What Causes Abdominal Cramping?
Abdominal cramping is defined as painful contractions of the muscles which occur in the abdomen, stomach, or intestinal area. The pain can be acute and sudden, or chronic and gradual. Abdominal pain is more often minor, but in some cases, can reflect a serious medical condition. Typically, abdominal cramping is a symptom of another condition, such as diarrhea, lactose intolerance, excessive gas, constipation, colic in infants, or the stomach flu.
Cramps may sometimes be felt in the abdomen, even when they arise from organs that are in close proximity, but not necessarily within, the abdominal cavity. This is known as referred pain, because the pain is being referred to the abdomen from another area of the body. Some examples of this type of pain are kidney and gallbladder stones, which are felt in the abdomen.
The female organs, such as the ovaries and uterus, are often responsible for abdominal cramping. Menstrual cramps often accompany monthly menstruation, but other disorders may cause a similar sensation. Endometriosis occurs when tissue from the uterus is displaced, and may cause painful abdominal cramps. Uterine fibroids, benign tumors that appear in the walls of the uterus, and ovarian cysts, which are usually also benign and appear on the ovaries, are two primary causes of abdominal cramps in women.
Other possible causes of abdominal cramping include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers, diverticular disease or diverticulitis, bowel obstruction, food allergies or poisoning, hernia, urinary tract infections, pancreatitis or inflamed pancreas, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis. These are all serious medical conditions, and a physician should be consulted if there is evidence of any of these problems. If abdominal cramping persists for longer than a few days, one of these conditions may be the culprit.
Some forms of cancer may also cause abdominal cramping, such as liver, colon, ovarian, stomach, and pancreatic cancer. These are serious conditions, but more uncommon than other causes. Other unusual causes of cramps include somatization disorder, which is an emotional disorder that causes abdominal pain, and strep throat in children.
In rare cases, abdominal cramping may be an indication of a medical emergency. If an inflamed organ ruptures in the abdomen, this can cause extreme pain similar to cramping, a stomach that is stiff to the touch, and is usually accompanied by a fever. This is most commonly appendicitis, but may also be caused by the rupture of other organs. If any of these symptoms are exhibited, seek medical attention immediately.
Written by C. Ausbrooks
