Find Digestive Health Specialists near you

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FAQs:

What is the Digestive System?

Your digestive system is a network of organs that help you digest and absorb nutrition from your food. It includes your gastrointestinal (GI) tract and your biliary system. Your GI tract is a series of hollow organs that are all connected to each other, leading from your mouth to your anus. Your biliary system is a network of three organs that deliver bile and enzymes through to your GI tract your bile ducts.

How Does the Digestive System Work?

It may seem like digestion only happens in your stomach, but it’s a long process that involves many organs. Together they form the digestive tract.

Digestion begins in your mouth, where saliva starts to break down food when you chew. When you swallow, your chewed food moves to your esophagus, a tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Muscles in the esophagus push the food down to a valve at the bottom of your esophagus, which opens to let food into the stomach.

Your stomach breaks food down using stomach acids. Then the food moves into the small intestine. There, digestive juices from several organs, like your pancreas and gallbladder, break down the food more, and nutrients are absorbed. What’s left goes through your large intestine. The large intestine absorbs water. The waste then moves out of your body through the rectum and anus. Digestive problems can happen anywhere along the way.

Why is Digestion Important?

Digestion is important because your body needs nutrients from the food you eat and the liquids you drink in order to stay healthy and function properly. Nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Your digestive system breaks down and absorbs nutrients from the food and liquids you consume to use for important things like energy, growth and repairing cells.

What is the Main Cause of Digestive Issues?

The causes of functional digestive disorders may include a copious meal that is difficult to digest (e.g., fats, spices and acidic foods), eating food without chewing properly, drinking carbonated beverages or abusing alcohol, as well as stress or anxiety.

Can Digestive Issues Cause Back Pain?

If your stomach hurts or feels bloated, and you have lower back pain, it may mean that your abdomen is filled with air or gas. But various other conditions can also cause these symptoms together.The back acts as a support and stabilizing system for your body. It’s vulnerable to injury and strain, so it’s not uncommon to feel back pain along with abdominal bloating or pain. The pain can vary in severity and type, from sharp and stabbing, to dull and aching. How it feels depends on the underlying cause.

Do Probiotics Help with Digestive Issues?

Probiotics are understood to be safe for most people. They lower pH levels. Probiotics lower the pH level in the colon, which might help stool move faster through it. They may relieve antibiotic-related diarrhea. Probiotics may be especially helpful in relieving diarrhea associated with antibiotics and Clostridium difficile. The idea is that probiotics replenish the good bacteria that antibiotics might have killed.

Can Stress Cause Digestive Issues?

You may have noticed a feeling of unease in your stomach during times of stress. That's because anxiety and worry can upset the delicate balance of digestion.In some people, stress slows down digestion, causing bloating, pain and constipation, while in others it speeds it up, causing diarrhoea and frequent trips to the loo. Some people lose their appetite completely. Stress can also worsen digestive conditions like stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. Managing and reducing stress can help with your digestion.

How to Know When Digestive Issues are Serious?

If you experience persistent heartburn, bad breath, unexplained tooth erosion, nausea, pain in your chest or upper part of your abdomen, or have trouble swallowing or breathing, see your doctor.

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A gastroenterologist is a specialist with expertise in the disorders and diseases that affect the digestive system — which includes the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus) as well as the pancreas, liver, bile ducts and gallbladder.

What Does a Gastroenterologist Do?

The digestive disorders and issues that a gastroenterologist treats include:

- Unexplained changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea, constipation and blood in the stool

- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

- Heartburn

- Hemorrhoids

- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

- Pancreatitis

- Ulcers

Gastroenterologists are trained to perform a number of procedures used to help diagnose and treat these conditions, such as upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, biopsy and the various endoscopic techniques needed to visualize the digestive system, including endoscopic ultrasound.

What is Digestive Disease?

A digestive disease is any health problem that occurs in the digestive tract. Conditions may range from mild to serious. Some common problems include heartburn, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and lactose intolerance.

Symptoms of Digestive Issues

The first sign of problems in the digestive tract often includes one or more of the following symptoms:

- Bleeding

- Bloating

- Constipation

- Diarrhea

- Heartburn

- Incontinence

- Nausea and vomiting

- Pain in the belly

- Swallowing problems

- Weight gain or loss

A digestive disease is any health problem that occurs in the digestive tract. Conditions may range from mild to serious. Some common problems include heartburn, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and lactose intolerance.

