Common Symptoms Of A GI Disorder

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Symptoms of a GI Disorder are hard to recognize since many of them are similar to common symptoms we all experience at times. But if you start to experience these symptoms more than just occasionally, it’s time to talk to your doctor.

What Are The Common Symptoms Of A GI Disorder?

There’s one simple reason why it’s important to maintain a healthy digestive system: As any of us who’ve had a stomach bug or food poisoning know, the consequences can be decidedly unpleasant.

But beyond this, there are deeper, more consequential reasons why bowel health is so significant. The digestive system is fundamental to your overall health because it’s the means through which nutrition is delivered to your body. When your digestive health is compromised, you can expect all the nasty symptoms of a GI disorder that we’ve all experienced from time to time – abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, bloating and more.

But what’s much worse is that digestive disorders can be literally lift threatening. According to a recent large-scale study, gastrointestinal, pancreatic and liver conditions are responsible for 105 million hospital visits and 236,000 deaths.

Some of the most common symptoms of disorder include:

A change in your bowel habits
Diarrhea for 48 hours or more without improvement
Chronic constipation
Blood in the stool – it can either be bright or dark
Very narrow stool
A feeling like you haven’t had a complete bowel movement
Unusual or persistent gas, gas pains or abdominal pain
Unexpected or frequent nausea or vomiting
Unexplained weight loss
Unusual or ongoing fatigue
Anemia

What To Do If You Experience Symptoms Of A GI Disorder?

If you’re experiencing any of these, don’t take chances with your health because you find them embarrassing to discuss. Schedule an appointment with your physician – and if your insurance allows you to see a specialist directly, give a call to a gastroenterologist. They’re specialists in digestive disorders, which not only means that they’re experts in the field, but also that they discuss these symptoms all day long, so they know how to put patients at ease.

Even if the symptoms you’re experiencing don’t rise to this level, any degree of digestive difficulty can be life limiting, particularly if it goes on for some time.

If you’re dealing with some of these issues, don’t worry! Visit our Bowel Health Conditions section for more detailed information about the most common bowel conditions, including insights on diagnosis, treatment and management strategies.

Next: How To Maintain Good Digestive Health