Gastrointestinal conditions are a wide range of health issues affecting the digestive system. The digestive system is responsible for digesting food, absorbing nutrients, and expelling waste from your body.
Gastrointestinal conditions may be caused by infections or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), including the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine (colon). They can also result from physical damage to the GI tract due to surgery or other procedures. If you have gastrointestinal problems, Dr. Bharat Pothuri can help. He is a qualified gastroenterologist.
Gastrointestinal conditions include:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are types of IBD that affect the colon (large intestine). Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Some people with IBD experience periods when their symptoms are well controlled with medication, while others will have frequent flare-ups with no obvious cause. The cause of IBD is unknown. However, some people may be more likely to develop it if they have certain genetic disorders or infections in childhood.
Acute diarrhea: Diarrhea is a sudden onset of loose stools (bowel movements) that lasts for a short period. Acute diarrhea is usually caused by infection with bacteria or viruses. It may last for less than two weeks.
Chronic diarrhea: Diarrhea that lasts longer than two weeks may indicate an underlying medical problem, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or celiac disease (CD). Chronic diarrhea may also be caused by certain medications, food allergies, or other factors that affect digestion and absorption of nutrients from food in the intestines.
Colitis: Colitis is an inflammation of the colon, the large intestine. Colitis can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Colitis symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss.
Acute colitis usually begins suddenly and lasts less than four weeks. It may be caused by a bacterial infection or a viral infection such as rotavirus or Norwalk virus. Acute colitis also can be caused by medications or food allergies. Chronic colitis usually develops over time and lasts longer than four weeks. It may result from an autoimmune disorder like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Constipation: A condition where a person has not passed stool for several days or the passing of hard, dry stools. Constipation can be caused by several factors, such as diet, lack of exercise, and certain medications.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A condition characterized by abdominal pain, cramping, and changes in bowel habits (diarrhea and constipation). IBS may be accompanied by bloating, gas, and mucus in your stool. It affects millions of Americans, but many do not seek treatment due to embarrassment or concern about the cost of care.
Crohn’s disease: An inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation in any part of your digestive tract from mouth to anus. Crohn’s disease can damage any part of your digestive tract from mouth to anus, including the esophagus, small intestine, and colon.
Gastroenterologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases. They have extensive knowledge of how various conditions affect the gastrointestinal system, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, and rectum. Gastroenterologists often work with other specialists, such as gastroenterology nurses, nutritionists, and dietitians. They also collaborate with pathologists to diagnose disease through blood and stool analysis. For all your gastrointestinal problems, contact Bharat Pothuri, MD, FACG.
It’s also worth mentioning that you can purchase a bowel cancer home test kit if you have a busy schedule and can’t visit a gastroenterologist.
