Gastrointestinal Diseases

What are gastrointestinal diseases?

Gastrointestinal diseases are health conditions that affect your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Your GI tract is the path food takes through your digestive system — from your mouth to your rectum. It also includes your liver, pancreas and gallbladder. Some digestive system diseases cause problems that go away relatively fast with treatment. Others cause problems that are more serious.

GI diseases can be acute or chronic:

• An acute GI disease is one that happens suddenly and lasts a short period of time.
• A chronic GI disease can affect you for many months or years.

They can also be either functional or structural:

• A functional GI disease is when your healthcare provider can’t see any physical or structural issues when they examine your digestive tract.
• A structural GI disease is when your healthcare provider can see evidence of an issue when they examine you.

Functional gastrointestinal diseases

You’ve likely experienced several functional GI problems in your lifetime. Constipation, gas and diarrhea are examples of functional GI diseases. These types of GI diseases irritate your GI tract and lead to uncomfortable symptoms.

Some of the most common causes of functional GI problems are:

• Eating a diet low in fiber or high in processed foods
• Not getting enough exercise
• Traveling or other changes in your typical routine
• Stress and anxiety
• Holding your poop or not going as soon as you need to go
• Taking certain medicines
• Hormonal changes (like pregnancy or during menstruation)
• Food sensitivities or eating something that didn’t “agree” with you

Treatment for functional GI diseases usually involves lifestyle changes like eating more fiber-rich foods, getting more physical activity or avoiding triggers. Sometimes, functional problems go away on their own within a few days.

Structural gastrointestinal diseases

Structural GI diseases are typically more complicated. They tend to cause symptoms that last longer and don’t get better with lifestyle changes alone. Structural problems cause issues your provider can see such as inflammation or blockages. Common examples of structural GI diseases include hemorrhoids, colon polyps and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Causes of structural GI diseases are more widespread.

What are the most common gastrointestinal diseases?

Healthcare providers who specialize in gastrointestinal diseases are called gastroenterologists.

Some of the most common GI conditions they treat include:

Constipation

Constipation causes hard-to-pass or infrequent bowel movements. You may strain or push hard to get your poop out. You can treat your constipation at home by drinking more water and eating more fiber. Over-the-counter laxatives can also be helpful.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is where your intestinal muscles contract more or less often than normal. Abdominal pain, gas and bloating are common symptoms. Treating IBS can involve changing your eating habits or taking medication that your provider prescribes.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your anus or rectum. Straining when having a bowel movement is the most common cause, but you can get them other ways, too. Avoiding constipation activities that cause straining can help hemorrhoids. Your healthcare provider can also remove large, painful or persistent hemorrhoids.

Diverticular disease

Diverticulosis is when small pouches (diverticula) form in the wall of your large intestine. When they become infected, it’s called diverticulitis. This can lead to bleeding and bowel obstruction.

Treatment could involve eating more fiber, taking antibiotics or having surgery.

Colon polyps and colon cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the U.S. Colonoscopy screenings help detect the disease, sometimes long before symptoms appear. Almost all colorectal cancers begin as colon polyps, benign (noncancerous) growths in the tissues lining your colon and rectum. Screening for colorectal cancer is important and early detection of the disease gives you the best chance at a cure.

Colitis

There are several types of colitis, which are conditions that cause inflammation of your bowel. Colitis can cause diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal cramps and urgency (frequent and immediate need to poop). Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are two common types of colitis.

Celiac disease

Celiac disease causes problems in your GI tract when you eat gluten, a protein found in wheat and grains. It can cause symptoms like stomach pain, gas and bloating. It’s also considered an autoimmune condition because your immune system attacks gluten when it’s in your small intestine. The attack can damage your intestine enough that it stops working properly.

Gastritis

Gastritis is inflammation in your stomach lining. You may have symptoms like loss of appetite, stomach pain or nausea. Infection, chemicals and autoimmune diseases are common causes. Most cases of gastritis improve within a few days with over-the-counter medication.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is when inflammation spreads from your stomach into your intestines. It causes pain, vomiting and diarrhea. It usually happens when you have a bacterial infection from food poisoning or a virus like the stomach flu. Most people will have gastroenteritis a few times during their lives for various reasons.

Acid reflux/GERD

Acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is when acid from your stomach flows back up into your esophagus and throat. It causes a burning feeling that can feel like a sore throat. Medications, changing your eating habits and surgery are options for treatment.

Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is when your small intestine can’t absorb lactose, an ingredient in milk and dairy products. It causes symptoms like diarrhea, bloating and gas. Treatment mainly involves avoiding foods and beverages that contain lactose.

Indigestion (dyspepsia)

Indigestion is stomach pain or discomfort after eating. It’s very common and typically happens within a few minutes to a few hours after having a meal. You can usually relieve your symptoms with an antacid.

Barrett’s esophagus

Barrett’s esophagus changes the appearance of the lining of your esophagus. Sometimes, it doesn’t cause symptoms, but chronic acid reflux/GERD almost always causes it. People with this condition have a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer.

Can gastrointestinal diseases be prevented?

You can lower your risk of many GI diseases by eating nutritious foods, being physically active several days each week and going to the bathroom as soon as you need to go. Getting regular screening for colon cancer and visiting your healthcare provider for annual wellness visits are also beneficial.