Summarize the following:
The use of medicines, herbal remedies and/or lifestyle changes are not substitutes for medical care. Given that stomach aches can point to serious problems, it is vital that you know which symptoms to take seriously and know when to see a doctor. If you are experiencing severe stomach pain that makes you unable to sit still, or if you need to curl into a ball to find relief, you need to visit the emergency room. This is especially true if the pain is on the right side of your abdomen. You should also visit the emergency room or see your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: Stomach pain with bloody stool, persistent nausea and vomiting, skin that appears yellow, swelling in your abdomen, or tenderness in your abdomen. If you have stomach pain after an injury or car accident. See your doctor right away if you have stomach pain and suspect you may be pregnant. If your stomach ache persists for a few days or begins to worry you, it is time to see a doctor. You should also call your doctor is you have heartburn that lasts for several weeks with no improvement from over the counter medicine. Also, call your doctor if the stomach pain is accompanied with fever and headache, poor appetite, weight loss, or pain with urination. Your doctor will ask you to lift up your shirt to examine your stomach. In order to check that there is no inflammation or other problems, the doctor will listen to your stomach using a stethoscope and will also feel around to check for tenderness and ensure that all the organs are in the right place. Tell the doctor if you experience any pain or discomfort when he or she presses your stomach.
Understand that stomach aches may be serious. Visit the emergency room immediately with severe and unrelenting pain. Call your doctor if you have stomach pain lasting several days. Let your doctor examine you to rule out anything serious.