The Causes of Sharp Pain under Left Rib Cage
Every time people experience unexpected pain, the first thing most of them do is google the symptom and see what the cause may be. This can end up with unexpected panic, as many very serious illnesses have the most common symptoms. If you are experiencing sharp pain under left rib cage, this doesn’t mean you will have a heart attack. There are many things that can cause such pain and in this article we will talk about the most common causes of pain under the left rib cage.
Sharp pain under left rib cage: causes
The most common cause for the pain under the left rib cage is heartburn and acid reflux. Heartburn and acid reflux are commonly triggered with consumption of too much acidic food and drink. It’s a sharp pain and many mistake it for chest pain, and some people may also feel bloated because of it. Another cause for sharp pain under the rib cage is irritation of the spleen. Another reason may simply be gas. Trapped gas in the colon, also known as splenic-flexure syndrome, may cause pain under the rib cage. The simplest way to get rid of this gas is sitting in the chair until the gas moves. If you are breathing heavily and suffer from unbearable pain, one cause may be Costochondritis. The condition appears because the cartilages of the ribs and breastbone are infected, usually from a strong impact or because of a viral infection.
Sharp pain under left rib cage: what serious conditions may cause sharp pain?
There’s a number of more serious conditions that can result in sharp pain under left rib cage, one of the most severe ones being pneumothorax, cause by a ruptured lung. As the air escapes the cavity between the rib cage and lungs, the person suffering from it will experience pain under his ribs. Of course, such condition calls for immediate medical attention. Another condition that shouldn’t be taken lightly is stomach ulcers, which can lead to more serious conditions. The pain from stomach ulcers may move to the shoulder blade, and it can occur in intervals. The irritable bowel syndrome also has sharp rib cage pain as one of the way it likes to manifest itself. It also causes cramps and bloating and it may be disrupting normal bowel movements. Other causes may include pancreatitis, diverticulitis, inflammation of the heart sac (pericarditis), Intestinal infection, and dissection of the abdominal aorta (Aneurysm).
When is it time to panic?
If the pain you experience is out of the ordinary, intense or is reoccurring from time to time, it would be best to check out what’s happening. Call your medical advisor and say what’s bothering you, so they can prepare everything that is necessary in order to examine you thoroughly. The worst thing you can do in such condition is panic, as this will worsen the state you are in, so try remaining calm and breathe deeply, keep a clear head and inform someone close to you about your condition so they can help you. Visit this http://medsymptoms.org/ for more additional information.
