How common is upper left abdominal pain and what are its potential causes?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Upper left abdominal pain is a common symptom, most often caused by stomach-related issues such as gastritis, indigestion, or acid reflux. However, other potential causes include pancreatitis, kidney stones, spleen problems, muscle strain, or heart-related conditions. Because the upper left abdomen houses multiple organs, identifying the exact cause requires careful evaluation of accompanying symptoms like nausea, fever, or radiating pain.

Since the causes range from mild to serious, understanding your specific symptoms is the critical first step toward relief and proper care. Rather than guessing, take a free, instant, online symptom check to receive personalized insights based on your unique situation. It takes only a few minutes, requires no signup, and can help you determine whether home care, a doctor's visit, or urgent attention is the right next step.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Many people experience pain in the upper left abdomen often related to stomach issues. Common causes include gastritis, stomach ulcers, and indigestion. Other stomach problems such as food intolerances or viral infections can cause pain in this area. Less commonly, pain in this area may be related to the spleen, pancreas, heart, or muscular causes. Mild pain or pain that you have infrequently may not be cause for concern. However, if pain is severe, does not go away, or is associated with other symptoms like fever, you should discuss with a healthcare provider. To better understand your symptoms and possible causes, try our free AI symptom checker for personalized insights.

(References)

Sherman R. Abdominal Pain. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 86. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK412/
Kang JY, Tay HH, Guan R. Chronic upper abdominal pain: site and radiation in various structural and functional disorders and the effect of various foods. Gut. 1992 Jun;33(6):743-8. doi: 10.1136/gut.33.6.743. PMID: 1624152; PMCID: PMC1379328.
Keenan CR, Dhaliwal G, Henderson MC, Bowen JL. A 43-year-old woman with abdominal pain and fever. J Gen Intern Med. 2010 Aug;25(8):874-7. doi: 10.1007/s11606-010-1372-3. PMID: 20440575; PMCID: PMC2896582.

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