Pain upper left abdomen under ribs

Pain in your upper left abdomen under your ribs can have a variety of causes. There are several important organs in this area, including the spleen, kidney, pancreas, stomach, colon, and lung. Life-threatening causes include heart attack.

Individuals can experience a painful sensation in the upper part of the left abdomen directly under their ribs for several reasons. Some of the possible causes will include gastrointestinal conditions and problems or an injury that affects specific organs around the left upper part of their body. The rib cage is attached to the spine and the breastbone, while the ribs perform the function of protecting many of the vital organs. The organs found on the left-hand side include:. Here is an overview of 10 common causes of left upper abdominal pain that occurs under the ribcage, along with when an individual with these symptoms should seek medical attention. Pain that occurs frequently in the upper abdomen could be IBS.

Pain upper left abdomen under ribs

Your left ribs protect the organs that sit below them, like your heart and your stomach. Pain in this area can be caused by injury, infection, or an underlying condition. If you have pain in your chest, you might worry about a serious condition, such as a heart attack. Depending on the cause, left rib pain might feel sharp and stabbing, or dull and aching. For many people, pain in this area is due to a benign not harmful , treatable cause. Chest pain can sometimes signal a medical emergency, such as a heart attack. Heart attack symptoms include :. If you think you could be having a heart attack, call or local emergency services right away. Your rib cage consists of 24 ribs — 12 on the left and 12 on the right side of your body. Their function is to protect the organs that lie beneath them.

Costochondritis is a condition that causes inflammation in the cartilage found between the breastbone and the ribs. The tummy is a common place for a shingles rash. For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

People can experience pain under the ribs in the upper left abdomen for many reasons. Some possible causes include gastrointestinal issues and injuries to organs within the area. The rib cage attaches to the breastbone and spine, and the ribs protect many vital organs. On the left side of the body, these organs include the:. This article lists and explains 10 possible causes of upper left abdominal pain under the ribs and explains when a person with this symptom should contact a healthcare professional. Frequent pain in the abdomen can be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome IBS.

Right upper quadrant pain can be caused by various conditions, including gallstones, kidney stones, and hepatitis. Your abdomen is divided into four quarters or quadrants. Imagine a vertical line that divides your abdomen in half. Then, imagine a horizontal line at the level of your belly button. The uppermost quarter on your right-hand side is your right upper quadrant RUQ. Pain in your RUQ could be an indicator of several health conditions. In some cases, it may require emergency medical attention. Pain in the upper right quadrant can be a sign of many health conditions, some of which are serious. Some symptoms may indicate a medical emergency. You may need immediate medical attention if you have:.

Pain upper left abdomen under ribs

Costochondritis kos-toe-kon-DRY-tis is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone sternum. Pain caused by costochondritis might mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions. Costochondritis most commonly affects the upper ribs on the left-hand side of your body. Pain is often worst where the rib cartilage attaches to the breastbone sternum , but it can also occur where the cartilage attaches to the rib.

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See the relevant leaflet for the condition with which you have been diagnosed. We look at a number of different causes of pain, ranging in severity, in the lower right abdomen. The lower part of your lungs and the upper part of your tummy are separated only by the sheet of muscle called the diaphragm. Share this article. Other people find they continue to get a pain long after the shingles rash is gone. For this reason, when a person has broken ribs they should seek medical attention immediately when: The pain in the chest becomes worse They start to develop pain in the shoulder Experience chronic shortness-of-breath Start to cough up blood 5. However, it can also be associated with injury to any other organs located in the upper left abdomen, such as the heart, spleen, pancreas, lung or left kidney. Symptoms include diarrhea or constipation and bloating. A person with this condition should seek medical attention immediately. Abdominal bloating…. For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani accessni. Pain that occurs frequently in the upper abdomen could be IBS. Gonzalo Ramirez Psychologist and GP.

Epigastric pain affects the middle of the upper abdomen, just below the ribcage. It is common during pregnancy. Other causes include indigestion, acid reflux and GERD, peptic ulcer disease, and more.

You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Broken ribs can sometimes puncture surrounding organs. When is left rib pain an emergency? Here's what could be causing it and when you should seek emergency treatment. Pancreatitis occurs when your pancreas is inflamed. What to do: You should reduce your activity and rest. Learn what you can do and when you should see a doctor. What to do: Spleen inflammation can be confirmed by a doctor through physical assessment of the presenting symptoms and abdominal palpation combined with blood work that looks at blood counts, liver function, lipase levels and other rheumatological tests. Jun 5, Written By Diana Wells. Learn more about symptoms and treatment for pneumonia.