Stomach Pain
The gastrointestinal system is a network of organs that absorbs nutrients and expels waste. Many gut problems go away on their own, but if they last longer than a couple of weeks, you should see a gastroenterologist. Heartburn, stomach pain, and changes in bowel habits can all be signs of a bigger gut problem. Here are signs to look out for:
The gastrointestinal tract is an extensive system that breaks down food in order to receive water, nutrients, minerals, and vitamins for the body. It also gets rid of waste and toxins.
Nausea is the unpleasant feeling that comes before vomiting, which is the forced emptying of the stomach. If the stomach is hurt, vomit may have pieces of food or blood in it, and bile can make vomit look green or bitter.
People who experience nausea and vomiting should see a gastroenterologist to discover the cause of their symptoms. Doctors ask about your health background and look at your body. They may order a variety of tests, including x-rays of the abdomen and brain, an endoscopy -- which involves inserting a flexible tube with a camera into the throat and stomach to look for abnormalities -- and motility testing.
While everyone experiences digestive discomfort on occasion, it's important to determine when symptoms are a cause for worry. Pain or swelling in the abdomen that doesn't go away should make you think you should see a gastroenterologist. This could be a sign of a stomach ulcer or something more serious like Crohn's, inflammatory bowel disease, or colon cancer.
Stomach ulcers are open wounds that can affect the lining of the stomach, small intestine, or esophagus. They're generally caused by a bacteria (Helicobacter pylori) or overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Gas and bloating can also be signs of Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Functional Digestive Disorders. These situations happen when your digestive system looks normal but doesn't move right or break down food right.
When you see blood in your stool, it's a clear sign that something's wrong with the digestive system. The GI doctor will use special imaging technology to find out where the bleeding is coming from and what kind of care is needed.
Most of the time, ulcers, which are sores on the inside of the stomach and upper small intestine, are to blame for bleeding from the upper GI tract. These sores form from bacterial infections (Helicobacter pylori) or the overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Other things that can cause upper GI bleeding are tears in the lining of the esophagus caused by vomiting (this is called a Mallory-Weiss tear) or abnormal, swollen veins in the esophagus that bleed often.
Lower GI bleeding is typically bright red and can be caused by hemorrhoids or the anal fissure -- a tear in the muscular ring that forms the anal sphincter. This type of bleeding is usually accompanied by pain.
There is no set number of times a person should go to the bathroom each day or week. However, if you have frequent bowel movements that occur more frequently than normal and cause discomfort, it is important to see a gastroenterologist.
Acid reflux is another sign that should be taken seriously. This is a situation in which stomach acid flows backwards into the esophagus, causing pain and other problems. A gastroenterologist can give you a number of medicines to help with this problem.
Your digestive system works hard to break down food so that your body can get the water, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Unfortunately, the digestive system is not perfect and can experience many diseases that require a gastroenterologist's care. These conditions include:
The digestive tract's job is to take in the nutrients from food, eliminate waste and protect the body from harmful substances. If any part of the system isn't working right, it can make you feel bad.
Occasional heartburn is normal, but chronic heartburn can signal an underlying problem. Heartburn happens when acid from your stomach gets into your esophagus, which is the tube that moves food from your mouth to your stomach. Normally, when you swallow, a band of muscle at the bottom of your esophagus tightens. This keeps stomach acid from going back up into your throat.
Heartburn that doesn't go away should be talked about with a doctor, especially if it happens more than twice a week. A gastroenterologist might also suggest a colonoscopy to look for polyps.