Ailments

• infection
• abnormal growths 
• inflammation 
• obstruction (blockage)

• An abscess is a pocket of inflamed tissue filled with pus. Abscesses can form anywhere on the body (both inside and outside). They’re most commonly found on the surface of the skin. An abdominal abscess is a pocket of pus located in the abdomen.
• Abdominal abscesses can form near the inside of the abdominal wall, at the back of the abdomen, or around organs in the abdomen, including the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Abdominal abscesses may develop for no apparent reason, but they’re usually related to another event, such as intra-abdominal surgery, rupture of the bowel, or injury to the abdomen Causes – Abdominal abscesses are caused by bacteria that usually enter the abdomen as a result of penetrating trauma, rupture of the bowel, or intra-abdominal surgery. Intra-abdominal abscesses (abscesses within the abdomen) can develop when the abdominal cavity or an organ in the abdomen is compromised in some way and bacteria are able to enter. Such conditions include appendicitis, bowel rupture, penetrating trauma, surgery, and Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Depending on where the abdominal abscess is located, additional causes may be to blame. Abscesses can also form in the space between the abdominal cavity and the spine. These abscesses are known as retroperitoneal abscesses. The retroperitoneum refers to the space between the abdominal cavity and the spine.
• Symptoms – General symptoms of abdominal abscesses include: • feeling unwell • abdominal pain • nausea and vomiting • fever • loss of appetite Diagnosis – The symptoms of an abdominal abscess may be similar to the symptoms of other, less serious conditions. Your doctor may run an imaging test to make a proper diagnosis. An ultrasound may be the first diagnostic tool used. Other imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, also help your doctor see the abdominal organs and tissues. Your doctor may take a sample of fluid from the abscess and examine it to make a better diagnosis. The method for obtaining a fluid sample depends on the location of the abscess.

An abdominal lump is a swelling or bulge that emerges from any area of the abdomen. It most often feels soft, but it may be firm depending on its underlying cause.

In most cases, a lump is caused by a hernia. An abdominal hernia is when the abdominal cavity structures push through a weakness in your abdominal wall muscles. Usually, this can be easily corrected with surgery.

In rarer cases, the lump may be an undescended testicle, a harmless hematoma, or a lipoma. In even rarer circumstances, it may be a cancerous tumor.

If you also have a fever, vomiting, or pain around an abdominal lump, you may need emergency care.

Causes –

A hernia causes the majority of lumps in the abdomen. Hernias often appear after you have strained your abdominal muscles by lifting something heavy, coughing for a long period, or being constipated.

Types of hernia

Inguinal hernia

Umbilical hernia

Incisional hernia

Hematoma

Lipoma

Undescended testicles

Tumor

Diagnosis –

If you have a hernia, your doctor will likely be able to diagnose it during the physical exam. Your doctor may want you to undergo an imaging study, such as an ultrasound or CT scan of your abdomen. Once your doctor confirms an abdominal hernia is present, you can then discuss arrangements for a surgical correction.

If your doctor doesn’t believe the lump is a hernia, they may require further testing. For a small or asymptomatic hematoma or lipoma, you probably won’t need further tests.

If a tumor is suspected, you may need imaging tests to determine its location and extent. You’ll likely also need a biopsy, which involves tissue removal, to determine if the tumor is benign or malignant.

The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the human body. It carries blood from your heart up to your head and arms and down to your abdomen, legs, and pelvis. The walls of the aorta can swell or bulge out like a balloon if they become weak. This is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) when it happens in the part of the aorta that’s in your abdomen.

AAAs don’t always cause problems, but a ruptured aneurysm can be life threatening. Therefore, if you’re diagnosed with an aneurysm, your doctor will probably want to monitor you closely, even if they don’t intervene right away.

Symptoms –

Most aneurysms have no symptoms unless they rupture. If an AAA does rupture, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• sudden pain in your abdomen or back
• pain spreading from your abdomen or back to your pelvis, legs, or buttocks
• sweaty or clammy skin
• increased heart rate
• shock or loss of consciousness

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. A ruptured aneurysm can be life threatening.

Diagnosis –

AAAs that haven’t ruptured are most often diagnosed when a doctor is scanning or examining your abdomen for another reason.

If your doctor suspects that you may have one, they will feel your stomach to see if it’s rigid or contains a pulsing mass. They may also diagnose one for screening purposes. They may also check the blood flow in your legs or perform one of the following tests.

• CT scan of the abdomen
• abdominal ultrasound
• chest X-ray
• abdominal MRI

Causes –

The cause of AAAs is currently unknown. However, certain factors have been shown to increase your risk for them.

Smoking - 

Smoking can directly damage the walls of your arteries, making them more likely to bulge. It can also increase your risk of high blood pressure.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Blood pressure refers to the level of pressure on the walls of your blood vessels. High blood pressure can weaken the walls of your aorta. This makes an aneurysm more likely to form.

Vascular inflammation (vasculitis)

Serious inflammation within the aorta and other arteries can occasionally cause AAAs, but this happens very rarely.

Aneurysms can form in any blood vessel in your body. However, AAAs are considered particularly serious because of the size of the aorta.

Types –

AAAs are usually classified by their size and the speed at which they’re growing. These two factors can help predict the health effects of the aneurysm.

Small: (less than 5.5 centimeters) or slow-growing AAAsgenerally have a much lower risk of rupture than larger aneurysms or those that grow faster. Doctors often consider it safer to monitor these with regular abdominal ultrasounds than to treat them.

Large: (greater than 5.5 centimeters) or fast-growing AAAs are much more likely to rupture than small or slow-growing aneurysms. A rupture can lead to internal bleeding and other serious complications. The larger the aneurysm is, the more likely that it will need to be treated with surgery. These types of aneurysms also need to be treated if they’re causing symptoms or leaking blood.

