If there is stomach pain that just does not feel right, I recommend seeing a primary care doctor and gastroenterologist to figure out what is going on,” said Dr. Nathoo.
If you can’t get in with a gastroenterologist for some time, Dr. Sarker said just seeing a primary care doctor is just fine, too. “You don’t really want to delay if you are uncomfortable,” Sarker noted. Stomach issues can be debilitating and can even cause further problems with bowel movements and eating habits.
“The bottom line is all pain is real and should be evaluated,” Nathoo said.
But the type of pain you’re feeling should dictate your next steps, as some symptoms are more serious than others—specifically if you have sudden, new pain.
“If people experience severe and acute onset pain, they should go to the ER. The concern would be that the pain could be due to a cause that requires emergent intervention,” Nathoo explained.
Certain symptoms that can accompany stomach pain should also be addressed as soon as possible.
“If it’s a new symptom, then we always say you should probably consult with somebody,” Sarker said. This is especially true if certain gastrointestinal “alarm factors”—such as new abdominal pain, bleeding from the bowels, and weight loss—coincide with the pain.
While a one-off stomach ache can happen, if you have mild, chronic stomach pain, you should see a doctor if the pain is non-debilitating and continues for more than a week or two, Nathoo said.
It’s also important to take any pain or symptoms seriously if you have a family history of stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, or colon cancer, according to Dr. Ekta Gupta, a gastroenterologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.
Colorectal cancer is becoming more common in young people, according to a recent American Cancer Society report. Colorectal cancer diagnoses increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019 in people under 55, so it’s something everyone should take seriously.