9 Common Stomach Conditions

Below is a list of 9 common stomach conditions and their signs and symptoms.

1. Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis involves inflammation of small sacs or pouches (known as diverticula) in the lower colon that push outwards in weak spots. Symptoms of this condition include pain and cramping in the lower left abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

2. Crohn’s Disease (CD)

CD is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and irritation mainly in the small and large intestines. Common symptoms of CD include abdominal pain and cramping, weight loss, and diarrhea.

3. Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

UC is another chronic inflammatory disease, but it mainly affects the large intestine (colon). Symptoms of UC include abdominal pain and cramping, bloody stools, diarrhea, and constantly feeling the urge to have a bowel movement even if your bowel is empty.

4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS refers to a group of GI symptoms that occur together that cause abdominal pain and affect your bowel movements. Depending on the type of IBS you have, you may experience painful bowel movements with diarrhea, constipation, or both.

5. GERD (Heartburn & Acid Reflux)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to severe, chronic acid reflux caused by stomach acid coming back up your esophagus. Symptoms of GERD include stomach pain, heartburn, chest pain, nausea, and regurgitation (food coming back up your esophagus and into your throat or mouth).

6. Stomach Ulcer (Peptic Ulcer)

Stomach ulcers are sores that form in the lining of your stomach or first part of your small intestine (duodenum). Symptoms of these ulcers include nausea, vomiting, bloating, severe stomach pain, and feeling full early in a meal or after eating.

7. Ulcer (General)

Ulcers can also form in other parts of the GI tract, including the esophagus. Symptoms of esophageal ulcers include chest pain, nausea, vomiting, pain when swallowing, and feeling like food is stuck in your throat.

8. Stomach Bleeding

Stomach bleeding is a symptom of many GI tract diseases. Symptoms can include bright red bloody vomit, abdominal cramps, vomit that looks similar to coffee grounds, black or tar-like stools, bright red or dark blood in stools, and shortness of breath.

9. Gastritis

Gastritis refers to inflammation in the stomach lining. Symptoms of gastritis include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Breakdown of the stomach lining or ulcers may also cause stomach bleeding.

7 Common Signs of a Healthy Gut

Knowing the signs of a healthy gut can be just as important as knowing the symptoms of an unhealthy one. If you’re wondering whether your digestive tract may be performing at its best, look for the following signs of a healthy gut:

- Regular and pain-free bowel movements

- Consistent energy

- Normal amount of gas and bloating

- Healthy bowel transit time

- Mental clarity

- Healthy reactions to food and stress

Six Tips to Prevent Digestive Issues

Many digestive issues can be eliminated with some simple lifestyle changes. Try these six tips to help your digestive system stay on track.

1. Eat small, frequent meals

Prevent indigestion, bloating and heartburn by changing how often you eat without increasing your overall calorie intake. Instead of three meals a day, enjoy four to five smaller meals and eat them slowly. Taking time to chew food properly makes you feel full, which can help prevent overeating that can cause gas, bloating, heartburn and indigestion.

2. Drink plenty of water and limit alcohol

Water helps your body flush waste and toxins, and helps your colon eliminate waste, which prevents constipation. The amount of water you need every day may depend on numerous factors, such as activity level, geographic location and temperature. If you have questions about how much water you need per day, check with your doctor. Make sure you also limit your alcohol consumption. Alcohol interferes with acid secretion and nutrient absorption. Too much alcohol can contribute to heartburn, diarrhea and liver issues.

3. Exercise regularly

Daily physical activity can help your body’s digestive system move things along and eliminate waste. Try walking, cycling, swimming, using an elliptical trainer or hiking.

4. Maintain a healthy body weight

Extra pounds, especially around the midsection, can make digestive issues, such as heartburn, gas and burping, worse. If you need to lose weight, you don’t need to rush it. Make easy, small changes for healthy weight loss.

5. Eat a balanced diet

Stay away from fried, greasy foods that are hard to digest. Instead, fill your plate with fiber-rich foods, like cherries, grapes, bell peppers, beans, whole grains and nuts. Add fish to your list of healthy foods as well. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish can improve digestive issues by stabilizing cell walls to reduce inflammation. Federal food and environmental agencies have declared that eating fish is part of a healthy eating pattern. Probiotic-containing foods also help with digestion. Probiotics, such as yogurt and kefir, contain good bacteria that can fight any bad bacteria lurking in your gut.