 Who is at risk?

AAAs are more likely to occur if you:

• are male
• have overweight or obesity
• are over age 60
• have a family history of heart conditions and diseases and aneurysms
• have high blood pressure, especially if you’re between 35 and 60 years old
• have high cholesterol or fatty buildup in the blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
• live a sedentary lifestyle
• have had trauma to your abdomen or other damage to your midsection
• smoke tobacco products

 Prevention –

Focusing on heart health can prevent an AAA. This means watching what you eat, exercising, and avoiding other cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking. Your doctor might also prescribe medicines to treat high blood pressure or cholesterol or to help you control your diabetes.

Your doctor may want to screen you for an AAA when you turn 65 if you’re at a higher risk due to smoking and other factors. The screening test uses an abdominal ultrasound to scan your aorta for bulges. It’s painless and a quick screening tool.

What is abdominal strain, and what causes it?

Abdominal strain can refer to any tear, stretch, or rupture of the abdominal muscles. That’s why abdominal strain is sometimes referred to as a pulled muscle.

Abdominal strain can be caused by:

• sudden twisting or fast movement
• intense and excessive exercise
• not properly resting overused muscles
• improper technique while playing sports that require running, turning, and jumping
• lifting heavy objects
• laughing, coughing, or sneezing

It isn’t the same thing as an abdominal hernia, though some of the symptoms may be the same. A hernia occurs when an internal organ or body part sticks out through the wall of muscle or tissue that contains it.

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of abdominal strain, how it’s treated, and how to prevent it from happening again.

What does it feel like?

If you have an abdominal strain, the surface of your stomach area may feel tender and inflamed. You’re more likely to feel these sensations when you’re contracting your abdominal muscles and moving.

Other symptoms include:

• sudden sharp pain
• swelling
• bruising
• weakness
• stiffness
• pain or difficulty stretching or flexing the muscle
• muscle spasms or cramping

Depending on the severity of the strain, you may find it challenging to walk, stand up straight, or bend forward or sideways. Other movements that involve your core muscles, such as reaching above your head, may also be difficult.

How are the symptoms different than a hernia?

Although the symptoms of abdominal strain and hernia may seem similar, there are several differences between the two.

If you’re experiencing a hernia, you may notice:

• an unexpected lump or bulge in the abdomen
• a persistent aching or burning sensation
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation

An abdominal tumor or mass is an abnormal growth in the abdomen. An abdominal mass causes visible swelling and may change the shape of the abdomen. A person with an abdominal mass may notice weight gain and symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, pain, and bloating.

Masses in the abdomen are often described by their location. The abdomen is divided into four sections called quadrants. An abdominal mass may occur in the right upper quadrant, left upper quadrant, right lower quadrant, or left lower quadrant.

The stomach is also divided into two sections: the epigastric section and the periumbilical section. The periumbilical section is located below and around the belly button; the epigastric section is located above the belly button and below the ribs.

Abdominal masses are often treatable. However, health complications may arise depending on the cause of the mass.

Causes – Abdominal masses can be the result of a number of factors, including an injury, cyst, benign tumor, cancer, or other disease.

Cysts

A cyst is an abnormal mass in the body that’s filled with fluid or infected matter. It is sometimes to blame for an abdominal mass.

Cysts that commonly cause abdominal masses include ovarian cysts, which are cysts that form in or around the ovaries.

Cancer

Cancers that often cause abdominal masses include:

• colon cancer
• kidney cancer
• liver cancer
• stomach cancer

Diseases

Certain diseases may also cause abdominal masses. These diseases include:

• Crohn’s disease — an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of your digestive track lining
• abdominal aortic aneurysm — an enlargement or protrusion of the large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs
• pancreatic abscess — a pus-filled hollow in the pancreas
• diverticulitis, inflammation or infection of the diverticula, common pouches that form in weak places in the intestines and colon
• hydronephrosis — an enlarged kidney due to the backup of urine
• enlarged liver
• splenic enlargement

 Symptoms –

Signs of an abdominal mass include:

• swelling in the area affected
• pain in the abdomen
• abdominal fullness
• nausea
• vomiting
• unintentional weight gain
• inability to urinate
• inability to pass stool
• fever

Abdominal masses may be hard, soft, stable, or moveable.

 Diagnosis –

After going over your medical history, including your symptoms and when they began, your healthcare provider will have a good idea of where the mass is located. This will lead them to determine which organs or surrounding structures are affected by the abdominal mass.

During a physical examination, your doctor will ask that you lie back while they gently press on various areas of your abdomen. This examination helps them locate the mass or any enlarged organs, and see if and where you are experiencing tenderness.

An imaging test is usually ordered to determine the size and location of the mass. An imaging test can also determine what type of mass is in the abdomen. Imaging tests that are commonly ordered for this purpose are:

• abdominal CT scan
• abdominal X-ray
• abdominal ultrasound

When imaging tests are not enough, your doctor may wish to take a closer look at the area involved. This is especially true if the digestive system is involved.

To look in the digestive system, your doctor will perform a colonoscopy. They’ll use a small microscope housed in a tube-like structure that is inserted into your colon.

A blood test (complete blood count) may also be ordered to check your hormone levels and for the presence of infection. Women who have ovarian cysts will require a special imaging scan called a transvaginal ultrasound.

Unlike an abdominal ultrasound, which views organs on the inside by sliding a probe over the abdomen, a transvaginal ultrasound is performed by inserting a probe into the vagina. This allows the doctor to have a closer look at the uterus and ovaries.