Digestive Issues Doctors Near Me

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FAQs:

What are Digestive Issues?

Digestive issues refer to any gastrointestinal disorders that occur in the digestive tract, which is also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The first signs of a digestive tract issue commonly include bleeding, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, and heartburn.

Can Digestive Issues Cause Chest Pain?

Chest pain and discomfort are often caused by digestive problems rather than heart problems. Another term for chest pain that isn’t due to a heart problem is non-cardiac chest pain. Acid reflux, for example, creates a sharp, painful sensation in the chest. Seek emergency help if you experience shortness of breath or tightness in your chest. Signs include:

- Chest pain after eating

- Pain in your chest while you eat

- Accompanied by digestive symptoms

If you experience the following digestive symptoms alongside your chest pain, it suggests your pain is due to a digestive problem. It would be best if you discussed your symptoms with a doctor to rule out other causes of your chest pain first.

Do Probiotics Help with Digestive Issues?

Many people take probiotics to help relieve diarrhea, constipation, or stomach pain. Over the long term, probiotics should improve your overall gut health, including your bowel regularity and digestion, reducing discomfort. But in the short term, it’s possible that introducing new probiotics could trigger similar symptoms, especially if you’re taking a large dose or if your gut tends to be sensitive in general.

Many probiotics produce a byproduct called short-chain fatty acids in your gut. These byproducts have many benefits to your gut health, but a sudden influx of them could cause temporary diarrhea. Other probiotics produce gases in your gut as byproducts. If you suddenly have more of them than usual, you might notice increased bloating and gas during digestion. These symptoms should resolve within a few days.

You can take probiotics as a dietary supplement, or you can get them through fermented foods and drinks. There are benefits to both methods. In general, food and drink sources might help to promote a greater diversity of microbes in your biome, which is good for maintaining your general health. Some food sources may also include prebiotics, the fibers that probiotics need to feed on to thrive.

Can Digestive Issues Cause Back Pain?

Many gastrointestinal disorders are linked to back pain. This is because the nerves of your bowels and intestines run through the lower part of the spine. When your digestive system is experiencing problems, you might feel lower back discomfort until your symptoms subside. If you think you are visiting the doctor to discuss back pain, don’t be surprised if they want to talk about your diet and digestion. Do you experience frequent heartburn or GERD? Do you have frequent constipation, uncomfortable gas, or diarrhea? How does your gastrointestinal distress disrupt your life – and how long does it last? You could have a condition that causes back pain whenever you have a flare-up.

Why Do Digestive Issues Occur During Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause, characterized by hormonal fluctuations that can lead to various physical and emotional symptoms, including changes in the menstrual cycle, mood swings, hot flashes, and digestive issues. Stomach problems during perimenopause are often due to hormonal changes, particularly fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, which can affect gut motility, the microbiome, and the overall digestive process, leading to symptoms like bloating, constipation, and acid reflux. Common digestive issues include bloating, gas, indigestion, acid reflux, constipation, and diarrhea. These symptoms can vary in intensity and may be influenced by diet, stress, and other lifestyle factors.

Can Digestive Issues Cause Heart Palpitations?

Heart palpitations feel like your heart flutters, pounds, or skips a beat. Certain ingredients in food, such as sugar, carbs, or salt, can cause them. Heart palpitations can happen anytime, including after or while eating. Heart palpitations after eating usually aren’t harmful. They can occur due to the chewing, swallowing, and digestive process or because of the ingredients you eat. You may be able to avoid heart palpitations after eating by monitoring the foods that cause symptoms and changing your diet. You can also lower your risk by maintaining a healthy weight and reducing stress. Pay attention to what you’ve had to eat or drink when you notice heart palpitations, and share this information with your healthcare provider. Seek help immediately if heart palpitations occur along with chest pain, confusion, or difficulty breathing.

Does a Vegan Diet Result to Digestive Issues?