6. Manage your stress level

Stress can cause “butterflies in your stomach.” A sad experience can be “gut-wrenching.” The reason is because your brain has a direct impact on your stomach. Your digestive tract is controlled by a complex system of about 100 million nerves that start in the brain and end in the gut. So, your emotions cause chemical and physical responses in the body that can result in stomach pain and discomfort. If ongoing stress is an issue for you, try meditation or other relaxation techniques and make sure to get enough sleep.

Food for Those Who Have Digestive Issues

What you eat can contribute to digestive problems. Many people eat too much processed food and sugar, and not enough fiber, fruits, and vegetables. Poor eating habits, such as eating too quickly or skipping meals, may also be part of the problem. Many digestive problems can be prevented by eating a healthy, balanced diet.

The following are lists of healthy foods that can be incorporated into your diet.

FRUIT

- Apples

- Avocados

- Bananas

- Berries

- Canned fruits (canned in fruit juice or water)

- Cantaloupe

- Grapes

- Honeydew

- Kiwi

- Mango

- Nectarines

- Papaya

- Peaches

- Pears

- Prunes

- Watermelon

VEGETABLES

- Asparagus

- Beans (green, kidney, lima, navy, soybeans, yellow)

- Beets

- Broccoli

- Brussels sprouts

- Cabbage

- Carrots

- Cauliflower

- Corn

- Cucumbers

- Kohlrabi

- Leeks

- Mushrooms

- Onions

- Peas

- Peppers (green, red, or yellow)

- Potatoes

- Radishes

- Rutabagas

- Sauerkraut

- Scallions

- Spinach

- Squash

- Tomatoes

- Turnips

- Vegetable juices

- Zucchini

MEAT/PROTEIN

- Eggs

- Dried peas, beans, and lentils

- Fish

- Lean meats

- Nuts

- Peanut butter

- Poultry

- Seeds

- Tofu

GRAINS

- Multigrain breads, cereals and crackers

- Rice (brown or wild)

- Whole wheat pasta

Foods to Avoid If You Have Digestive Issues

If you suffer from a digestive disease or from digestion-related symptoms, here are 10 foods our team says you might want to avoid or at least limit.

1. Deep-fried foods

Deep-fried foods absorb copious amounts of fats — oil, shortening, or lard — during the cooking process. Fat is very hard to digest, which means if you have issues with your digestive system, eating deep-fried foods could cause uncomfortable symptoms.

2. Processed foods

Processed foods are typically high in refined carbohydrates, along with fats and sugars, each of which can cause digestive symptoms. Combined, these foods — which include a lot of bakery items and snack foods — can cause gas, bloating, and cramps, along with diarrhea or constipation.

3. High-fat foods

Deep-fried foods contain a lot of fat, but so do a lot of other foods that aren’t fried. Heavy cream, butter, and fatty meats, such as bacon, can all be very hard to digest, which can result in cramps, bowel issues, and other digestive issues.

4. Coffee

Most of us depend — heavily — on that morning cup of java to get moving. But, coffee contains oils and caffeine, both of which can irritate your digestive tract, especially if you reach for that second cup.

5. Spicy foods

Spicy foods add interest and “kick” to lots of delicious dishes, including chili, curries, and Buffalo wings. Unfortunately, spicy ingredients — including any type of hot pepper — can cause heartburn or GERD, especially if you indulge before bedtime or any time prior to lying down.

6. Alcohol

Alcohol irritates the lining of your digestive tract, and it can take a toll on your liver, too. Plus, it relaxes the muscles at the end of your esophagus, increasing the likelihood of reflux. 

7. Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, which is essential for good health. But, they’re also high in acids, and if you eat too many — or consume them before bed or on an empty stomach — they may cause reflux and irritation.

8. Chocolate

For many people, limiting this particular food can be particularly hard to swallow (pardon the pun). Chocolate is delicious and popular, but it can also irritate your digestive system, increasing the risks for diarrhea, cramps, and bloating.

9. Dairy products

Most dairy products contain lactose, a type of sugar that causes digestive problems in people who are sensitive to it. Even if you’re not lactose intolerant, it’s still probably a good idea to avoid the full-fat versions. 

