A sore stomach isn’t always a reason to worry. From too much coffee to a stressful day, abdominal pain is a common complaint with many causes. But sometimes, it can signal something more serious – and knowing the difference could save your life. In this article, we’ll walk you through the signs to look out for, when to seek medical help, and how full-body screening can help detect hidden conditions early.
Abdominal pain is a common symptom in the UK. In a 2025 study of 516 adults, 57 per cent reported abdominal pain in the past month1.
Abdominal pain can arise for a variety of reasons. Eating habits and lifestyle choices are often to blame, but sometimes the underlying cause can be more serious. Understanding the difference between minor digestive issues and symptoms that signal a more serious health concern is crucial for taking the right steps to address abdominal pain.
Common Causes of Abdominal Pain and When It’s Not Serious
Digestive-related Causes
After eating, issues relating to the digestion and processing of food can lead to abdominal pain.
Overeating can trigger indigestion, for example. Eating quickly may lead to swallowing air, causing temporary gas build-up. Alternatively, the food may have been prepared improperly, inducing mild food poisoning. Abdominal pain is also common in those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)2.
Although these digestive issues can cause discomfort, the abdominal pain is usually short-lived and resolves without medical treatment.
Lifestyle Factors
Improper gut functioning can trigger short-term pain or cramping. That is to say, what you eat is just as important as the way you eat it. Likewise, other daily activities can impact the way the gut functions. Such activities include:
- Skipping meals
- High-fat diets
- Smoking
- Lack of sleep
- High stress levels
The brain and the stomach may seem like distant relatives, but they are in fact closely related. It has been established that stress and anxiety are known to influence the gut-brain connection, sometimes causing symptoms that mimic more serious issues3,4.
When To Monitor But Not Panic
Minor instances of abdominal pain are easy to identify. Presenting any of the following symptoms indicates that your abdominal pain is likely not serious5:
- Bloating or discomfort that resolves in one to two days
- Mild pain that passes after rest, hydration, or a change in diet
- Symptoms that improve within 24 to 48 hours
Red flags – When Abdominal Pain Could Mean Something Serious
Severe or Persistent Pain
There are also clear signals of a more serious underlying issue. For example, if abdominal pain does not improve after three days, or even worsens over time. Urgent care should be sought if the pain is sharp, intense, worsens after eating, or wakes you up at night6.
In women, persistent lower abdominal pain may relate to gynaecological issues such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts7,8. See your GP if you think you may have either of these conditions.
Pain With Other Symptoms
In addition to discomfort, more serious causes of abdominal pain are likely to be accompanied by certain other symptoms9. These include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Urinating more or less often than normal
- Painful urination
- Blood in stool, or bleeding from your bottom or vagina
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea that does not go away after a few days
- Jaundice
Pain in Specific Areas
When considering whether abdominal pain is a health concern, identify whether there is pain in specific areas. A number of serious conditions are localised to specific areas of the abdomen10:
Upper right abdomen: gallstones, liver issues, small intestine ulcer, appendicitis
Upper middle abdomen: stomach ulcer, pancreatitis, perforated oesophagus
Lower right abdomen: appendicitis, hernia, Crohn’s disease, abscess
Lower left abdomen: diverticulitis, abscess, colitis, perforated colon
Widespread pain: bowel obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease
Conditions That Can Present as Abdominal Pain
Hidden or Serious Conditions
Some causes of abdominal pain might not be obvious, but can be distinguished from minor abdominal pain:
- Ulcers can feel like pain in the upper tummy, which is eased by antacids11.
- Kidney stones can cause a sharp pain in the side that spreads to the groin, but are usually accompanied by bloody urine12.
- Gallstones can lead to pain in the upper right of the abdomen, particularly after fatty meals13.
- Pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back and gets worse after eating could indicate pancreatitis14.
Conditions such as these require identification by medical evaluation.
Cancer Warning Signs
The likelihood of cancer as the cause of abdominal pain is low. In a UK study of 425,549 patients with abdominal pain, just 9,427 of the patients (2.21 per cent) were diagnosed with cancer 12 months after symptoms began15. However, it’s still important to be aware of bodily changes that could indicate cancer.
Vague abdominal pain can be associated with ovarian, oesophageal, stomach, bowel, and pancreatic cancers16.
Where cancer is present, symptoms in addition to abdominal pain will often occur. For example, pancreatic cancer is often associated with jaundice and weight loss17. Bowel cancers are often associated with blood in the stool and fatigue18.
The Role of Multi-organ Screening and Early Detection
Without tests, the cause of abdominal pain can be difficult to determine. Ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI scans are common tools used to diagnose more serious conditions that may bring about abdominal pain5.