A vegan diet can be problematic if you rely heavily on grains, sugar-based foods, and an excess of fruit, especially dried fruits. This is true for anyone, vegan or not. These will preferentially feed pathogenic and harmful bacteria and yeast in the gut, which then thrive causing issues such as bloating, bowel irregularities, potentially SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth) or SIFO (small intestinal fungal overgrowth) as well as loss of beneficial bacteria that become overwhelmed by the ‘bad’ bacteria. Vegan diets can be high in fiber too which is generally a healthy situation but if an individual already has a poorly functioning digestive system and/or does not eat slowly, chew well, and manage their digestive health well, too much fiber can cause irritation, inflammation, and more bloating.

Can Stress Cause Digestive Issues?

Research has shown there is a strong connection between our brain and our digestive tract through the central nervous system. The part of the central nervous system that serves the GI tract, called the enteric nervous system, makes a direct connection between the brain and the GI system. In stressful or anxiety-provoking situations, it can cause normal physiologic processes to be interpreted as painful. When we have anxiety and stress, hormones and neurotransmitters are released in the body. This can negatively impact gut motility, or the way our intestines and stomach squeeze and move waste through the body. Also, stress can affect the delicate balance of bacteria in our gut, causing an upset stomach.

People with chronic stress and anxiety may overeat or eat unhealthy foods. Some of those foods, like products with high amounts of natural and artificial sugar, are often poorly digested and cause stomach discomfort. Chronic stress and anxiety can also lead people to smoke, consume more alcohol, or drink large amounts of caffeine — all of which can also cause GI symptoms.

Can Acupuncture Help with Digestive Issues?

While most people think of acupuncture being used for musculoskeletal issues, the technique is used for many other health issues, too. For digestive issues, researchers think acupuncture works by improving the gut-brain interaction — the “communication system” involving the nerves between the digestive tract and the brain.

Studies show acupuncture may help with gastrointestinal disorders by stimulating nervous system responses that help control gut motility. By either stimulating or relaxing gut movement, acupuncture may help relieve digestive symptoms by helping with the underlying digestive process.

Current research shows acupuncture can help treat many types of digestive disorders, including:

- Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)

- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

- Crohn’s symptoms

- Constipation

- Chronic indigestion

What is the Best Diet for Digestive Issues?

Yes, the food you eat can make a huge difference to the way you feel! Think of your food as a form of medicine that can help heal your gut. The best diet for gut health, depending on your needs, can be the Mediterranean diet, the paleo diet, the specific carbohydrate diet, the elimination diet, or the low-FODMAP diet. These diets are recommended as a way to both aid your digestion and improve your overall health. If you’re struggling with occasional symptoms of bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, one of these diets may be a good fit for you.

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, 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 and your bile ducts. The organs that make up the GI tract, in the order that they are connected, include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. The biliary system includes the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and bile ducts.

How the Digestive System Works

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.

9 Common Digestive Issues

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 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 the 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.

Symptoms of Digestive Issues

There are dozens of gastrointestinal diseases, ranging from minor conditions that are easily treated to life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical attention. These gastrointestinal diseases can cause a wide range of symptoms. Common symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders include:

- Abdominal pain (stomach pain or discomfort)

- Bloating or gas

- Diarrhea

- Vomiting

- Blood in vomit

- Changes in bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea, or both)

- Incomplete bowel movements

- Narrow stools

- Rectal bleeding or blood in stool

- Loss of appetite and/or unexplained weight loss

- Fatigue and weakness

Causes of Digestive Issues

The cause of gastrointestinal diseases can vary widely, including a combination of environmental and genetic factors. It may include:

1. A low-fiber diet and lack of adequate hydration can contribute to constipation.

2. Hypersensitivity to certain foods such as dairy products that can cause GI issues.

3. Structural defects, for example, a weak muscle at the lower end of the esophagus, which allows stomach acid to backflow into the food pipe, causing GERD.

4. Excess stomach acid formation due to side effects of certain medications, alcohol, smoking, or stress which can lead to peptic ulcer disease.

5. Severe infections, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or visceral hypersensitivity are potential causes of common conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

6. Lifestyle factors such as a diet high in processed meats, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption are risk factors for colorectal cancer. Chronic stress can also increase the risk of peptic ulcers. 

