What are the common stomach diseases and digestive disorders? What are their symptoms and treatments? Discover the details in this comprehensive article.

Common Digestive Disorders: Symptoms and Treatments

People may experience stomach issues for reasons ranging from eating habits to digestive disorders. Common symptoms of stomach issues include cramps, vomiting, and changes to stool. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract consists of the mouth, stomach, and intestines. Together with the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, these organs work together to absorb nutrients and expel waste.

Disturbances to this process can cause a range of symptoms, from cramps to vomiting. Many of these issues may pass with time and pose little risk of complication. However, seemingly common stomach issues can be the result of several digestive disorders.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of common digestive disorders can help people identify them and seek relevant treatment. In this article, we provide a list of more and less common digestive disorders, discuss their symptoms and treatments, and indicate when to contact a doctor.

Organic and Functional Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders are a group of conditions that occur when the digestive system does not function as it should. Health experts split them into two categories: organic and functional GI disorders.

Organic GI disorders occur when there are structural abnormalities in the digestive system, which prevents it from working properly. In functional GI disorders, the GI tract appears to be structurally normal but still does not function well.

More Common Digestive Disorders

Some of the more common digestive disorders include:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Gallstones
• Celiac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis (UC)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The main symptom of IBS is abdominal pain, which may occur before or after bowel movements. People can also experience diarrhea, constipation, or both. Whether a person typically experiences diarrhea or constipation more often, or both equally, determines which type of IBS they have.

Other symptoms of IBS may include bloating, white mucus in the stool, and incomplete bowel movements. A combination of factors can cause or worsen IBS symptoms, including traumatic life events, mental health conditions, infections, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Individuals with IBS should consult a doctor if they experience severe abdominal pain or cramps, or if any other IBS symptoms suddenly worsen or change or affect the person’s daily functioning or quality of life.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

SIBO occurs when bacteria from the large intestine migrate to the small intestine, causing symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. Treatment for SIBO involves taking antibiotics, but it may also include medications to help with digestion and address the underlying cause.

A person experiencing SIBO symptoms for the first time should contact a doctor immediately. The doctor can advise them about what medications or lifestyle changes may help with their condition. People who have a previous SIBO diagnosis should contact a doctor if their symptoms suddenly become worse or affect their daily life or if their treatment plan is no longer working.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Acid reflux occurs when a person’s stomach contents come back up into the esophagus or food pipe. If this happens frequently, a person may have GERD, which is a long-term condition.

GERD can cause esophagitis, which is inflammation or irritation of the esophagus. However, a person can also have GERD without esophagitis. Common symptoms of GERD with esophagitis include heartburn, acid reflux, chest pain, nausea, and pain while swallowing.

Doctors are not always sure what causes GERD, but risk factors can include taking certain medications, having obesity, inhaling secondhand smoke, being pregnant, or having a hiatal hernia. Treatment for GERD may include making dietary changes, quitting smoking, taking over-the-counter medications to manage the symptoms, or receiving treatments that address the underlying cause.

Individuals should consult a healthcare professional if they experience any of the following: worsening symptoms, an increase in symptom frequency, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or vomiting as a result of GERD.