You may think the uncomfortable feeling you get after eating, or the bloat that’s seems to happen randomly is just a part of life – but it could be a lesser-known digestive disorder that’s wreaking havoc on your gut.
While conditions like colon cancer and the importance of colonoscopies often take center stage in gastrointestinal health discussions, other disorders can be causing you distress…so it’s time to find out the causes and management strategies so you can start feeling better!
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits without any evidence of underlying damage. It’s estimated to affect up to 15 percent of people, yet many remain undiagnosed or undertreated.
Symptoms can vary widely from person to person, making diagnosis challenging. However, lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, and stress management techniques can often help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life for individuals with IBS.
Talk to your doctor about ALL your symptoms (no matter how seemingly minor or sporadic) so we can help you feel better.
Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. While they share some similarities, they also have distinct characteristics.
Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, and often involves deep layers of the intestinal wall.
Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, primarily affects the colon and rectum, causing inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon.
Treatment typically involves medication to reduce inflammation, manage symptoms, and prevent complications, although surgery may be necessary in severe cases.
If you let us know all the symptoms you ever encounter, we can help properly diagnose and treat your digestive conditions.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When individuals with Celiac disease consume gluten, their immune system essentially attacks the small intestine, leading to inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining.
Celiac disease has a range of symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss – and many are symptoms beyond what many may think are related to a gut issue.
Treatment includes a gluten-free diet – but we have to make sure that’s what’s going on so we can be sure to treat everything properly, in case there are other conditions as well.
Managing Digestive Disorders:
As with many health conditions, maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps ease symptoms of digestive disorders.
Most importantly, a proper diagnosis from a gastrointestinal doctor is imperative to check all possibilities and provide a treatment plan that not only makes you feel better, but reduces the amount of damage done to your body.
Make an Appointment Today
At Gastrointestinal Specialists, P.C. in Troy, Mich., we can test you to determine if you have Celiac Disease, IBS, Crohn’s, or any other digestive disorder. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and take care of your gut health!