Stomach vs. Abdominal Pain: Understanding the Difference

 6 mins

Topic

  • About Belly Pain

Stomach pain and cramps might be funny when they happen to Finch in American Pie, but they’re no laughing matter when they happen to you! What exactly is stomach pain, what causes it, and is it the same as abdominal pain?

The digestive system plays a crucial role in many of these conditions, as it encompasses several organs that can be sources of pain. If you're dealing with discomfort, over-the-counter options like tummy ache medicine in the Philippines can provide relief. Products such as Buscopan® are also commonly recommended for specific conditions.

What is causing abdominal pains? Read on to find out.

Stomach ache vs. Abdominal Pain: What’s the Difference?

People often use the term “stomach ache” when referring to abdominal pain, but the two are not exactly the same.

Stomach ache is usually cramping pain in the upper abdomen, slightly to the left. By contrast, abdominal pain can be felt anywhere between your chest and groin. This is because your abdomen covers this entire area. It works like a cavity, hosting several vital organs in addition to the stomach. Stomach pain is only one of the many types of abdominal pain one might experience.

The abdominal cavity houses the following organs5:

  • Stomach
  • Pancreas
  • Liver
  • Gallbladder
  • Duodenum
  • Small intestine
  • Colon (large intestine)
  • Appendix
  • Bladder
  • Kidneys
  • Spleen
  • Pelvic organs

Abdominal pain could be caused by an issue with any of these organs listed above, not even mentioning the rather large amount of blood vessels also found in this area of the body5.

So, while you may be tempted to say you have a “stomach ache” when you feel pain anywhere in your abdominal area, “abdominal pain” is probably a better term to describe it.

If you have abdominal pain, the causes could even be multiple, and not necessarily related to the stomach itself at all.

Abdominal Pain with Bloating

Bloating is a feeling of discomfort in which the belly feels full, tight, and swollen. When it is accompanied by abdominal cramps, the gas is often trapped wind, or flatulence. You can take medication like Buscopan® for bloating when accompanied by abdominal cramps, as it helps relax the muscles in the gut. However, if bloating and cramps persist, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended for proper diagnosis and treatment.

When Accompanied by Abdominal Cramps

Usually, abdominal cramps are associated with less serious symptoms and conditions, such as:

  • Gas, bloating, and diarrhea2. Here, the pain often gets better after you poop.
  • Belly bug (gastroenteritis or food poisoning); having sudden belly cramps and diarrhea usually indicates a belly infection with a virus or a bacterium7.
  • functional abdominal cramping pain

Period pain is another common cause of abdominal cramps, often resulting from smooth muscle spasms in the uterus, which can be alleviated by treatments or remedies that help relax the muscles in the gut.

To learn more about potential causes of abdominal pain, and what to do for self-care, take our abdominal pain questionnaire.

If you have FACP once in a while, it may be helpful to keep track of the foods that trigger your episodes and remove them from your diet. For example, avoiding foods high in FODMAP (Foods with High Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, and Monosaccharides and Polyols) might be enough to clear your symptoms11. Or, if your pain tends to be caused by stress, relaxation techniques and avoiding the stress triggers may be enough to eliminate the pain9.

Treatment with OTC antispasmodics such as Hyoscine-N-butylbromide (Buscopan®) may also relieve your symptoms9.

To find out more about FACP and ways to treat it, read our article here.

To find out more about the different locations of abdominal pain and what each means, head on to Understanding Abdominal Pain: Locations of Abdominal Pain.

What Is Functional Abdominal Cramping Pain?

Sometimes, you may have abdominal cramps that come and go without any obvious cause9. This is called functional abdominal cramping pain (FACP). FACP is when there is no ‘physical abnormality’ causing the pain. Non-functional abdominal pain is called organic abdominal pain, and this is when there is a structural abnormality because of an illness or disease that leads to the pain.

The cramps from FACP may last between a few minutes and a couple of hours9. The cramps may occur on their own, with no other symptoms, or you may also experience9:

  • indigestion
  • pain in the upper right side of your abdomen
  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • bloating

If you miss a dose of your medication, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.

Don’t let belly pain hold you back.

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Find your Hyoscine N-butylbromide (Buscopan®)

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