Stomach pain can sometimes indicate a serious health issue like bowel cancer, so it is essential to recognize the key gastric symptoms that signal severe health conditions and address them early. Below are the primary gastric symptoms that indicate a serious health problem, according to the British newspaper "The Sun":
**Pain Accompanied by Blood in Stool: Bowel Cancer**
Dr. Sarah Jarvis, Director of the Patients Access Center, stated that one of the most dangerous reasons for blood in your stool is bowel cancer. Symptoms include abdominal pain, changes in your usual bathroom habits, the need to strain when passing stool, and the presence of blood in the stool. Blood can also be a sign of a gastric ulcer or gastroenteritis or ulcerative colitis.
**Sharp Abdominal Pain: Appendicitis or Stomach Ulcer**
Dr. Jarvis noted that sudden, sharp pain can be a symptom of various unpleasant conditions. A very sudden and severe pain likely indicates something serious, so it’s worth having it checked quickly. Possible causes include kidney stones, appendicitis, perforated ulcers, ectopic pregnancy in women, and bowel obstruction.
**Pain Accompanied by Nausea: Gastrointestinal Disorder**
Nausea with stomach pain may indicate a gastrointestinal disorder or food poisoning, often spreading pain throughout the abdomen and causing severe cramping, usually accompanied by diarrhea.
**Pain Accompanied by Unexplained Weight Loss: Cancer**
Unexpected weight loss can be a very concerning sign that something is wrong. If accompanied by abdominal pain, it may indicate cancer, pancreatitis, or inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or colitis.
**Pain Accompanied by Fever: Infections**
According to Dr. Jarvis, fever is usually a result of infection or inflammation, and potential causes include:
- Appendicitis, where pain starts around the navel and then moves to the lower right abdomen.
- Food poisoning or gastroenteritis
- Gallbladder infection (pain in the upper abdomen or upper right abdomen)
- Diverticulitis (inflammation in the pockets of the colon)
- Pelvic infection in women or an abscess in the abdominal cavity.
