What organ is on the left side below rib cage

Have you ever taken a deep breath and felt a sudden sharp pain under the left rib? You might have thought at that point of time that it is a heart attack and an end of you. Pain under the left rib can cause a lot of anxiety, especially when you're a heart patient. As stinging the pain may be, the thought of experiencing an attack can be all the more tormenting. However, instead of rushing to conclusions, you must consider other ailments that can cause pain under your left rib. In case you feel a stabbing pain below your left rib, you need not panic as it can happen due to other reasons too. We have listed some below for you:
Costochondritis
Costochondritis refers to the inflammation of the cartilage which connects your ribs to your breastbone. You might feel a sharp pain under the left rib if you take a deep breath which can worsen while coughing or sneezing.

Costochondritis can happen due to an injury, infection and in rare cases, arthritis.
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is a condition which leads to an inflammation of the membrane around your lungs. The inflammation can be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection in the membrane. In rarest of the rare cases, pulmonary infections which lead to blood clots or pus in the lungs can also be a symptom of pleurisy. The symptoms of pleurisy could be chest pain, fever and shortness of breath.

Kidney stones
In many cases, a sharp stabbing pain can also be caused by kidney stones. Kidney stones are not easy to detect and can happen at any point of time. They usually happen when waste builds up in your kidney and does not get enough water to flow out.

In order to prevent kidney stones, you must drink enough water and not control the urge to urinate.

Gastritis
Gastritis refers to the swelling in the inner lining of your stomach. It can also cause a sharp pain under the left rib along with other symptoms such as burning pain in your stomach, nausea or a sensation of fullness of your upper abdomen.

Bacterial infections and consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs are the main reasons which lead to Gastritis.

Enlarged spleen
An enlarged spleen can also be the reason behind you experience stabbing pain under your left rib. The spleen might enlarge because of bacterial infection, parasitic infection or a liver disease.

There are high chances that an enlarged spleen gets ruptured and cause further complications. A ruptured spleen can cause internal bleeding and must be reported to the doctor as soon as possible.

Pancreatitis

Another reason of pain under the left rib is Pancreatitis. It causes an inflammation of the pancreas which further instigates pain. Pancreatitis comes with additional symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

There are two types of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include fever, stomach tenderness and abdominal pain that spreads to your back. Chronic pancreatitis can bring along unintentional weight loss and pain in upper abdomen.

In case you experience pain on the left side of your rib along with cold sweat, shortness of breath, tightness in your jaw and shoulder blades, then there are high chances that you are suffering from a heart attack. In such a situation, you must not ignore it and rush to a hospital to seek medical help.

Have you ever inhaled deeply and felt a searing discomfort under your left rib? You might have thought it was a heart attack and the end of your life at the time. 

Pain under the left rib can be quite stressful, especially if you have a heart condition. However, Instead of jumping to conclusions, you should think about alternative conditions that could cause pain under your left rib. 

So, if you experience a stabbing pain under your left rib, do not be alarmed! It could be caused by a variety of factors. 

Here I am going to list some causes of pain under the left rib cage. 

Keep reading!

• Ribs Hurt When I Breathe – What Could be the Reasons? 
  • 1- Broken or Bruised Ribs
  • 2- Costochondritis 
  • 3- Pericarditis
  • 4- Problems With Gut 
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease 
    • Gastritis 
  • 5- Pancreatitis 
  • 6- Problems With Your Spleen
  • 7- Kidney Stones
• When is Left Rib Pain An Emergency? 

Ribs Hurt When I Breathe – What Could be the Reasons? 

Your left ribs protect several body organs. These include your heart, stomach, as well as your left lung, pancreas, spleen, and left kidney. 

Any infection, inflammation, or injury to these organs can result in pain radiating under and around your left rib cage. 

Now, let’s see in detail the potential causes of pain under left rib cage. 

1- Broken or Bruised Ribs

A bruised rib causes pain in the chest that gets worse as you inhale or move. The most common cause of bruised or broken ribs is a powerful blow or injury to the chest.

When a rib is shattered, the pain is usually excruciating. It could feel like it’s difficult to take a full breath in. Apart from causing pain, broken ribs can result in significant consequences such as:  

• A collapsed lung
• Injuries to your blood vessels or organs, such as your spleen 
• Flail chest, which is a medical emergency that occurs when you have several rib fractures

2- Costochondritis 

Costochondritis is an inflammatory condition that affects the cartilage that connects your ribs to your breastbone. It is characterised by a sharp, stabbing pain on the left side of the rib cage. The pain gets worse when you cough, sneeze, or when you exercise. 

