Abdominal pain can have many causes that range from mild to severe. Some of these causes include:

• Bloating
• Gas
• Colitis
• Endometriosis
• Food poisoning
• GERD
• IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
• Ovarian cysts
• Abdominal adhesions
• Diverticulitis
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Gallbladder disease
• Liver disease
• Cancers

Signs and symptoms of the more serious causes include:

• Dehydration
• Bloody or black tarry stools
• Severe abdominal pain
• Pain with no urination or painful urination.

Treatment for abdominal pain depends upon the cause.

Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), unusual antibodies that can bind to certain structures within the nucleus of the cells, are found in patients whose immune system may be predisposed to cause inflammation against their own body tissues. ANAs are indicative of the potential presence of an autoimmune illness.

Exhausted all the time? Maybe it's not all in the mind. Take the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Quiz to learn more about tricky condition.

What is chronic pain syndrome (CPS)? See causes, symptoms and treatment options including medications. Learn about pain management tips such as strength training, biofeedback, and yoga, as well as forms of chronic pain such as lower back pain, arthritis, migraines, and more.

A complete blood count (CBC) is a calculation of the cellular makeup of blood. A CBC measures:

• the concentration of white blood cells,
• red blood cells,
• platelets in the blood, and
• aids in diagnosing conditions and disease such as
  • malignancy,
  • anemia, or
  • blood clotting problems.

Cortisone injections are used to treat small areas of inflammation or widespread inflammation throughout the body. There is minimal pain from these injections, and relief from the pain of inflammation occurs rapidly.

What is depression? Get information on symptoms, signs, tests, and treatments for many types of depression including major depression, chronic depression, teen depression, and postpartum depression.

Many people do not recognize the symptoms and warning signs of depression and depressive disorders in children and adults. With proper diagnosis, treatments and medications are available. Take this quiz to learn more about recovery from depression.

Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes of fatigue are generally related to a variety of conditions or diseases for example:

• anemia,
• mono,
• medications,
• sleep problems,
• cancer,
• anxiety,
• heart disease, and
• drug abuse.

Treatment of fatigue is generally directed toward the condition or disease that is causing the fatigue.

A syndrome characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. See a picture of Fibromyalgia and learn more about the health topic.

What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain and stiffness of the tendons, muscles, and joints. Learn about fibromyalgia symptoms, treatment and tender points.

Fibromyalgia could be the reason for your constant, deep bodily pain. Learn more about this painful condition with the Fibromyalgia Quiz.

Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.

An initial step in detecting liver damage is a simple blood test to determine the presence of certain liver enzymes in the blood. Under normal circumstances, these enzymes reside within the cells of the liver. But when the liver is injured, these enzymes are spilled into the blood stream, and can lead to diseases like fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hepatitis. Several medications also can increase liver enzyme test results.

Migraine headaches are severe headaches that are sensitive to light, sounds, and smells. Some people who suffer from migraines also have severe head pain. People also have symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Common migraine triggers may include:

• Certain foods
• Dehydration
• Changes in barometric pressure
• Stress
• Other phenomenon

They are diagnosed by a doctor if the headache pattern fits established migraine headache criteria. Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications are sometime used to treat acute migraines. To prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of them doctors recommend supplements and prescription medications, for example:

• Blood pressure drugs
• Anti-seizure drugs
• Antidepressants

Lifestyle modification helps in migraine management. Many people who suffer from migraines get relief from their condition by keeping a headache diary, identifying and avoiding triggers, and taking appropriate medication.

Examine the varying causes of pain. Pain may be caused by simple, everyday objects, tasks and activities such as the way you sit, wear your hair, what you eat and many other surprising reasons you are in pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue around the joints, as well as other organs in the body. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.

Rheumatoid factor is commonly used as a blood test for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. However, rheumatoid factor can also be present in individuals with other conditions such as lupus, infectious hepatitis, syphilis, mononucleosis, tuberculosis, liver disease, and sarcoidosis.