What causes a dull pain in the upper stomach area (epigastric region)?
Disease description:
I'm feeling very unwell today, and there's a persistent dull pain in the upper part of my stomach near the breastbone. I'm wondering if it could be a stomach-related condition. Could you please explain what might cause a dull pain in the upper central abdomen near the breastbone?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Dull pain in the upper stomach (epigastric region) may be caused by various factors, including:
1. Gastric diseases: Such as chronic superficial gastritis, erosive gastritis, and gastric ulcer. These conditions may damage the gastric mucosa and cause pain.
2. Reflux esophagitis: Gastroesophageal reflux may damage the esophageal mucosa and lead to pain.
3. Duodenal ulcer: Inflammatory defects of the duodenal mucosa caused by the digestive action of gastric juice can also present as epigastric pain.
4. Cardiovascular diseases: Such as coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. Sometimes, the pain may radiate to the epigastric region.
Pancreatitis, cholecystitis, and other diseases may also cause similar symptoms. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention to determine the exact cause through examinations such as gastroscopy and cardiac CT scan, and to implement targeted treatment.
