Gastrointestinal Illnesses Treatment Clinic Q&A

While symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders will vary from person to person, many symptoms are quite common when it comes to gastrointestinal issues. Some of the most common symptoms we see in individuals dealing with gastrointestinal issues include:

– Uncomfortable abdominal pain, cramping, or bloating
– Unintentional weight fluctuations
– Nausea and vomiting
– Heartburn
– Constipation and/or diarrhea
– Fecal incontinency
– Fatigue
– Decrease in appetite
– Issues swallowing

There are a few common causes of gastrointestinal disorders, some of these include:

– Low-fiber diet
Fiber is critical in your diet, as it helps with your digestive health. Fiber allows you to feel full and helps with the digestion of certain foods. While gut health has become a very popular topic of conversation recently, your microbiome health includes fiber as an important part, fiber is a welcoming food to the beneficial bacteria that inhabit the large intestine, this provides a wide range of health benefits. A diet that has low fiber is a fantastic way to reduce bloating, and ease digestive issues which include abdominal pain, constipation, bloating, and even the onset of colon cancer.

– Stress
Anxiety and stress are notably the main factors that affect your mental health, but many do not understand how they can also affect their digestive health as well, this includes the gut microbiota. The GI tract and the brain are in constant contact with each other through bi-directional communication. This is why the gut has more neurons than the entire spinal cord. This shows the correlation between being stressed out and having a wide range of digestive issues, some of these issues may include inflammation, bloating, appetite loss, cramping, and changes in the microbiota.

– Dehydration
Water is extremely important for everyone, it is a must in anyone’s daily diet, as it helps not only keep you from becoming dehydrated but also cleanses the entire gastrointestinal tract. Water helps to soften the stool, which in turn prevents constipation. Water is also noted to help aid in the digestive system by breaking down food and assisting the GI tract in absorbing key nutrients faster and much more effectively. Individuals who do not drink water not only become severely dehydrated but also are noticing many digestive issues as well. You can help to increase your water intake by drinking sparkling water, tea, and unsweetened coffee.

– High dairy in your diet
Dairy is a new additive to the human diet. It was not regularly consumed for the first 200,000+ years of human existence. Milk and cheese which are loaded with proteins and fats are quite difficult to digest and have been flagged as pro-inflammatory. This is why individuals who often consume large amounts of dairy products in their daily diet have more gastrointestinal issues like constipation, bloating, gas, and abdominal cramping.

– Low active lifestyle
While not getting enough exercise can be bad for your overall health, it can also affect your digestive health. This is why so many doctors highly recommend a combination of healthy eating habits and exercise to help with inflammation, as well as fight certain GI issues.

– Aging
Aging is a part of everyone’s life. Age also adds another predisposition for gastrointestinal issues. As we continue to age, our digestive glands begin to decrease in inactivity, which in turn affects the guts reflux, motility, and certain digestive conditions will begin to develop.

– Genetics
Unfortunately, another unavoidable factor other than aging is genetics. However, it has been noted that in many instances our genetics are simply a predisposition to the disease, which are a factor in the environment and do play a major role. However, they do not play the entire role, as our lifestyle changes can help to intervene in this.

If you are dealing with any of the symptoms become as well as stomach pain, it is considered serious, and a doctor’s appointment with a specialist at our clinic is highly recommended:

-Stomach pain that is severe including sharp, stabbing pains
– Nausea
– Vomiting
– Sweating
– Fever
– Chills
– Eyes and skin that appear yellowish in tone
– Feeling off
– Loss of appetite
– Dark urine
– Stools that are light in color
– Abdominal bloating
– Lower belly swelling
– Gastrointestinal bleeding
– Heartburn
– Shortness of breath
– Changes in your taste
– Feeling full
– Weight loss that is unintended
– Tender abdomen
– Frequent trips to urinate or an urgency too
– Issues urinating
– Pain when urinating
– Blood in the urine
– Absent or high-pitched bowel sounds
– Gas
– Fatigue
– Low blood pressure
– Foul-smelling, floating, and bulky stools
– Migraines
– Pelvic pain
– Changes in your bowel habits

A few treatments may be recommended, depending on an individual’s test results, symptoms, and other specific reasons:

– Diet changes
– Medications
– Surgery
– Radiation or chemotherapy treatments

Several gastrointestinal symptoms might be mild and temporary, and they are readily managed with over-the-counter medications. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Annandale VA, Arlington VA, Bethel VA, Dale City VA, Falls Church VA, Fort Hunt VA, Franconia VA, Huntington VA, Richmond Hwy Alexandria VA, Idylwood VA, Kingstowne Center Alexandria VA, Lake Barcroft VA, Mclean VA, Newington VA, Old Town Alexandria VA, Pentagon City Arlington VA, Seven Corners VA, Tysons VA, Woodbridge, VA and surrounding areas.