Most of us have had a vague stomach ache and wondered if it was something we ate. Usually it fades on its own. But sometimes it does not, and the pain starts to change.
That change can be the first sign of appendicitis, a sudden swelling of a small pouch attached to the large intestine.
About 5 to 9 of every 100 Americans will develop it at some point in their lives, according to the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It is one of the most common reasons adults in the US end up needing emergency belly surgery.
Here are nine warning signs the main US health authorities say to watch for before the pain gets severe.
Also read: Taking Ozempic or Wegovy? A Rutgers study found a small but real risk to your vision
The pain starts near your belly button
In the typical pattern, the ache begins in the middle of the belly, around the belly button. It can feel like a mild stomach ache you cannot quite place. Many people blame gas or something they ate in the first few hours.
The pain then moves to your lower right side
Over several hours the pain usually drifts down and to the right, where the appendix sits. The Cleveland Clinic calls this migration from the belly button area to the lower right abdomen the classic pattern of appendicitis.
The pain flares when you move or cough
Appendicitis pain is sensitive to movement. It worsens with coughing, deep breaths, sneezes or any jarring of the body, the MedlinePlus health service from the National Library of Medicine notes.
If a hop or a laugh sends a sharp pain through the right side, that is a warning sign.
Also read: How to make fun and spooky Halloween food with fish
Nausea sets in
Along with the pain, many people start to feel sick to their stomach. Nausea is one of the three most common symptoms in adults, together with the belly pain and a loss of appetite, Cleveland Clinic says.
Vomiting may follow
Vomiting shows up in many patients but not all. When it does come, it usually arrives after the belly pain, not before. Vomiting that starts BEFORE the pain more often points to a stomach bug than to an inflamed appendix.
Food stops looking appetizing
A sudden drop in appetite is a classic early sign. Even favorite meals stop appealing. If you have steady belly pain and no interest in eating for several hours, that combination deserves attention.
A low-grade fever may appear
As the appendix inflames, the body often answers with a fever. Up to 40 percent of people with appendicitis develop one, according to Cleveland Clinic. A fever that climbs quickly can signal that the appendix has already burst.
Also read: New study: One tea bag can release nearly 2,500 plastic particles into your cup
Your belly feels swollen and tight
The abdomen can look distended or feel bloated. MedlinePlus lists swelling in the abdomen among the common signs. Pressing on the lower right side often causes a sharp pain, and the muscles there may tense up on their own.
Your bowel habits shift
Many people with appendicitis cannot pass gas or become constipated. Others go the other way and develop diarrhea. Either shift, when it comes with lower-right pain and nausea, is a reason to call a doctor rather than wait it out.
When to go to the ER
Appendicitis is a medical emergency. The appendix can rupture within 36 hours of the first symptom, Cleveland Clinic says. A burst appendix spills bacteria into the belly and can cause a life-threatening infection called peritonitis.
MedlinePlus puts the rule plainly. Any severe belly pain needs medical help as soon as possible. Head to an emergency room if the pain is intense, keeps getting worse, drifts to the lower right side, or comes with fever and vomiting.
Also read: Just 10 minutes of daily exercise is linked to deeper sleep
Call 911 if the pain comes on suddenly and is severe, or if you cannot stand up straight. Children and some adults do not always show the typical pain pattern, the NIDDK notes, so any serious belly pain in a child should be checked the same day.
Also read: 6 everyday foods that may be quietly raising your LDL cholesterol
This article is made and published by Mie Hermansen, who may have used AI in the preparation.