Health Tip: When a Stomachache Requires Medical Attention

When to head for the hospital

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(HealthDay News) - While stomachache or abdominal pain are quite common and often harmless, these conditions sometimes can signal a more serious problem.

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The U.S. National Library of Medicine says the following symptoms require a trip to the emergency room:

• Very sharp, severe and sudden pain.
• Fever along with your stomach or abdominal pain.
• Vomiting blood, or having bloody diarrhea.
• Soreness or tenderness in the abdomen.
• An abdomen that is hard and rigid.
• Inability to have a bowel movement, particularly if you are also vomiting.
• Pain in the chest, neck or shoulder.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.

-- Diana Kohnle