The lower abdomen indicates the area between the belly button and the pelvic bone. Sometimes, you may experience lower abdominal pain owing to several reasons, starting from indigestion to appendicitis and a few others. However, there are certain serious ailments that are indicated through abdominal pain. So, if you find blood in your stool, vomiting, or other symptoms due to this pain, then it might be a cause of concern.
Hence, read on to figure out the intricacies and remedies for lower abdominal pain and solve it easily to lead a healthier life.
Causes of Lower Abdominal Pain
Several conditions can cause lower abdominal pain, and according to the location and severity, the doctor determines the cause of the pain. So, let’s understand the causes of lower abdominal pain:
- Trapped Gas
It happens when the gas gets stuck within the digestive tract. It causes bloating of the gut. As a result, you feel pain in the lower abdominal area. The pain reduces when the colonic gut bacteria break the undigested fibres. Bear in mind, that trapped gas doesn’t always result in pain.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS changes your bowel movement and causes lower abdominal pain. Constipation and diarrhoea are the common causes of IBS.
- Appendicitis
When the appendix gets blocked by the stool, it causes abdominal pain which is known as appendicitis. Also, this disease causes inflammation of the abdominal wall, leading to irritation and pain. The pain moves from the belly button to the lower abdominal area.
- Constipation
Constipation happens when you follow a diet with low fibre, do not drink enough water, and any blockage in the gut. As a result, it causes pain in the lower belly and gives a feeling of fullness every time, even without eating any food.
- Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are crystallised minerals that cause a barrier inside the kidney. At first, you may experience pain in your back. But when the stones try to pass through the ureter (the tube which carries urine from the kidney to the bladder), they get stuck. As a result, it causes lower abdominal pain. This pain can appear as a sharp pain or a constant dull pain.
- Kidney Infection
Bacterial or viral infection causes kidney infection and causes pain in the lower abdomen, back, or groyne area. This infection begins in the bladder and spreads to the kidney. It also causes symptoms like foul-smelling and bloody urine.
- Diverticular Disease
It happens due to the formation of small pouch-like structures on the lining of the colon. Some people may develop this small pouch-like structure on their colon, which is not problematic. These small structures are called diverticulitis. But if the diverticulitis causes complications, then it’s called diverticular disease. It causes sudden and dull pain in the lower region of the abdomen. Moreover, there are other symptoms of this disease, such as – constipation, bloating, and diarrhoea.
| Did You Know? Food allergies can cause pain in the lower abdominal area. Some common foods that cause allergies are – milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, etc. |
Home Remedies for Lower Abdominal Pain
You can improve the symptoms of lower abdominal pain by using the remedies for lower abdominal pain. Let’s see how to treat this pain at home:
- Drink Plenty of Water: Drinking plenty of water helps to digest and absorb the nutrients from the foods. If your body becomes dehydrated, it will make your digestion difficult. Thus, drinking sufficient water is important to counter this issue. Also, it’s a good remedy for treating heartburn.
- Ginger: People having poor digestion can get effective results by adding ginger to their food or drinking ginger tea. You can also try natural ginger ales to cure upset stomach.
- Avoid Lying Down: You should avoid lying down if you have an upset stomach issue. When you go to bed, your body becomes horizontal. As a result, the acid within the stomach moves upward and backwards. It causes heartburn and indigestion. Thus, you should avoid lying down just after having a meal.
- BRAT Foods: BRAT means Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast, which are the recommended foods during diarrhoea. They reduce stool and don’t contain any substance which irritates the stomach and intestine. Thus, these foods give relief from diarrhoea, vomiting, and lower abdominal pain.
- Basil: Basil includes the elements which reduce gas. Moreover, it has linoleic acid, which incorporates anti-inflammatory properties.
- Avoid Difficult-to-Digest Food: According to the research, avoiding certain types of food can reduce lower abdominal pain. These include spicy foods, acidic or fatty foods, greasy foods, wheat products, and some specific fruits.
- Avoid Smoking and Drinking: Smoking and drinking alcohol cause indigestion and gastrointestinal disorders. Thus, by avoiding these, you can improve your gut condition and quality of life.
| Expert Tip: Using a hot water bag or warm wheat pack can help you get relief from abdominal pain. |
Conclusion
Lower abdominal pain occurs due to several causes. Some are mild, and you can eliminate them with simple home remedies, while others like appendicitis, kidney infection, etc., are more serious, and you must consult a medical expert.
