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. 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.
The main symptomTrusted Source 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. 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.
The gallbladder is a small sac that stores bile, which the body uses during digestion. Gallstones are small stones that form in the gallbladder.
In most cases, a person may not know that they have gallstones, as they usually do not produce any symptoms. However, people may experience symptoms if the gallstones form in front of an opening in the gallbladder. Other less common digestive disorders can cause stomach issues. A person experiencing any of the below symptoms should contact a doctor immediately for testing and potential treatment.
