1 Localization area

Before determining the possible causes of pain in the left side of the abdomen, I would like to note that it is not a separate organ, but contains a huge number of tissues and nerve endings, it contains a number of organs that ensure normal functioning of the body. It does not matter which part of the abdomen is aching, this is already a clear alarm, therefore, it is compulsory to apply to a qualified specialist.

In order to clearly define what makes the belly ache on the left, first you need to understand what to be in this place. In the left part of the abdomen are the following organs:

• spleen;
• stomach;
• intestines;
• pancreas;
• the left side of the diaphragm.

2 Spleen

Consider the possible causes of pain in the upper left abdomen. The spleen is located in the abdomen on the left and practically on the surface, so when you examine the doctor, you do not even need to press hard on it. The main function of this body is the timely removal of red blood cells from the blood. This happens every 120 days.

Pain in the left side of the abdomen can occur if the spleen has changed in size. The cause of this state of the body can be various diseases, for example, mononucleosis. As a consequence of this disease, the wrap on the spleen is stretched, which causes painful sensations in the left side of the abdomen. Due to the fact that the organ is close to the surface, the wrapper can be ruptured, this will bring even more pronounced pain sensations. It is because of possible breakthroughs in the spleen that people with mononucleosis should completely protect themselves from sudden movements, active lifestyles and heavy physical exertion. In determining the disease, the patient can, except for pain, observe the bluish color of the skin near the navel. This color is due to excessive accumulation of blood in the abdominal region.

3 Problems with intestines and stomach

It is possible that the discomfort in the left side of the abdomen may be caused by a malfunction in thework of the intestine. It is important to note that the pain in the left part is mostly due to the accumulation of gases. It can be felt by people with inflammatory diseases and intestinal pathologies, for example, diverticulum. The pain in the intestine is accompanied by symptoms such as an admixture of blood in the bowel movements, temperature and diarrhea. Understand that the pain on the left side of the abdomen was caused by the intestine, you can look at your bowel movements. If there is bright blood in the feces, then it means that hemorrhoids develop. If the feces contain dark blood, then there is bleeding in one of the small intestine.

The stomach is located on the left side of the abdomen. These kinds of irritants, like alcohol, excessively fatty foods, sharp spices and the abuse of medications provoke pain. Sometimes, pain may be accompanied by nausea and the urge to vomit. If the pain does not stop throughout the day, it is very important to seek help from a doctor, it is possible that there is a serious illness, such as an ulcer, gastritis or even a cancerous tumor.

4 Diaphragm and pancreas

In the human body there is a diaphragm separating the peritoneum from the thoracic cavity. In one part of the diaphragm there is an opening through which the esophagus passes into the stomach. With age, the muscles of a person become weaker, and the walls of the hole are stretched, thereby allowing some part of the stomach to fall into the abdominal cavity or into the chest cavity. This phenomenon is called diaphragmatic hernia. As you know, the stomach is acidic environment and because of this a person feels a pain in the abdomen, namely on the left side. Very often people confuse diaphragmatic hernia with heart attacks, but the hernia is characterized by exacerbation when flexing, and the heart for such movements practically does not respond. In any case, the pain in the left part must be diagnosed by a qualified medical professional.

The pancreas extends through the entire abdomen, to be more precise through its upper part. When the gland begins to become inflamed, the person feels pain on the left side or in the center of the abdomen. The nature of pain can be very diverse: in some, the left part seems to bulge, others sharp pain is replaced by aching, and sometimes has a paroxysmal character. Irritating the pancreas can be toxins, inflammatory diseases, cancerous tumors, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and long-term use of steroids and diuretics. Suspicion that the abdominal pain on the left is caused by the pancreas may be justified if the patient suffers from diabetes, has a genetic disposition to pancreatitis, problems with the bladder, or takes hormonal medications.

5 Diseases of the respiratory tract and mechanical injuries

It is not uncommon for people, after respiratory diseases, to feel pain in the abdomen on the left. This is easily explained by the fact that the pleurisy, pneumonia and other diseases of the respiratory system cause inflammation and irritation, which when inhaled can give into the diaphragm. Accordingly, the left side of the abdomen will ache in the person.

Mechanical injuries often become the main cause of abdominal pain on the left. For example, if the rib is injured, independently on the left or right, the pain will be felt throughout the abdominal cavity. The left side of the abdomen, if the cause is a mechanical trauma, will hurt very much, intensifying with movements. The pain will constantly build up when you sneeze or cough. The left part can hurt due to a hip joint injury, a malfunction in the nerve endings, cartilage displacement and enlarged lymph nodes.

An ulcer in the duodenum can also cause pain.

6 Causes of discomfort in women and children

In women, ovaries and fallopian tubes can cause painful sensations on the left side of the abdominal cavity. Severe pain in this part of the abdomen can cause ectopic pregnancy. To learn ectopic pregnancy is easy for sharp and acute pain. If the left side of the abdomen hurts several days in a row and is characterized by an unpleasant aching sensation, which then intensifies, then ceases, this indicates infectious diseases in the pelvic area. Chronic pain in the abdomen on the left is caused by cysts on the ovaries and various kinds of tumors. If a woman has a stomach ache on the left side only during menstruation, it can talk about a disease like endometriosis.

If a child has a stomachache or only his left side, this may indicate a number of diseases, such as, for example, cystitis. Because of the illness, the girls and boys feel it when they urinate, and there is blood in the urine. Small children under one year may feel abdominal pain due to excessive accumulation of gases and with constipation. At the first stages, the parents of infants can themselves eliminate the causes of unpleasant spasms, making the child an enema, but if the pain does not stop, then you should definitely consult a doctor. Self-treatment of a long-term character, as a rule, does not lead to anything good.

You should apply for help first of all to the therapist, and on the basis of the examination and laboratory tests he will refer you to a traumatologist, gastroenterologist or even a surgeon. Remember that timely treatment to a doctor will help avoid the development of serious complications and eliminate the disease in the early stages without treatment in a hospital.