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Because of the number of vital organs in your abdomen and the complex signals they send, determining the cause of abdominal pain may be difficult. However, communicating the location of your pain may help your doctor narrow the list of possible causes. But in some cases, the location can be misleading.

Navel area. Pain near your bellybutton (navel) can be related to a small intestine disorder or an inflammation of your appendix (appendicitis). The appendix is a worm-shaped pouch that projects out from your colon. It can become clogged with food waste, causing it to inflame, swell and fill with pus. Without treatment, an infected appendix can burst and cause a serious infection (peritonitis). Other signs and symptoms of appendicitis may include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, a low-grade fever, and the urge to pass gas or have a bowel movement.

Above the navel. Directly above the navel in the upper-middle area of the abdomen is the epigastric area. This is where you might expect to feel pain associated with stomach acids. Persistent pain in this area also may signal a problem with your upper small intestine (duodenum), pancreas or gallbladder.

Below the navel. Pain below the navel and spreading to either side may signify a colon disorder. For women, common causes of pain in this area are urinary tract infection and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Upper-left abdomen. It's uncommon to experience pain here. When you do, it may suggest a colon, stomach or pancreas problem.

Upper-right abdomen. Intense pain in the upper-right abdomen is often related to inflammation of the gallbladder � gallbladder attack. The pain may spread to the center of your abdomen and penetrate to your back. Occasionally, an inflamed pancreas or duodenum can produce pain in this area as well.

Lower-left abdomen. Pain here most often suggests a problem in your descending colon, where food waste is expelled. Possible disorders include an infection in the colon (diverticulitis) or inflammation of the colon � Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Lower-right abdomen. Inflammation of the colon may produce pain in your lower-right abdomen. Another possible, and perhaps more serious, cause is appendicitis.

Migrating pain. One of the unusual characteristics of abdominal pain is its ability to travel along deep nerve pathways and emerge at sites away from the source of the problem. Pain related to gallbladder inflammation, for example, can spread to your chest and along your right shoulder blade, clear up to your right shoulder. Pain from a pancreas disorder may radiate up between your shoulder blades. Your doctor may call this "referred pain."

When to see your doctor

Though most abdominal pain isn't serious, some symptoms may signal a potentially serious condition. However, it's often not possible to diagnose the cause of abdominal pain by your symptoms or the location of the pain. Consult your doctor if you experience:

Severe, recurrent or persistent pain
Pain that seems to worsen
Pain that's accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, bleeding, vomiting or a high fever

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Barium enema
Upper GI and small bowel series
Blood, urine, and stool tests
Endoscopy of upper GI (gastrointestinal) tract (EGD)
Ultrasound of the abdomen
X-rays of the abdomen

Prevention

For prevention of many types of abdominal pain:

Eat small meals more frequently.
Make sure that your meals are well-balanced and high in fiber. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Limit foods that produce gas.
Drink plenty of water each day.
Exercise regularly.

For prevention of symptoms from heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease:

Quit smoking.
Lose weight if you need to.
Finish eating at least 2 hours before you go to bed.
After eating, stay upright for at least 30 minutes.
Elevate the head of your bed.