What to Do About Abdominal Pain When You’re Not Sure

Abdominal pain is never fun to deal with. Sometimes it can be caused by something mild, such as gas or indigestion. However, in some cases, abdominal pain can be a sign that something a bit more serious is going on with your health and well being. Unfortunately, most people tend to simply symptoms such as abdominal pain when they come up, assuming that they will just go away on their own. But there’s a better approach that can keep you safe and healthy. Here are a few ideas if you’re not sure what to do about abdominal pain:

Try to Diagnose the Source of the Problem and Severity of Your Symptoms

There is almost nothing more positive for your health than knowing your own body. When you know how your body tends to behave and respond to outside input, then it’s easier to tell whether your abdominal pain is the result of something in your routine, or something more unusual. If you can, do your best to assess the source of the problem. Did you eat foods that you know are liable to cause issues with your stomach? Did you engage in an exercise that produces soreness in the abdominal area? In short, you need to try to determine how familiar the abdominal pain you’re experiencing is. If it’s anything out of the ordinary, then it’s a good idea to at least think about getting medical attention.

Assessing the severity of your symptoms is also important. Mild, persistent soreness is a very different thing from sharp stabbing pains that won’t go away. If you notice unusual symptoms that are quite severe, then you should never ignore them or assume that they will just go away.

Speak to a Primary Care Physician

In certain cases it may be appropriate to speak with your primary care physician about your problems. Your primary care physician should have a knowledge of your personal health history, which can help to illuminate any underlying issues that are causing your abdominal pain. Furthermore, your primary care physician should be able to suggest lifestyle changes that reduce the amount of pain you experience on a day to day basis. As with most other symptoms, seeing your primary care physician is often an excellent way to understand your health issues so you can make all the right adjustments.

Visit an Emergency Care Center or an Urgent Care Clinic Near You

Of course if you are experiencing symptoms that are quite severe and you don’t know what to do about abdominal pain, then you should never hesitate to seek out emergency medical treatment. As a matter of fact, in a lot of cases taking this kind of action could even save your life, or at least help you to avoid more serious issues from developing. Even so, if you are experiencing problems such as stomach pain, difficulty breathing, or chest pain, it’s helpful to know that there are probably urgent care healthcare services nearby that could provide you with the medical attention that you need to return to health.

Did you know that in the 2015 fiscal year, urgent care centers reported seeing an average of nearly 12,000 patients? That amounts to an average of three patient care visits per hour or 32 visits each day. Even if you don’t know what to do about abdominal pain, it’s a good idea to do your part to be seen by the kinds of medical professionals that can assess your issues with accuracy and professionalism. It’s easy to assume that your case is beyond repair, but that is hardly ever the case. If you seek the right treatments in an appropriate time frame, your chances of treatment and recovery are high. It’s usually best to have a plan in place before any kind of medical emergency arises. Doing so will keep you from panicking when you do find yourself in the midst of a health crisis, regardless of how severe it may be.

At Legacy ER, we are happy to provide you with the medical attention and treatments that you and your family need. Whether you are not sure what to do about abdominal pain, chest pain, or any other medical emergency, then you can rest assured in our staff’s ability to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Contact us now for more information, or to get set up with your first appointment.