Digestive Symptoms

Digestive symptoms are common, and almost everyone deals with an occasional upset stomach, bloating, heartburn, or change in bowel habits. But when a digestive problem keeps coming back, lasts longer than expected, or begins interfering with your daily life, it may be time to find out why.

It can be easy to put off seeing a doctor. You may be busy, assume the problem is related to something you ate, search your symptoms online, or simply get used to working around them. While these may help explain an occasional digestive issue, recurring symptoms deserve more attention.

Recurring digestive symptoms can have many possible causes. Some may be relatively simple to address, while others may require medical attention. The important thing is not to assume you know the cause based on an internet search or simply continue living with a problem because you’ve gotten used to it.

As a gastroenterologist, I look beyond the symptom itself. How often it occurs, how long it has been happening, what seems to trigger it, changes in bowel habits, and other symptoms can all provide important information. Depending on the situation, an evaluation may identify a common digestive condition that can be better managed or determine whether additional testing is appropriate.

Most importantly, recurring digestive symptoms don’t necessarily mean that something serious is wrong. They do mean it’s worth understanding why they keep happening

The only way to be certain of the cause of your digestive symptoms is to be evaluated by a gastroenterologist or primary care doctor. Issues like seeing blood in the toilet can be quite alarming and lead us to think of worst-case scenarios like cancer or other serious medical conditions. Typically, the underlying cause of digestive symptoms is something that your doctor can correct or limit the effects of with early detection.

Depending on your symptoms, medical history and other factors, a gastroenterologist can determine whether additional testing is appropriate. In some situations, a colonoscopy may be recommended to examine the colon and help identify possible causes of symptoms such as rectal bleeding or persistent changes in bowel habits.

I encourage my website visitors to explore the content I’ve created on the symptoms listed below by clicking them, and to contact my practice if they have questions or would like to schedule an appointment for an examination.

I have provided additional information about some of the most common digestive symptoms I evaluate. Click on a symptom below to learn more about possible causes, remedies, and diagnostic procedures that may be appropriate.

There are many possible causes of digestive symptoms, ranging from temporary changes in diet or lifestyle to conditions that require medical treatment. Because different digestive problems can cause similar symptoms, a medical evaluation may be necessary to accurately determine the cause.

There are also several things you can pay attention to that may provide useful information about your digestive health:

• Look for possible triggers. Foods, beverages, medications and stress can sometimes contribute to digestive symptoms. Keeping track of what you ate or what was happening when symptoms occurred may help identify patterns that you can discuss with your doctor.
• Pay attention to your diet. Eating a balanced diet with appropriate portions and a variety of foods can help support normal digestive function. If certain foods consistently seem to cause problems, make note of them rather than assuming they are definitely the cause.
• Practice good food hygiene. Washing your hands after using the restroom and before preparing or eating food can help reduce the risk of transferring harmful bacteria.
• Consider the role of stress. Stress can affect digestive health and may contribute to symptoms for some people. Regular exercise, adequate sleep and making time for activities you enjoy can be useful ways to manage everyday stress.
• Pay attention to patterns and changes. How often a symptom occurs, how long it lasts, whether it is becoming more frequent and whether other symptoms occur at the same time can all be useful information. If digestive symptoms keep returning, don’t rely solely on self-diagnosis or simply learn to live with them. Talk with your doctor about whether an evaluation is appropriate.