Have you ever been so stressed that you can feel the effects in your gut? Stomachaches are a common symptom of stress, which can result in serious gastrointestinal problems down the line. In some cases, intense stomach cramps can also give way to appendicitis. So, does that mean stress also causes appendicitis, or is it completely unrelated?
Technically, stress cannot directly give birth to appendicitis. However, it can be linked to gastrointestinal pain. This pain is what can ultimately trigger appendicitis. To learn more about the correlation between stress and appendicitis, continue reading this blog.
What is Appendicitis?
Appendicitis is an acute condition that can later turn into a chronic state where your appendix starts swelling, leading to intense pain. In serious cases, it can burst within your body and turn fatal.
Your appendix is a small, pouch-like organ that is connected to the large intestine. It stores all the good bacteria in your stomach and flushes out the bacteria to cleanse your digestive tract when needed. However, if the appendix gets inflamed, it can give way to appendicitis and other health concerns.
Can Stress Cause Appendicitis?
Stress cannot outright cause appendicitis. However, it can affect you in various ways, leading to the appendix getting inflamed. Ultimately, stress, as well as anxiety, is known for its abdominal pain, but the appendix is not connected to it.
Only infection, bacteria, parasites, or any other form of contamination of the digestive tract can cause appendicitis. That, too, in severe cases. Not to mention, a lot of research has been conducted on this theory, as people who had undergone appendectomies claimed they were dealing with extreme stress before the pain. Due to a lack of proper evidence, though, the results came up unlikely. That is to say; appendicitis is not caused by stress.
Causes of Appendicitis
So if stress isn’t behind appendicitis, what is? Well, technically, an appendix can get inflamed because of a blockage. This blockage can come in the form of:
- Swollen appendix tissue.
- Tumor or a hard lump forms on the appendix.
- Hard stool.
- An irregular bowel movement or disease.
- Parasite infection in the intestines.
Appendicitis Symptoms
Many people get confused when dealing with appendicitis. The symptoms can sometimes feel very general, with a strong bout of pain developing on your side. But there is more to it than meets the eye. Mentioned below are some of the most prominent signs of appendicitis that you should look out for:
- Sharp pain every time you take a deep breath, cough, or sneeze.
- Nausea
- High fever
- Swelling on the lower right side of your stomach
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Intense stomach pain that gets worse with every movement.
- Pain that starts from your belly button but then gradually moves towards the right side.
How to Treat Appencitis
The only way to treat appendicitis is by visiting your doctor. They will conduct some tests to verify the situation. Once the doctor is aware of the severity of your condition, they will probably recommend a treatment that works best for you, be it in the form of surgery or laparoscopy.
Bottom Line
To put it shortly, stress does not cause appendicitis, but it can have other effects which lead up to it. Nevertheless, if you think your appendix might be inflamed or you are experiencing pain on the right side, contact Internal Medicine Diagnostic Centre immediately at (281) 252-8600 or visit the clinic nearest to you.
- Magnolia: 18550 N. 6th Street Magnolia, Texas 77354.
- Houston: 13644 Breton Ridge Suite B Houston, Texas 77070.