Digestive Problems

What are digestive problems?

The digestive system is an intricate and extensive part of the body. It ranges from the mouth to the rectum. The digestive system helps your body absorb essential nutrients and is responsible for getting rid of waste. Digestion problems can mean more than unwanted symptoms. Minor problems that are left untreated can lead to more serious, chronic illnesses. Because there are so many different types of digestion problems, you might mistakenly dismiss them. It’s important to understand common digestion problems — as well as emergency symptoms — so you know when to visit a hospital.

What are some common digestive problems?

Chronic constipation

Chronic constipation indicates a problem with getting rid of waste. This most often occurs when the colon can’t pass or move stools through the rest of the digestive tract. You may experience abdominal pain and bloating as well as fewer bowel movements (which are more painful than usual). Getting enough fiber, water, and exercise will likely help curb constipation. Medications can also provide relief in more serious cases.

Gastric esophageal reflux disease GERD

Heartburn is an occasional occurrence for many adults. This happens when stomach acids go back up into the esophagus, causing chest pain and the characteristic burning sensation. If you have more frequent heartburn, you might have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Such frequent episodes can interfere with your daily life and damage your esophagus. Symptoms of GERD include:

• Chest discomfort
• Dry cough
• Sour taste in the mouth
• Sore throat
• Swallowing difficulties

You may need medications to control heartburn. A damaged esophagus can make swallowing difficult and disrupt the rest of the digestive system.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a type of chronic swelling. It affects one or more parts of the digestive tract. There are two types of IBD:

• Crohn’s disease: affects the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract but most commonly affects the small intestine and the colon
• ulcerative colitis: affects only the colon

IBD can cause more general digestive ailments, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. Other symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Incomplete bowel movements
• Loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss
• Night sweats
• Rectal bleeding

It’s important to diagnose and treat IBD as soon as possible. Not only will you be more comfortable, but early treatment also reduces damage to the GI tract.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is the inability to break down a type of natural sugar called lactose. Lactose is commonly found in dairy products, such as milk and yogurt. You become lactose intolerant when your small intestine stops making enough of the enzyme lactase to digest and break down the lactose. When this happens, the undigested lactose moves into the large intestine.

The bacteria that are normally present in your large intestine interact with the undigested lactose and cause symptoms such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea. The condition may also be called lactase deficiency. People who are lactose intolerant may need to avoid milk and milk products or take medications containing the lactase enzyme before doing so.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of symptoms that occur together, including repeated pain in your abdomen and changes in your bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation, or both. With IBS, you have these symptoms without any visible signs of damage or disease in your digestive tract. To diagnose irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), doctors review your symptoms and your medical and family history and perform a physical exam. Your doctor will look for a certain pattern in your symptoms.

In some cases, doctors may order tests to rule out other health problems. Doctors may treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by recommending changes in what you eat (more fiber, avoid gluten) and other lifestyle changes, medicines, probiotics, and mental health therapies. Please note this is entirely different from the Inflammatory Bowel disease outlined above.

Possible serious conditions

A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases involving the digestive system. If you continue to experience digestion problems, it’s time to make an appointment. Some signs are more serious and could mean there’s an emergency medical problem. These signs include:

• Bloody stools
• Continuous vomiting
• Severe abdominal cramps
• Sweating
• Sudden, unintentional weight loss

These symptoms could be an indication of an infection, gallstones, hepatitis, internal bleeding, or cancer.

How can you prevent digestive issues?

• Maintain a healthy diet.
  Add fiber to meals by including raw vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Reduce salt consumption. Avoid white foods such as bread, rice and cassava. Drink water or other non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day so your urine is almost clear. Eat a variety of protein like beans, fish, and lean meat.
• Avoid foods that trigger heartburn or reflux. For some, milk-based foods cause the worst stomach problems. For others, it could be oily foods. Since it’s different for everyone, try an elimination diet if you are uncertain about which foods cause issues for you.
• Consider a probiotic. Probiotic supplements, which contain helpful “good” bacteria, sometimes can aid people with chronic constipation. However, don’t take them for diarrhea unless it is after specific types of infections.
• Check your medications. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can cause digestive problems. Talk to your doctor about possible side effects and ask for a substitute if a medicine is causing nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or other concerns.
• Stay active. Exercise and physical activity offer lots of health benefits, including preventing constipation. Getting at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity can put you on the right path to a healthy lifestyle.