Digestive issues can range from uncomfortable to disabling. Nobody wants to deal with an upset digestive system, which is why Revive Medical Center is here to help our patients as best we can. Many factors go into digestive orders and no two people are alike in their symptoms or treatment plan. Here is a list of common causes of digestive disorders.
General Causes
Digestive diseases can occur because you have a bacterial or viral infection, cannot digest certain foods, are lactose or gluten intolerant, suffer from inflammation and/or muscle dysfunction, have poor blood flow to your intestines, suffer from gallstones, have perforated or ruptures organs, are under too much stress, are experiencing side effects from anti-inflammatory medication.
If your diet is causing your digestive upset, it could be that you eat too many fatty foods, do not eat enough fiber-rich foods, drink too much, and overeat constantly. It might seem odd but smoking also increases digestive discomfort. In fact, smoking has been linked to acid reflux and ulcers. In many cases, patients can ease their digestive issues with lifestyle changes.
More Specific Causes
As we delve deeper into medical causes of digestive disorders and disease, it’s important to understand that your digestive issues might be out of your control. Other factors of digestive upset include
- Auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
- Auto-immune digestive diseases such as celiac, Crohn’s, and irritable bowel syndrome
- Structural abnormalities in the digestive system including diverticulosis, tumors, and ulcers
- Genetic digestive diseases that are passed on from generation to generation
- Cancer, including gastro-intestinal cancer and cancers found in the anus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and throat among other locations
- Post-surgery side effects, including diarrhea as a result of bowel resection or gall bladder surgery
- Issues with digestive function that are oftentimes hard to diagnose
- Diabetes, genetic disease, HIV, heart failure, and scleroderma
This list might seem intimidating but most digestive disorders can be diagnosed properly with extensive testing. Once the disorder is diagnosed, treatment to relieve the distressing symptoms can begin.
Things You Can Do
There are many things you can do to help relieve your digestive disorder symptoms, whether they are caused by your lifestyle or a condition over which you have no control. To stave digestive issues
- Maintain a healthy weight and lose weight if you are overweight or obese
- Eat a healthy diet rich in fiber-filled, low-fat foods unless otherwise advised by your doctor
- Eat small meals throughout the day
- Keep your salt and sugar intake under control
- Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption
- Stop smoking if you’re a smoker
- Get plenty of exercise every day
These steps will not only help your digestive upset but also you. You really are what you eat, and your body will thank you for adopting these healthy habits.
We can help, too. Call Revive Medical Center in Lawrenceville, GA, to set up an appointment for your digestive issues.
