The pain in the middle below the rib cage is epigastric pain, which often signals you have digestive issues like gastritis which is inflammation of the stomach lining acid reflux also known as GERD or even ulcers that can affect your stomach or pancreas.
Although the pain in the middle below the rib cage also known as epigastric pain can also result from issues with your liver, your gallbladder such as gallstones or even in serious cases it could signal a heart attack.
In some cases the pain in the middle below your rib cage is not all that serious, but if it gets worse or you're unsure then you should seek medical attention to be safe.
Lactose intolerance can also result in epigastric pain and even pregnancy or even strained chest wall muscles from exercise or injury can lead to the pain in the middle below the rib cage or epigastric pain.
You should seek medical attention if you have the pain in the middle below the rib cage and it's severe or persistent or if it's accompanied by trouble breathing, vomiting blood, high fever or severe bloating or persistent nausea or vomiting.
The GI problems that cause chest pain are GERD also known as acid reflux, gallbladder issues like gallstones and inflammation as well as ulcers, pancreatitis, trapped gas and gastritis.
GERD or acid reflux can lead to heartburn and esophageal spasms causes squeezing pain.
Gallbladder issues like gallstones and inflammation as well as gastritis, ulcers and pancreatitis as well as trapped gas can radiate pain to the chest, and often be accompanied by nausea, bloating, or even pain after you eat.
These conditions can overlap heart issues, so if you have sudden chest pain you should seek prompt medical attention to rule out any serious cardiac causes.
GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease results in stomach acid flowing back into your esophagus, which causes a burning sensation also known as heartburn or tightness behind your breastbone, often after meals or when lying down.
Esophageal spasms are sudden and strong muscle contractions that occur in your esophagus and can cause severe squeezing or crushing chest pain, which mimic a heart attack.
Gallbladder issues like gallstones or even cholecystitis causes pain in your upper right abdomen or chest, especially after eating faty foods and meals, which can radiate to your chest, shoulder or back.
Peptic Ulcers and gastritis like sores in the stomach lining when you have ulcers, or inflammation also known as gastritis, can cause discomfort, which feels like chest pain, often along with a burning sensation.
Gas pains and trapped air, which can be excess gas or air swallowed from IBS or indigestion can get trapped and cause sharp, cramping like pain in your chest, which may be relieved by burping.
Another issue that can cause chest pain is Hiatal hernias which is when part of your stomach pushes through your diaphragm and causes lower chest pain.
And pancreatitis, which can also cause chest pain is inflammation of your pancreas, which can cause severe abdominal pain, which spreads upward to your chest.
Pancreas pain is often felt in the upper middle or the upper left of your abdomen.
The pancreas pain that is felt in the upper middle or upper left abdomen, often also radiates to the back or even below your left shoulder blade.
Pancreas pain can also get worse after eating, especially after eating fatty foods, or when you lay down flat.
The pancreas pain can also be steady, severe and even be accompanied by vomiting, nausea, and abdominal tenderness, which signals potentially serious pancreatitis.
The key characteristics of pancreas pain are the location, radiation, triggers, aggravating factors, the nature of the pain and relief of the pain.
The pain with your pancreas or pancreatitis can be constant and severe and last for days in acute cases.
Leaning forward or curling up can sometimes ease the pancreas pain.
Laying flat on your back can also intensify the pancreas pain.
And eating meals, especially meals or foods high in fat can trigger the pancreas pain and or make the pancreas pain worse.
The pancreas pain can and often spreads to the back, under your left shoulder blade, or through the trunk.
And the location of the pancreas pain is often in the upper abdomen, which can be center or left or sometimes felt in the back.
Other symptoms that can occur with pancreas pain include nausea and vomiting, abdominal bloating and abdominal tenderness, fever and rapid pulse, jaundice, yellow skin and eyes, diarrhea and or clay colored stools.
If you have any severe or persistent abdominal pain, especially with vomiting or other symptoms you should seek medical attention immediately.
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of your pancreas.
Your pancreas is an organ behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes and hormones, which occurs when these enzymes activate too early and start digesting the pancreas itself.
Pancreatitis can be acute (sudden, short-lived, often caused by gallstones or alcohol) or chronic (long-term, progressive, often from heavy alcohol use).
Key symptoms of pancreatitis include severe upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, nausea, vomiting, fever, and rapid pulse, with treatment focusing on pain relief, fluids, and addressing the underlying cause, as severe cases can be life-threatening.
Chronic pancreatitis results in ongoing inflammation, which leads to permanent damage, often from long term alcohol abuse, although genetic factors or cystic fibrosis can also be a cause of chronic pancreatitis.
Acute pancreatitis is sudden onset of pancreatitis, which usually resolves within days, but it can also be severe, often triggered by gallstones blocking ducts or even be caused by alcohol.