the hospital immediately to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment with antibiotics and analgesics. In addition, you should stay at rest and prefer a liquid diet by slowly inserting more solid foods into the food. Understand better how the treatment of diverticulitis is done.
3. Poor digestion
In bad digestion, the pain in the left side of the belly arises mainly after eating, and although it is more frequent in the upper part of the belly, near the pit of the stomach, it can also happen in the lower region.
Other symptoms : burning in the throat, feeling full of stomach, nausea, belching and tiredness.
What to do : Drink boldo or fennel tea because it facilitates digestion and alleviates symptoms, but always opt for a lighter food and with food of easy digestion, like bread, cookies without stuffing or fruits, for example. See more options to combat bad digestion.
4. Abdominal hernia
Abdominal hernias are small places in the abdomen where the muscle is weakened, and so the intestine can form a small protrusion that hurts or causes discomfort, especially when making some effort like laughing, coughing or going to the bathroom, for example. Hernias are often responsible for the presence of constant pain in the groin, since they are more frequent in this region.
Other symptoms : presence of a small bulge in the belly, redness in the place, nausea and vomiting.
What to do : You must consult a gastroenterologist or general practitioner to confirm the diagnosis and make the treatment, which is usually done with surgery to strengthen the abdominal muscles. See more about this surgery.
5. Kidney stone
This is another very common cause of belly pain which, although often related to the presence of pain in the lower back, can also radiate to the belly, especially in the region around the belly button.
Other symptoms : very severe pain in the back, pain when urinating, fever above 38ºC, nausea, red urine and difficulty to lie down.
What to do : It is usually necessary to go to the hospital to do analgesics directly into the vein and relieve pain, however, it may be necessary to have surgery or use ultrasound to break the stones.
Left abdominal pain in woman
In women, there are some causes that can cause pain on the left side of the belly and that do not arise in the man. Some are:
1. Menstrual cramps
Menstrual cramps are very common in women and occur 2 to 3 days before menstruation, lasting for another 3 to 5 days. While some women may not experience any discomfort, others may have very strong pains that radiate to the right or left side.
Other symptoms : bad mood, bloated belly sensation, irritability, frequent headache, anxiety and acne, for example.
What to do : Regular practice of physical exercise is a good way to relieve PMS symptoms, however drinking passion fruit juice or doing aromatherapy with lavender essential oil also seem to reduce the symptoms. See more tips in the video:
2. Ovary cyst
Although ovarian cyst rarely causes pain, there are some women who may feel mild discomfort or constant pain in the ovaries.
Other symptoms : swollen belly sensation, irregular menstruation, discomfort during intimate contact, and difficulty in getting pregnant.
What to do : You usually need to use oral contraceptives to regulate hormone levels and relieve symptoms, but surgery may also be needed to remove the cyst. Understand better how the treatment is done.
3. Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a fairly common problem, but usually does not cause symptoms, and is only identified when a woman can not become pregnant. However, some women may experience abdominal pain, especially on the sides of the navel.
Other symptoms : Severe pain during intimate contact, difficulty getting pregnant, irregular bleeding, excessive tiredness, and pain that worsens on bowel movements.
What to do : You should go to the gynecologist to do a pelvic ultrasound and confirm the diagnosis. Treatment, when necessary, is usually done with surgery. See treatment options for endometriosis.
4. Ectopic pregnancy
This is a frequent cause of pain on the side of the belly during pregnancy, but it can happen on both the right and left sides. The pain arises due to the growth of the fetus inside the tubes and can happen until the first 10 weeks of gestation.
Other symptoms : vaginal bleeding, feeling heavy in the vagina, pain in close contact, and swollen belly.
What to do : If a suspected ectopic pregnancy is suspected, you must go to the hospital quickly to stop the pregnancy, as the fetus can not develop outside the uterus. See how the treatment is done.
