The abdomen describes the region of the body that expands from the chest cavity to the pelvis. Because so many organs reside in the abdominal cavity, abdominal pain can occur due to many different conditions. The intensity of the abdominal pain does not always indicate the seriousness of the underlying condition, as indicated by MedLine Plus, a website of the National Institutes of Health. Conditions that cause upper abdominal pain along with nausea range from the simple stomach flu to more serious conditions such as acute pancreatitis.
Gastroenteritis
Approximately 1 billion episodes of gastroenteritis, commonly called the stomach flu, occur worldwide each year, according to the Merck Manual. Gastroenteritis describes a group of illnesses that cause inflammation of the lining of the stomach, small intestine or large intestine.
Viruses such as the rotavirus or norovirus cause viral gastroenteritis with symptoms including upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhea. The viruses usually spread through hand to mouth contact but can also be spread through contaminated foods when food handlers with the virus fail to wash their hands.
Bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella cause bacterial gastroenteritis, often referred to as food poisoning. Giardia, a parasite commonly found in water sources, also causes gastroenteritis. Symptoms include abdominal cramps or pain often in the upper region, nausea, vomiting, bloody stools and loss of appetite. Infection with these organisms usually occurs through contaminated food or drink products.
Acute Pancreatitis
The pancreas, a large gland located behind the stomach, secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestines and produces the hormones insulin and glucagon necessary for glucose regulation. Acute pancreatitis, the sudden onset of inflammation of the pancreas, usually occurs due to the presence of gallstones but may also occur due to abdominal trauma, medications or infections. Acute pancreatitis, a possibly life-threatening illness, affects approximate 210,000 people in the United States each year, as reported by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
症状包括逐渐或突然的上腹部疼痛，可以延伸到背部，恶心，呕吐，发热和快速脉冲。严重的发作会导致脱水和低血压导致心脏，肺或肾脏失败。
Cholecystitis/Gallstones
The gallbladder, a small pear-shaped organ found in the right side of the abdominal cavity, functions to store bile, a digestive fluid produced in the liver. It contains cholesterol, fats, water, proteins, salts and the waste from red blood cells known as bilirubin. Inflammation of the gallbladder, a condition known as cholecystitis, causes severe upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, sweats, loss of appetite, fever and chills.
胆囊炎通常由于胆结石的存在而发生，当胆固醇等胆固醇中的物质如胆固醇结晶时形成的微小硬石。除了引起胆囊炎的炎症外，胆结石可以留下胆囊并进入胆管导致管道中的堵塞。这导致症状突然发作，通常被称为胆囊攻击，其特征在于严重的上腹痛，恶心，呕吐和发烧。