Stomach problems are common, and you’ve most likely experienced one yourself. According to a study done by Guts UK, 43% of the UK population have experienced digestive discomfort at some point in their lives.
These symptoms can happen for several reasons – maybe you’ve had something to eat that hasn’t agreed with you, you’re experiencing high stress levels, or you aren’t physically active regularly. However, symptoms can indicate something more serious that needs medical attention.
In this article, we cover some of the most common digestive symptoms people experience, highlight those you should be concerned about, and when to see a doctor.
Common digestive symptoms
Abdominal pain
Abdominal (stomach) pain can feel like a sharp, dull, cramping, aching or burning sensation. You may feel it for a brief amount of time, on and off for days, weeks, months, or years, or it may be a constant sensation that doesn’t go away.
Often, stomach pain is caused by indigestion or trapped gas. However, it can also be a result of digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroenteritis, peptic ulcers, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Stomach pain is also associated with stomach and bowel cancer. People often have other symptoms with cancer, but this isn’t always the case.
If you experience the following, you should seek medical advice to investigate your stomach ache further:
- On-and-off or constant stomach pain for more than a week
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Skin that appears discoloured
- Nausea and vomiting that won’t go away
- Severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen
- Severe pain
- Bloody stools
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is when you have the urgent need to go to the toilet multiple times a day, with your stools (poo) being watery and loose.
Diarrhoea can be acute and chronic. Acute diarrhoea typically lasts 1-2 days. This may result from eating or drinking something that disagrees with you, or due to a viral/bacterial infection.
Chronic diarrhoea typically happens most days for more than 3 to 4 weeks. Common causes include IBS, IBD, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or food intolerances.
Another cause, although less common, is bowel cancer. It’s important to seek your doctor’s advice if you have experienced persistent diarrhoea or experience other symptoms like fatigue or blood in your stool (poo).
Heartburn
Heartburn (also known as indigestion or acid reflux) is the burning sensation in your throat and chest caused by your stomach acid travelling back up your gullet (oesophagus).
Having heartburn is common and can happen from time to time, often with no apparent reason why. Common causes of heartburn include eating certain foods and drinks, smoking, being overweight, stress and anxiety, or a bacterial infection.
If you are experiencing chronic heartburn, this may be due to a gastrointestinal issue such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), hiatus hernia, stomach ulcer, or oesophagitis. Heartburn is considered chronic when you’ve had it at least twice a week for several weeks.
Excessive wind
Farting and burping are natural symptoms of your digestive system. This is because air is swallowed and collected in the digestive system, and gases are created when you digest food.
On average, it’s normal to pass gas between 14 and 23 times throughout the day. Excessive wind, however, is when wind occurs constantly and can affect your daily life.
Common causes of excessive wind include constipation, food intolerance, chewing gum, fizzy drinks, smoking, and eating too fast.
If you are experiencing excessive wind regularly and it won’t go away, this may be due to a digestive concern such as coeliac disease, IBD, diverticulitis, IBS, small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), GORD, or gastroparesis.
Symptoms to be worried about
Digestive symptoms can be worrisome, depending on how they present themselves.
However, there are particular symptoms to note if you notice you have them. This is because they can be signs of more serious concerns, such as oesophagus, stomach, or bowel cancer.
These include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Severe stomach pain that disrupts your daily life
- Persistent vomiting
- Unintentional weight loss
- Blood in your stool (poo)
Should I go to the doctor about my concerns?
Dealing with digestive troubles can be worrying, and it’s always a good idea to get checked out by a doctor if you’re concerned. Without getting a thorough check of your symptoms, it could be anything from a minor issue that will pass to something serious.
Figuring out the difference depends on other factors such as family history, medical history, and other symptoms you may be experiencing. Talking to your doctor or a specialist can help investigate what the cause may be and help guide you on the best course of treatment to suit your needs.
Private diagnostics and treatment at Digestive Health UK
If you experience persistent symptoms that you are concerned about, speak to your doctor for further advice. They may recommend visiting a gastroenterologist for further diagnostic tests.
At Digestive Health UK, we offer a range of diagnostic tests available to help discover what may be causing your concerns. Get in touch to discuss your options and receive expert advice.