The cause of this illness isn’t always obvious. It can happen for a variety of causes, including:

• An infection
• An injury
• A lot of coughing

If you suspect this condition is causing pain under your left rib, avoid sports or activities that put additional strain on your breastbone.

3- Pericarditis

The pericardium is a fluid-filled sac that surrounds your heart. The inflammation of this sac is referred to as pericarditis. This might result in a dull aching or searing pain, which is usually worse when lying down. A high fever is another symptom of pericarditis.

4- Problems With Gut 

Causes of pain under left rib cage and in the upper abdomen may also indicate stomach and intestinal disorders. These are:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease 

Both irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are digestive disorders. IBS and IBD both produce chronic pain in the abdomen, which runs from your chest to your hips. 

They can also produce pain under your left ribs. Some of the digestive symptoms caused by IBS and IBD are: 

• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Gas 

Get to know how to get rid of stomach gas naturally. 

Gastritis 

Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining, which is also located near the left side of the rib cage. It doesn’t always cause symptoms, however the following are some of the most common ones:

• Pain in your upper abdomen 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Feeling of being full even after consuming a tiny amount of food

Know about effective remedies for stomach ache. 

5- Pancreatitis 

The pancreas is a gland, not an organ. It is located on the left side of your stomach, near your small intestine. It produces digestive enzymes as well as hormones such as insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin.

Pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreas is inflamed. This inflammation is one of the causes of pain under left rib cage, which can spread to the back. 

Pancreatitis can also cause the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Jaundice
• Weight loss
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 

The inflammation of pancreas can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Gallstones 
• Excessive intake of alcohol
• Injury
• Medications such as corticosteroids, losartan 

6- Problems With Your Spleen

Your spleen is also located near your rib cage on the left side of your body. This organ plays a crucial role in your immune system. It makes white blood cells that fight illness and processes other blood components.

A damaged or enlarged spleen could be the source of any pain you’re experiencing under your left rib cage. Symptoms of an enlarged spleen, also known as splenomegaly, include:

• Bloating 
• Feeling full after eating only a modest amount of food 
• Pain or discomfort

Bursting of the spleen can be another cause of pain when you breathe. Your spleen can burst at any time, usually as a result of trauma. This is a medical emergency, and you should get medical help right now.

When your spleen ruptures, the area around it may feel sensitive to the touch. Other signs and symptoms, in addition to pain, include:

• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness 
• Nausea 

7- Kidney Stones

Calcium and salt deposits solidify and form stone-like lumps in the kidneys, causing kidney stones. This can cause a blockage in the passage of urine, resulting in severe back discomfort radiating to the front and up near the ribs on the affected side. 

You may get pain near the left side of your rib cage if your left kidney has stones. 

Other symptoms may appear, such as: 

• Burning when urinating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius
• Blood in the urine

When is Left Rib Pain An Emergency? 

When is pain under the left rib cage the symptom of a heart attack? A medical emergency, such as a heart attack, can occasionally be indicated by chest pain. 

Some symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Pain, or a heavy feeling in your chest, commonly in the centre or on the left side
• Ache in neck, jaw, shoulders, arms, back, or above the belly button
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Lightheadedness or dizziness 
• Loss of breath 
• Rapid or erratic heart rate

Call your local emergency services straight away if you fear you’re experiencing any of the above mentioned symptoms. 

Takeaway!

It’s not uncommon to experience pain under the left rib cage due to the large amount of organs in the upper left side of your body. It could be caused by a disorder that is easily treated. 

To find out underlying causes of pain under left rib cage, you can consult with the best medical specialists near you. To make an appointment you can visit Healthwire.pk. 

However, if you have significant pain in this area that worsens over time, lasts more than 24 hours, or is coupled with any of the serious symptoms listed above, you should seek medical attention right away.

Kinza Ilyas

Kinza Ilyas is a passionate Biochemist. Currently, she is associated with Healthwire.pk as a content writer where she is fueling her passion to make people aware of their health issues.

What does spleen pain feel like?

What does it mean when you have pain on your left side under your ribs?

When should I worry about pain under my left rib cage?

When should I worry about left side pain?