10. Artificial sweeteners

Many popular artificial sweeteners contain sorbitol, a sweetening agent that’s actually used as a laxative. It shouldn’t be any surprise, then, that these sweeteners are associated with bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

7 Signs to See a Gastroenterologist

Here are seven reasons to consider seeing a gastroenterologist:

1. Ongoing diarrhea

From food to infection to certain medications, many things can bring on a bout of diarrhea. However, if your stool is regularly more liquid than solid, it's time to check in with a GI doctor. Chronic diarrhea can be an indication of a few different digestive disorders, including IBS, IBD or small bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). IBS is the most common cause of chronic diarrhea. Fortunately, there are many treatment avenues your doctor can use to help manage your symptoms.

2. Constipation

The frequency of bowel movements ultimately varies from person to person. Less than three a week is typically considered constipation. You might also be constipated if your bowel movements are very small, very hard or difficult to pass. If you're constipated more weeks than not, consult a gastroenterologist.

Constipation can have many causes and it can be hard to manage on your own at home. A GI specialist can help determine the likely cause of your constipation and recommend the lifestyle changes and medications that can help make your bowel movements more regular."

3. Frequent or severe heartburn

Getting heartburn now and then shouldn't be a matter of huge concern, and the good news is that occasional heartburn can typically be managed yourself at home.

But if you're having heartburn symptoms more than a couple of times per week, it could be a sign of GERD — a condition that, over time, can damage and scar the lining of the esophagus.

Chronic acid reflux doesn't go away on its own, so it's important to be evaluated by a specialist. Left untreated, GERD can cause permanent damage to the esophagus. This damage can lead to issues swallowing, cause painful ulcers and even increase a person's risk of developing esophageal cancer.

4. Feeling unusually bloated

Bloating, which can feel like your belly is full or tight, is often caused by issues that result in excess gas production, hypersensitivty to gas or gas being trapped in your colon. Constipation can cause bloating since the longer waste stays in your colon, the more likely it is to be fermented by resident bacteria, which creates gas. But bloating can also be a sign of IBS, a food sensitivity such as lactose intolerance, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) or gastroparesis (partial paralysis of the stomach).

5. Sudden or severe abdominal pain

We've all dealt with bellyaches, but severe abdominal pain that lasts for hours or abdominal pain that comes on suddenly and intensely isn't normal. A stomach ulcer or peptic ulcer, which is a sore on the lining of your stomach or first part of your small intestine can lead to burning abdominal pain, particularly after eating. 

An untreated ulcer can cause swelling and scarring that blocks your digestive tract. Consistently severe abdominal pain can also be a sign of gallstones, pancreatitis or liver disease. A gastroenterologist can help determine the cause of your pain.

6. Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool

If you see blood on your toilet paper or as you flush the toilet, it could be hemorrhoids — a fairly common issue that can typically be managed with at-home remedies or over-the-counter products. However, if hemorrhoids aren't responding to these treatments or you're getting them frequently, a gastroenterologist can recommend more advanced treatments that can be help you get relief.

Additionally, don't assume that blood in the toilet can only mean hemorrhoids. Any time you see blood in your stool or have rectal bleeding that is accompanied by changes in your bowel habits or to the color or consistency of your stool, it's critical that you see a gastroenterologist. Rectal bleeding isn't always a huge concern, but it can be a sign of a serious medical condition such as colorectal cancer.

7. You're due for a colonoscopy

If you're over the age of 45 or have a strong family history of colorectal cancer, you've probably heard your doctor recommend a colonoscopy. Most people begin having screening colonoscopies at age 45. From there, the frequency varies based on your results — but if the findings are normal and you have no other risk factors, you only need to repeat a colonoscopy every 10 years.

And while a colonoscopy might sound uncomfortable, it can save your life. Early detection of colorectal cancer is important — when caught early, it can lead to less aggressive treatment and better chance of survival.

What Happens at a Gastroenterology Appointment

If you've noticed any of those seven signs, it's time to consider scheduling an appointment with GI doctor. At your first appointment, your gastroenterologist will:

1. Ask you about your digestive symptoms and medical history

2. Recommend any lifestyle changes or medications that can help relieve your symptoms

3. Discuss any tests, screenings or procedures that may be needed

You may find it helpful to make a list of your symptoms before your appointment so that you don't forget to ask about any of the issues you're having.

Through this initial evaluation, your doctor will start the process of uncovering the cause of your digestive issues and begin addressing your symptoms. If your condition is chronic, he or she will also discuss how best to manage your condition over time. Your doctor may also talk to you about additional testing that may be needed if your symptoms don't improve.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic

WebMD

Houston Methodist

Tylenol

Biron

Scripps

Medline Plus

Healthline

NHS

DDSQC

Everyday Health

Everlywell

 

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.