From persistent heartburn to excessive (and, let’s face it, embarrassing) gas production and abdominal pain, digestive disorders can take a toll on a person’s quality of life. Leaving these disorders undiagnosed can sometimes make the condition worse. If you experience any of these symptoms or notice a sudden change in your digestion, talk to your primary care doctor to see if you may have one of these common digestive disorders and how to treat it.
Lactose Intolerance and Celiac Disease
Digestive issues like diarrhea, bloating, gas, and abdominal pain after consuming dairy often point to lactose intolerance. While this disorder is usually harmless, the symptoms can be uncomfortable and affect your daily eating habits. Treatment usually involves either eliminating dairy from your diet or taking an over-the-counter lactase enzyme before consuming dairy. If you do decide to give up dairy, be sure you’re still getting enough calcium in your diet.
Celiac disease is a similar disorder that causes an immune reaction after eating gluten. Gluten is a specific type of protein found in wheat, barley, and rye products like bread, cereal, and pasta. While the symptoms of celiac disease are similar to those of lactose intolerance, celiac disease is often more serious and damaging over time. The best treatment for this disorder is eliminating gluten from your diet.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
If you experience persistent heartburn, it could be linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Occasional acid reflux is normal and can occur when eating acidic food like tomato sauce and fried food, but repeated acid reflux can cause GERD. Lifestyle changes like weight loss and avoiding acidic and fatty food can help alleviate symptoms. You should also keep in mind that lying down after a meal means you no longer have the help of gravity to move the food through your digestive system, and this could exacerbate your symptoms. If these changes don’t help, your primary care doctor can prescribe medication.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
The two forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Symptoms for both disorders include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss. Your primary care provider will likely prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to help slow the progression of the IBD and help alleviate symptoms. IBD symptoms can range from mild to severe, and IBD increases your risk of colon cancer and blood clots.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Consistent digestive issues like diarrhea, bloating, gas, and abdominal pain without an obvious cause are often linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While inconvenient and uncomfortable, this disorder is usually not serious and does not increase your risk of colorectal cancer. Most people with IBS find relief from lifestyle changes like eating more foods that are high in fiber. Since there is no consistent cause across people with IBS, keeping a food diary can help you pinpoint which foods cause your symptoms. Similarly, nutrition counseling can be beneficial by helping you find healthy foods that do not trigger your IBS.
Talk to your primary care doctor if you experience symptoms of any of the above conditions, and always ask your doctor before using over-the-counter medication or supplements to deal with those symptoms. Keep in mind that for conditions like IBD, it’s always better to receive a diagnosis early in order to prevent serious complications like colorectal cancer.
