What side is your appendix on?
The human body has a lot of organs and each organ has an important function. There are a few organs which have an important function but if you remove these organs you can still live a healthy life. It will affect the health but it won't have a negative impact on the overall health. For example, if you remove the tonsils you may live a good life, if you donate one kidney you may still be healthy, or if you remove the appendix it won't cause any adverse effect on the body. Many times you may feel the pain on the right side of lower abdomen; it is a pain which may be related to the appendix.
What side is your appendix on?
In 99.99% of the population, the appendix is on the right side of the lower abdominal region. It is one of those organs which you may remove via surgery if necessary. The appendix is the tube-shaped organ; it is a sac that is attached to the large intestine. The position of the appendix is at the junction of the small and the large intestine. The size of the appendix is about four to five inches long. Whenever you feel an acute pain in the lower abdomen or sudden severe lower abdominal pain, chances are that it is the appendix.
You may know that only a few people also have the heart on the right side instead of the left. The same is the case with appendix. There are a few people who also have the appendix behind the colon.
The proper functioning and purpose of the appendix are not known. Many medical experts say it is a place which stores the good bacteria or other materials secreted from the intestine. Many medical experts also say that it helps the immune system. Many medical experts also say that it is a useless sack. In the medical terms it is called the "vestigial organ", thus the surgical removal of this organ does not cause any harm to the health.
What is Appendicitis?
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a pouch-shaped organ connected to the large intestine. If you don’t get treatment for it, the appendix can rupture, which is a life-threatening situation. Always seek immediate medical attention if you think you have appendicitis.
Your appendix is on the lower right-hand side of your abdomen, but pain from appendicitis may start in the middle of your abdomen.
Treatment for appendicitis involves surgery to remove the appendix. After surgery, most people recover quickly and without complications.
The symptoms of appendicitis
There are a lot of symptoms of appendicitis. The symptoms are also different in various people. But there are a few symptoms which are same. Whenever these symptoms arise, you should see the doctor immediately. Delaying might cause the appendix to rupture. You need to go to the hospital immediately if you have the symptoms such as continuous abdominal pain. The pain starts with a dull acute feeling in the lower abdomen. It produces cramps and sudden pain strikes in the lower abdomen. The pain will continue as the appendix expands (swells). It will then start irritating the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal wall). It is a sharp pain which does not go away. If it continues and gets severe as the time passes, it is the appendix pain symptom.
Another symptom of the appendicitis or the problem with appendix is a mild fever. If you feel the abdominal pain with low fever, it means the appendix is swollen. You should take medicine. If you feel severe pain with a high fever, it means the appendix is ruptured. Another symptom of the problem with appendix is indigestion. It may also cause vomiting and nausea.
The classic symptoms of appendicitis are:
• Dull pain near the navel or the upper or lower abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen; this is usually the first sign, but it occurs in less than half of appendicitis cases.
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins
• Abdominal swelling
• Temperature of 100 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit
• Constipation or diarrhea with gas
• Inability to pass gas
In many cases, atypical symptoms appear, including:
• Dull or sharp pain anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, back, or rectum
• Painful urination
• Vomiting that precedes the abdominal pain
Appendix problems in women
The appendix pain symptoms in women are slightly different, especially in the pregnant women. It can cause stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, pregnancy discomfort and the pain in the upper abdomen. The pregnant women have a grown-sized uterus which causes pain in the upper abdomen instead of the lower abdomen. There are a few other symptoms too such as gas, heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation, etc.