7. A family history of certain conditions, such as familial adenomatous polyposis, in which hundreds of polyps (small growths) develop in the colon and rectum.

How to Figure Out Digestive Issues

To diagnose a digestive disorder, your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and your symptoms. They will also do a physical exam. You may also need certain tests to help with the diagnosis, such as:

1. Lab tests

a. Fecal occult blood or fecal immunochemical test. This test checks for microscopic amounts (occult) of blood in the stool. A very small amount of stool is placed on a test card. The stool is then tested in the healthcare provider's office or sent to a lab.

b. Stool culture. This test checks for abnormal bacteria in the digestive tract that may cause diarrhea and other problems. A small sample of stool is collected and sent to a lab. In 2 or 3 days, the test will show if abnormal bacteria are present.

c. Other stool tests. The stool can be checked for many things and can help diagnose inflammation, pancreatic dysfunction, and nonbacterial infections, such as viruses and parasites.

d. Breath tests. These can help diagnose several digestive disorders. These include stomach bacteria (H. pylori), poor digestion of sugars (for example, lactose or milk sugar), bacterial overgrowth, and delayed stomach emptying (gastroparesis).

2. Imaging tests

a. Colorectal transit study. This test shows how well food moves through the colon. You swallow capsules containing small markers that can be seen on an X-ray. You then eat a high-fiber diet during the test. The movement of the markers through the colon is monitored with abdominal X-rays. These are taken several times 3 to 7 days after you swallow the capsule. A newer way to do this is called a wireless motility capsule, or capsule endoscopy.

b. CT scan. This imaging test uses X-rays and a computer to make detailed images of the body. A CT scan shows details of the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general X-rays. 

c. Defecography. This test is an X-ray of the anal and rectal area. It checks how well stool leaves the body and how well the rectal muscles are working. It can also find abnormalities in the anus or rectum. During the test, your rectum is filled with a soft paste that has the same consistency as stool. You then sit on a toilet positioned inside an X-ray machine. You squeeze and relax the anus to expel the paste. The radiologist studies the X-rays to see if there are any problems.

d. Lower GI (gastrointestinal) series. This test is also called a barium enema. It looks at the rectum, the large intestine, and the lower part of the small intestine. Barium is given into the rectum as an enema. An X-ray of the abdomen shows strictures (narrowed areas), obstructions (blockages), and other problems.

e. MRI scan. This test uses a combination of large magnets to make detailed images of organs and structures within the body. You lie on a bed that moves into the cylindrical MRI machine. The machine takes a series of pictures of the inside of the body using a magnetic field and radio waves. The computer enhances the pictures. The test is painless. And you are not exposed to radiation. Because the MRI machine is like a tunnel and is very loud inside, some people become claustrophobic or are unable to hold still during the test. They may be given a sedative to help them relax. You can't wear metal objects in the MRI room because the metal heats up and can burn you. More and more manufacturers are making MRI-compatible pacemakers, prosthetic joints, and other internal devices.

f. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). This test uses MRI to view the bile ducts. The machine uses radio waves and magnets to scan internal tissues and organs.

g. Oropharyngeal motility (swallowing) study. This is also called a barium swallow. In this test, you are given small amounts of a liquid containing barium to drink with a bottle, spoon, or cup. A series of X-rays is taken to see what happens as you swallow the liquid.

h. Radioisotope gastric-emptying scan. During this test, you eat food containing a radioisotope. This is a slightly radioactive substance that will show up on a scan. The dose of radiation from the radioisotope is very small and not harmful. But it allows the radiologist to see the food in the stomach and how quickly it leaves the stomach, while you lie under a machine. Other, newer tests to diagnose problems with food leaving the stomach (gastroparesis) include breath testing and a wireless motility capsule.

i. Ultrasound. This imaging test uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to make images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. Ultrasounds are used to view internal organs as they function. It can also assess blood flow through various vessels. A gel is put on the area of the body being studied, such as the abdomen. A wand called a transducer is then placed on the skin. The transducer sends sound waves into the body that bounce off organs and return to the ultrasound machine, making an image on the monitor.

j. Upper GI (gastrointestinal) series (also called barium swallow). This test looks at the organs of the upper part of the digestive system. These are the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). You swallow barium and then X-rays are taken to check the digestive organs.

