Gut Problems

Everyone has occasional pain and discomfort. You might have eaten something you didn’t like. You might have had an infection that left you feeling sick for several days.

But pain or other symptoms that persist for several weeks, or even longer might indicate something else. Many digestive system disorders and diseases are common. A number of digestive diseases affect around 60 and 70 millions people across the United States.

It is important to not ignore signs and symptoms that may be present in your stomach. Most digestive conditions are easier to treat the moment they develop.

Potential Causes

Irritable bowel disease (IBD) is one of the most severe gut conditions. However, it is not common. IBD is when your body’s immune cells overreacts to perceived threats. The “threat”, often, is made up of normal microbes, which are microscopic organisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in your body. Overreacting can cause damage to the digestive (GI) tract.

The two most common types of IBD that are prevalent today are Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Mount Sinai’s IBD specialist Dr. Judy Cho says that Crohn’s disease can be found anywhere in the digestive system, including the mouth and anus. Only the large intestinal tract is affected by ulcerative colitis.

These two conditions can also cause tissue damage in different ways. According to Dr. Dermot McGovern of Cedars-Sinai, ulcerative colitis can cause damage to the gut lining. Crohn’s disease can spread all the way to the gut. Severe Crohn’s cases can cause narrowing and even complete gut damage.

Other conditions can harm the lining of the stomach and lead to a type of inflammation called gastritis. Gastritis can be caused by infection with Helicobacter Pylori bacteria. Some pain medication long-term usage is another cause. Gastritis, if left untreated can cause painful ulcers.

Irritated bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 12 percent of Americans. This is a common condition. “It’s characterised by abdominal pain, swelling, and changes to bowel habits,” Dr. Anthony Lembo of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, who is an IBS researcher.

Researchers aren’t sure what exactly causes IBS. Different people may experience it differently. It can also be caused by problems in the way that brain and stomach work together.

Other things that may cause discomfort and pain in your GI tract include acid reflux, food sensitivities or foods.

Pinpointing Problem

It is difficult to identify a digestive disorder because there are so many symptoms. Many gut disorders can cause pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

“However, IBD has many red flag symptoms,” she said. This includes bloody stool and weight loss. Cho states that failure to grow is a sign of IBD.

IBS may cause diarrhea in some individuals and constipation in others. People can switch between them.

Gastritis, food sensitivities and long-term discomfort in the gut can all cause it. Doctors may run several tests to determine the cause of gut problems. To check for infection, these tests can be performed with blood and stool samples.

Some individuals may need to have an imaging test such as a CT scanner. Some people may require an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a procedure that uses a flexible, long tube and a small camera at the tip to examine the stomach or intestines.

Resolving Pain and Discomfort

Although symptoms of different digestive disorders may be the same, treatment options vary. Antibiotics can be used to treat gastritis due to bacterial infection. Switching to another type of medication will often allow gastritis to resolve.

Changing your diet can help you manage food sensitivities. You can consult a nutritionist to determine what food might cause irritation in your stomach. Changes in diet and medications can often help acid reflux.

Treatment for IBS is not one-size fits all, Lembo says. It can be caused by many different things. You can help some people by changing their diet. For foods that may trigger symptoms in the gut, see Wise Choices. )

” We also recommend that patients eat at least two meals per day and a snack every now and again. Don’t overeat. He suggests that you give your stomach a rest.

While stress is not a cause of IBS, it may trigger symptoms flare ups in some people. Some people can manage IBS symptoms by using stress reduction techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of talk therapy.

IBD can be more difficult to manage than other gut conditions. Cho says that IBD is not curable at this time. She explains that treatments focus on stopping inflammation for long enough to let the gut tissue heal.

Some medications that are used to treat IBD reduce inflammation. Some drugs are now designed to suppress the immune system. These newer medications can cause serious side effects, so they are only recommended for use when other drugs don’t work.

“Research shows that you respond better if you start using these drugs earlier,” McGovern says. McGovern explains that people who are at high risk of developing a serious illness may be able to get the drugs earlier than others.

Looking to Improve Treatments

Researchers continue to search for ways to manage and prevent gut disorders. Lembo is trying to determine if peppermint oil helps IBS patients relax their gut muscles.

IBD treatments that are currently available only for a small percentage of patients who have tried them, do not work. McGovern states that even if they do work, the effects may diminish over time.

Both Cho & McGovern are trying to figure out the genetics behind IBD. Cho explains that this information can be applied at any stage of IBD. Cho says that a test can identify IBD-prone children later in life. “Theoretically, it could be avoided.” Anti-inflammatory medications could be administered before IBD is diagnosed or the microbiome of the stomach can be altered to stop an immune attack.

” And what’s most important to us all is: Can some of these genetic signatures be used to identify new drug targets in IBD?” McGovern adds. He says that this could help to predict the most likely beneficiaries of a drug.

One of the most recent drugs for IBD testing was developed from a genetic discovery. Cho explained. She says, “There is increasing precision in treating IBD.” I believe it is possible to use genetic information to choose treatments for IBD in five years

Talk to your doctor immediately if you feel any discomfort in your gut or are experiencing pain. Most people can get their inner lives back on track with the available treatments.

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