Track your abdominal pain

Stomach and abdominal pain can be diffuse and difficult to pinpoint. Tracking whether it's sharp, dull, or cramping helps your doctor determine if the cause is muscular, digestive, or inflammatory.

Why track this symptom?

  • Track the location of pain (upper vs. lower abdomen) consistently.
  • Note if pain improves or worsens after meals or activity.
  • Maintain a reliable record of pain frequency for specialist consults.

How Trace Health helps

Trace Health's quick-log feature is built for moments of discomfort. Record the intensity of your pain instantly and use the trends feature to see if your digestive health is improving over time.

Common causes

Common causes include gastritis from NSAIDs or alcohol, peptic ulcers from H. pylori bacteria, and gastroesophageal reflux disease affecting the upper abdomen. Irritable bowel syndrome frequently causes cramping pain that improves after bowel movements. Food poisoning, menstrual cramps, and muscle strain from coughing or heavy lifting also commonly trigger abdominal pain. Constipation and gas buildup cause cramping pain that often resolves with bowel movements.

When to see a doctor

Go to the emergency room immediately for sudden, severe pain that makes you unable to sit still, especially if accompanied by fever, vomiting, or rigid abdominal muscles. Seek urgent care if you have persistent pain with blood in vomit or stool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What details should I log for abdominal pain?

Record the exact location (upper, lower, left, right), type of pain (sharp, cramping, dull), severity, timing relative to meals, bowel movements, what makes it better or worse, and any associated symptoms like nausea or bloating.

How does tracking abdominal pain help diagnosis?

Pain location and timing are key diagnostic clues. Upper pain after meals may point to gastric issues, while lower pain with bowel changes suggests IBS. Your log helps your doctor order the right tests and avoid unnecessary ones.

When is abdominal pain a medical emergency?

Seek immediate care for sudden severe pain, pain with fever and vomiting, blood in stool, or pain that localizes to the lower right abdomen. See your doctor if pain is recurring, worsening, or affecting your ability to eat normally.

How should I describe pain intensity when tracking?

Use a 0-10 pain scale consistently, where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable that would send you to the emergency room. Include brief descriptions like 'sharp,' 'cramping,' or 'burning' alongside your number rating to give your doctor clearer information about the pain quality.

Should I track pain even when it's mild or brief?

Yes, track all episodes including mild or brief pain, as patterns in minor symptoms often precede more significant flare-ups. Even mild pain that occurs at the same time daily or after specific activities provides valuable diagnostic information that you might otherwise forget to mention to your doctor.

Your health data stays on your iPhone.

No account. Private. No personal information is ever requested. Your health data stays on your iPhone by default. A backup option to your private iCloud is available. Trace Health never collects or sells your health data.

What people say

Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 45+ ratings on the App Store.

  • “I highly recommend this app, no annoying ads etc, straight to the point of keeping a track of health symptoms, the best health monitor app I have ever used.” (Trisroy-Best, United Kingdom)
  • “The app is simple, fun, and life-changing for me. I chose it mainly so that my data is never shared, and because it’s the easiest to use. I used to write my symptoms down in a notebook; now I do it every day on the app to track how they change. Being able to also log my everyday activities to see their influence is very handy. I recommend it!” (Solex94, France)

Read the complete guide: How to Track Abdominal Pain: A Complete Guide →