Appointments at Jackson Health System

Jackson Health System offers world-class healthcare with convenient locations across South Florida, including Miami-Dade County and Plantation.

Request Appointment

When Stomach Pain is Serious: Five Warning Signs to Know

Close-up of a man's hands placed on his stomach as if he were in severe pain.

Health & Wellness

  • Stomach pain with fainting, black tar-like stool, severe vomiting, yellow skin, or fever can be a sign of a medical emergency.
  • Stomach pain with an inability to pass gas or stool may signal an intestinal blockage that needs quick medical care.
  • Previous abdominal surgery, ulcers, NSAID use, smoking, older age, and certain digestive conditions can raise the risk of some abdominal emergencies.

Stomach pain is common. It can happen because of gas, constipation, a stomach bug, or something you ate. Most of the time, it gets better on its own. But sometimes, stomach pain can be a warning that something more serious is happening.

While pain can feel different from person to person, certain symptoms that happen along with it shouldn’t be ignored.

Here are five warning signs you should know about:

  1. Pain gets worse with movement. Stomach pain that becomes worse when you walk, cough, or make a sudden movement may happen when there’s inflammation or another serious problem inside the abdomen. Severe or worsening pain should be checked by a medical professional.
  2. You can’t pass gas or stool. Pain along with a swollen belly, vomiting, constipation, or being unable to pass gas can happen with an intestinal blockage. A complete blockage can become life-threatening and needs medical care right away.
  3. You have a fever and yellow skin or eyes. Yellow skin or eyes, called jaundice, can happen when bile can’t flow normally. When it occurs with stomach pain and fever, it may be a sign of a serious problem involving the bile ducts that needs quick treatment.
  4. Your stool looks black and tar-like. Black, sticky, or tar-like stool can be a sign of bleeding higher in the digestive tract. Vomit that looks similar to coffee grounds can also signal bleeding. Some medicines, supplements, and foods can darken stool, so a medical professional can help determine the cause.
  5. You’re dizzy or feel like you may faint. Stomach pain with dizziness, weakness, or fainting can occur with internal bleeding or a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Sudden, severe abdominal or back pain with these symptoms needs emergency attention.

Risk can depend on what’s causing the pain. Factors linked with some abdominal emergencies include older age, previous abdominal surgery, ulcers, smoking, certain digestive conditions and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

You don’t need to figure out the cause yourself. If stomach pain is sudden or severe, or happens with one of these warning signs, get medical care at your nearest Jackson Health system emergency room.