Pain in your left side can mean many things. The first step you should take is to make an appointment with your family doctor. Pain in the left side is usually associated with problems related to the heart, bladder or stomach. However, it can also result from a bone-related problem. This OneHowTo article takes an in-depth look into what you should consider if you have pain in your left side.
When to be concerned about pain in your left side
Obviously, if the pain in your left side is very strong you should immediately seek medical attention. If the pain is weaker, wait 48 hours to see how it develops. If the pain persists, make an appointment with your general practitioner. First, you must identify the location of the pain in your left side. Ask yourself the following questions. Is it the first time you have experienced pain in your left side? Does the pain go away or seem less with different postures? Is the pain continuous or intermittent like a stomach cramp? Does the pain worsen when you urinate? Does the pain change (for better or worse) when you poop? Or during menstruation? Is the pain relieved with medication?
Causes of pain in lower left side
The following conditions often cause lower left abdominal pain:
- appendicitis
- Cancer
- Crohn's disease
- Diverticulitis
- ectopic pregnancy
- endometriosis
- inguinal hernia
- intestinal obstruction
- kidney infection
- kidney stones
- mittelschmerz (pain associated with ovulation)
- ovarian cysts
- thoracic aortic aneurysm
- tubo-ovarian abscess (pocket of pus that forms during an infection of a fallopian tube and ovary)
- ulcerative colitis
Causes of pain in upper left side
The following conditions often cause upper left abdominal pain:
- angina (reduced blood flow to the heart)
- cancer
- diverticulitis
- empyema (infection of the lining around the lungs)
- enlarged spleen
- faecal impaction (hardened stool that can not be removed)
- gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining)
- heart attack
- hiatal hernia
- kidney infection
- kidney stones
- pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- pneumonia
- pulmonary infarction (loss of blood flow to the lungs)
- pyloric stenosis (in infants)
- ruptured spleen
- herpes
- spleen infection
- splenic abscess (pocket of pus in the spleen)
- thoracic aortic aneurysm
Most common causes of left side pain
The upper left quadrant contains a portion of the stomach and spleen. The other most common sites of pain are the ovary, in the lower left quadrant, and the colon. If you suspect an aortic aneurysm, check your pulse and blood pressure in both arms.
Other pain in nearby areas
Read our article on what steps to take if your right side hurts and learn the possible causes.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Causes of Pain in Left Side, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.