Vim & Vigor - Summer 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 25)

Gut Abdominal aches can be serious, so be sure to pay attention to symptoms Instinct BY TERESA CALDWELL BOARD N PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES 8 5 3 1 10 4 2 9 6 7 owhere in the body is the neighborhood more crowded than the abdomen. Multiple organ systems exist side by side, which makes identifying the cause of abdominal pain challenging. “The location of your abdominal pain can often help narrow things down,” says Sarah Cartwright, MD, a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Physicians think of the abdomen in four sections, or quadrants—upper, lower, right and left. Where you hurt helps identify the culprit. The more you can tell your doctor about your symptoms, the easier the problem will be to diagnose. Note what worsens or improves your pain. Pain that comes on in relation to something else is often a clue. Pain associated with eating, urination, bowel movements, intercourse or menstruation can identify the organ system where the pain originates. Read on for an abdominal pain proﬁle. SUMM ER 2013 25

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
ACL Double Take
Saving the Littlest Lives
The Ultimate Backto- School Checklist
Join the Movement
Stroke Stories
5 Steps to Better Bone Health
Gut Instinct
Morgan Freeman
Prostate Playbook
The Main Ingredient
Looking Ahead
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Delivered from Devastation
A Big Reason to Smile
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center