3. Endoscopic Procedures

a. Colonoscopy. This procedure allows the healthcare provider to view the whole length of the large intestine (colon). It can often help find abnormal growths, inflamed tissue, ulcers, and bleeding. A colonoscopy is one of the more common options for colorectal cancer screening. Precancerous colon polyps can be removed during the screening exam before they have time to grow into cancer. A colonoscope is put into the rectum and moved up into the colon. A colonoscope is a long, flexible tube with a light on it. A virtual colonoscopy is now available. It uses CT imaging to look at your colon. The colon prep for both types of colonoscopies is the same, however, abnormalities seen during a virtual colonoscopy, often lead to follow-up with a regular colonoscopy for treatment

b. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This procedure allows the healthcare provider to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. It combines X-ray and the use of an endoscope. This is a long, flexible, lighted tube. The scope is guided through your mouth and throat and then through the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). The healthcare provider can look at the inside of these organs and see any problems. A tube is then passed through the scope. A dye is injected that allows the internal organs to appear on an X-ray.

c. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD or upper endoscopy). An EGD allows the healthcare provider to directly visualize the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum with an endoscope. This scope is guided into the mouth and throat and then into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. With the endoscope, the healthcare provider can view the inside of this part of the body. They can also insert instruments through the scope to remove a sample of tissue (a biopsy) if needed. When an ultrasound probe is attached to a scope, an internal ultrasound can be done. This is called an EUS. When the test is extended into the deeper small intestine, it's called an enteroscopy.

d. Sigmoidoscopy. This procedure allows the healthcare provider to check the inside of a part of the large intestine. It helps find the causes of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, abnormal growth, and bleeding. A sigmoidoscope is put into the intestine through the rectum. This short, flexible, lighted tube blows air into the intestine to inflate it. This makes viewing the inside easier.

4. Other procedures

a. Anorectal manometry. This test helps gauge the strength of the muscles in the rectum and anus. These muscles normally tighten to hold in a bowel movement and relax when a bowel movement is passed. Anorectal manometry helps check for anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung disease, among other problems. A small tube is placed into the rectum. It measures the pressures exerted by the sphincter muscles that ring the canal.

b. Esophageal manometry. This test helps gauge the strength of the muscles in the esophagus. It is useful in assessing gastroesophageal reflux and swallowing problems. A small tube is guided into the nostril. It's then passed into the throat and finally into the esophagus. It measures the pressure the esophageal muscles make at rest.

c. Esophageal pH monitoring. An esophageal pH monitor measures the acidity inside of the esophagus. It helps evaluate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A thin, plastic tube is placed into a nostril. It's guided down the throat and into the esophagus. The tube stops just above the lower esophageal sphincter. This is at the connection between the esophagus and the stomach. At the end of the tube inside the esophagus is a sensor that measures pH, or acidity. The other end of the tube outside the body is connected to a monitor. It records the pH levels for a 24- to 48-hour period. Normal activity is encouraged during the study. You keep a diary of your symptoms, such as gagging or coughing. You also record when you eat, what types of food, and how much. The pH readings are evaluated and compared to your activity for that period. Sometimes esophageal pH monitoring is done during an upper endoscopy by clipping a pH probe onto the esophagus. It measures pH without having a tube remain in your nose or mouth.

d. Capsule endoscopy. This test helps healthcare providers look at the small intestine. It's used because traditional procedures, such as an upper endoscopy or colonoscopy, can't reach this part of the bowel. This procedure helps find causes of bleeding, polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, and tumors of the small intestine. A sensor device is placed on your abdomen. You then swallow a small capsule. The capsule has a video camera in it. The capsule passes naturally through the digestive tract while sending video images to a data recorder. The data recorder is secured to your waist by a belt for 8 hours. Images of the small bowel are downloaded onto a computer from the data recorder. The images are reviewed on a computer screen by a healthcare provider. The capsule passes through the colon and exits your body in your stool in about 24 hours.

e. Gastric manometry. This test measures electrical and muscular activity in the stomach. The healthcare provider passes a thin tube down your throat into your stomach. This tube contains a wire that takes measurements of the electrical and muscular activity of the stomach as it digests foods and liquids. This test helps show how the stomach is working. It can see if there is any delay in digestion. This test can be extended into the small intestine and is called antroduodenal manometry. The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine.

