Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain describes discomfort anywhere between the pelvis and chest; there are several GI conditions or reasons that can cause abdominal pain.
Anal/Rectal Bleeding
Anal bleeding describes bright red or dark wine-colored blood that emerges through the rectum and can be a sign of bleeding in the large intestine.
Bloating
Bloating is caused by excess gas in the GI tract or by the body retaining excess fluid and can be caused by several factors related to your diet.
Blood in the Stool
Blood in the stool is a strong indicator of bleeding in the GI tract; it could be a sign of GI conditions like hemorrhoids or a form of IBD.
Bowel Incontinence
Bowel incontinence occurs when you can no longer control your bowel movements, ranging from total loss of control to fecal leaks when passing gas.
Constipation
Constipation occurs when hard or dry stool passes through the GI tract slowly, often resulting in fewer than three bowel movements a week.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a watery, loose stool that occurs more frequently than regular bowel movements and can be caused by bad food, stress, or a GI condition.
Difficulty Swallowing
Difficulty swallowing describes the struggle of moving food from your mouth to your throat, esophagus, and stomach and should be assessed immediately.
Heartburn
Heartburn is described as the burning sensation in your chest that is often worse at night, after you eat, or when lying down or bending over.
Indigestion
Indigestion is characterized as any discomfort in the upper abdominal region, often causing stomach pain, burping, bloating, and feeling queasy.
Nausea
Nausea is a queasy feeling in your stomach that makes you individual feel like you may vomit, often caused by food, a virus, or a GI condition.
Unexplained Weight Gain/Loss
Unintentional weight loss or gain could be a result of medication, stress, anxiety, or a GI condition like celiac disease, ulcers, or GERD.
Vomiting
Vomiting is your body's way of protecting you from a threat like a virus or poison; frequent vomiting could be a sign of a more serious condition.
Yellowing of the Skin/Eyes
High levels of bilirubin often cause yellowing of the eyes and the skin in adults as a result of a GI condition like a bile duct obstruction.