Scans like the multi-organ MRI scan provided by Ezra can deliver advanced imaging to screen for conditions in a number of organs: the liver, kidneys, pancreas, colon, gallbladder, spleen, ovaries, and uterus, for example.
While these scans are not diagnostic, they can:
- Detect early signs of tumours or inflammation
- Help explain ongoing symptoms when other tests are inconclusive
- Provides clear, fast, non-invasive information reviewed by expert radiologists
Invisibility is cancer’s greatest weapon. Abdominal pain might be an early sign of something deeper and more significant. Proactive screening can set your mind at ease and help uncover these hidden causes sooner.
Summary: Recognising the Signs That Matter
Most abdominal pain is caused by lifestyle or digestive issues that do not have a serious underlying cause. Adjusting your eating speed, cutting down on fatty foods, and quitting smoking could all offer improvements to minor abdominal pain, but knowing when abdominal pain isn’t just minor could make a big difference.
If you experience abdominal pain often, track your symptoms. Look out for symptoms that often accompany more serious conditions, such as ulcers or cancer. If things feel “off”, speak to your healthcare provider.
Proactive health steps, including scans, can help detect problems before they become serious. The Ezra MRI scan provides a quick, painless, and state-of-the-art solution to keep a watchful eye on your abdomen and many other body parts. For ease of mind, book your scan today.
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References
1. Thomson CL, Garcia AL, Edwards CA. Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the UK adult population and perceived effects of foods. Eur J Nutr. 2025;64(6):265. doi:10.1007/s00394-025-03780-0
2. Soubieres A, Wilson P, Poullis A, Wilkins J, Rance M. Burden of irritable bowel syndrome in an increasingly cost-aware National Health Service. Frontline Gastroenterol. 2015;6(4):246-251. doi:10.1136/flgastro-2014-100542
3. Butler MI, Bastiaanssen TFS, Long-Smith C, et al. The gut microbiome in social anxiety disorder: evidence of altered composition and function. Transl Psychiatry. 2023;13(1):95. doi:10.1038/s41398-023-02325-5
4. Cuffe MS, Goodoory VC, Ng CE, Black CJ, Ford AC. Epidemiology of Meal‐Related Abdominal Discomfort or Pain in Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2025;37(12):e70174. doi:10.1111/nmo.70174
5. NHS. Abdominal (tummy) Pain A&E leaflet. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. July 11, 2025. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/abdominal-pain-ed-leaflet/
6. NHS. Stomach ache and abdominal pain. NHS inform. May 2023. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/stomach-ache-and-abdominal-pain/
7. NHS. Endometriosis. NHS. October 20, 2017. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://nhsuk-cms-fde-prod-uks-dybwftgwcqgsdmfh.a03.azurefd.net/conditions/endometriosis/
8. NHS. Ovarian cyst. NHS. October 23, 2017. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://nhsuk-cms-fde-prod-uks-dybwftgwcqgsdmfh.a03.azurefd.net/conditions/ovarian-cyst/
9. NHS. Stomach ache. NHS. October 18, 2017. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://nhsuk-cms-fde-prod-uks-dybwftgwcqgsdmfh.a03.azurefd.net/symptoms/stomach-ache/
10. Willacy H, Tidy C. Acute abdomen. June 2024. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://patient.info/doctor/history-examination/acute-abdomen
11. Vincent P, Tidy C. Peptic ulcer disease. Patient. August 2024. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://patient.info/doctor/gastroenterology/peptic-ulcer-disease
12. Vakharia K, Tidy C. Kidney stones. Patient. May 2023. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://patient.info/kidney-urinary-tract/kidney-stones
13. Vakharia K, Tidy C. Could it be gallstones? Patient. February 2023. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://patient.info/features/digestive-health/could-it-be-gallstones
14. Willacy H, Knott L. Acute pancreatitis. Patient. March 2022. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://patient.info/doctor/gastroenterology/acute-pancreatitis-pro
15. Rafiq M, White B, Barclay M, Abel G, Renzi C, Lyratzopoulos G. A UK population-based case-control study of blood tests before cancer diagnosis in patients with non-specific abdominal symptoms. Br J Cancer. 2025;132(5):450-461. doi:10.1038/s41416-024-02936-9
16. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Suspected cancer: recognition and referral. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). June 23, 2015. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12/chapter/recommendations-organised-by-symptom-and-findings-of-primary-care-investigations
17. Cancer Research UK. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Research UK. April 2023. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/pancreatic-cancer/symptoms
18. Bowel Cancer UK. Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer. Bowel Cancer UK. March 2024. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/symptoms/