Best Foods to Eat to Prevent 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.

1. FRUITS

Apples

Avocados

Bananas

Berries

Canned fruits (canned in fruit juice or water)

Cantaloupe

Grapes

Honeydew

Kiwi

Mango

Nectarines

Papaya

Peaches

Pears

Prunes

Watermelon

2. 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

3. MEAT/PROTEIN

• Eggs

• Dried peas, beans, and lentils

• Fish

• Lean meats

• Nuts

• Peanut butter

• Poultry

• Seeds

• Tofu

4. 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 digestion-related symptoms, here are 10 foods 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 before 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 of 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 used as a laxative. It shouldn’t be any surprise, then, that these sweeteners are associated with bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

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 which 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. 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. 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.

How to Fix Digestive Issues Naturally

Everyone experiences occasional digestive symptoms such as upset stomach, gas, heartburn, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea. However, when these symptoms occur frequently, they can cause major disruptions to your life. Here are the best ways to fix digestive issues naturally:

1. Eat whole foods

Diets high in processed foods have been linked to a higher risk of digestive disorders. Whole foods are minimally processed, rich in nutrients, and linked to a wide range of health benefits. That is why eating a diet low in food additives, trans fats, and artificial sweeteners may improve your digestion and protect against digestive diseases.

2. Get plenty of fiber

A high-fiber diet promotes regular bowel movements and may protect against many digestive disorders. Three common types of fiber are soluble and insoluble fiber, as well as prebiotics.

3. Add healthy fats to your diet

Adequate fat intake improves the absorption of some fat-soluble nutrients. What’s more, omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, which may prevent inflammatory bowel diseases.

4. Stay hydrated

Insufficient fluid intake is a common cause of constipation. Increase your fluid intake by drinking water and non-caffeinated beverages and eating fruits and vegetables that have a high water content.

5. Manage your stress

Stress negatively impacts your digestion and has been linked to IBS, ulcers, constipation, and diarrhea. Reducing stress can improve digestive symptoms.

6. Eat mindfully

Eating slowly and mindfully and paying attention to every aspect of your food, such as texture, temperature, and taste, may help prevent common digestive issues such as indigestion, bloating, and gas.

7. Chew your food

Chewing food thoroughly breaks it down so that it can be digested more easily. The act also produces saliva, which is needed for proper mixing of food in your stomach.

8. Get moving

Exercise may improve your digestion and reduce symptoms of constipation. It can also help reduce inflammation, which may be beneficial in preventing inflammatory bowel conditions.

9. Slow down and listen to your body

Not paying attention to your hunger and fullness cues can negatively impact digestion. Taking time to slow down and pay attention to your body’s cues may help reduce digestive symptoms after a meal.

10. Consider lifestyle changes

Habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating late at night can contribute to digestive issues. To improve digestion, consider changing these lifestyle factors.

7 Signs to See a Digestive Issues Doctor Near Me

If you have unexplained or frequent digestive issues, such as abdominal discomfort or changes to your bowel habits, someone's probably told you to see a digestive issues doctor, also sometimes referred to as a GI doctor.

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. Here are seven signs to see 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 and very hard to pass. If you're constipated more weeks than not, consult a gastroenterologist.

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 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, hypersensitivity 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 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 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 a better chance of survival.

Sources:

Mount Elizabeth

Tylenol

Scripps

Digestive Health UK

DDSQC

WebMD

Houston Methodist

Spine

Cleveland Clinic

UChicago Medicine

BuzzRx

Healthline

The Dietary Edit

Body and Soul

Hopkins Medicine

Jersey Integrative

Arshad Malik