Stomach cramps and abdominal pain are something that most people have likely experienced at some point in their lives. While they can be painful and irritating most of the time, there are times when abdominal pain is a sign of a much more serious condition like a hernia, inflamed appendix, and other problems. Understanding what causes abdominal pain and when the problem is serious will leave you better prepared to go to a local Waxahachie emergency room should the problem become serious.

When to Take Stomach Pain Seriously

Most of the time, cramps and pain in the abdomen or stomach may come and go on their own, leaving no cause for concern. However, if you experience stomach pain and any combination of these symptoms, it's time to find a freestanding ER and get checked out.

• Abdominal tenderness when touched/abdominal stiffness

• Coughing up or vomiting blood

• Continuous vomiting

• Bloody diarrhea

• Chest pressure/pain

• Trouble breathing

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• Constipation along with vomiting

• Pain in the neck, shoulder, or between shoulder blades

• Vision changes

All these symptoms could be associated with a more severe health issue and should be checked out by a doctor immediately. Please don't wait for the situation to resolve itself, as there are cases where the cause can be life-threatening.

Common Causes of Abdominal Pain That Need 24-Hour ER Treatment

Some issues that may require immediate treatment at an ER include appendicitis (requires surgery to remove the inflamed appendix), a bowel obstruction (may require surgery to remove the block or the bowel could eventually rupture), and bowel perforation, which requires surgery to repair the hole in the bowel or it could be deadly.

Who is at a Higher Risk of Abdominal Issues?

Certain people are at increased risk for abdominal issues that require ER care. Those include:

• Women who are pregnant

• Pain that started within a week after abdominal surgery

• the pain starts after a procedure in your stomach area, like an endoscopy

• If you have had surgery on your digestive tracts, like a gastric bypass, colostomy, or bowel resection

• The pain started shortly after an abdominal trauma

• The abdomen is bruised or rapidly expanding

• Excessive vaginal bleeding, or blood clots and bleeding longer than usual

• You have rectal bleeding or bloody stool

If you have any condition like this, you should seek emergency care immediately. Anyone with major underlying health issues, such as cancer, an immunocompromised system, issues with bleeding or clotting, or heart disease, may also be at risk for complications due to abdominal pain. Abdominal pain could be related to an issue that could affect blood flow, cause bacteria or fecal matter to enter the bloodstream, and cause an increased immune response which can aggravate different underlying health conditions, particularly heart disease. If not treated early, any of these complications may become life-threatening.