0505050387
0505050387
Published on: 17th February 2023
Medically reviewed by: General Practitioner at First Response Healthcare
Medically reviewed by: General Practitioner at First Response Healthcare
If you’re experiencing unusual digestive problems, pain, discomfort in your digestive tract, or some other symptoms of stomach problems, it’s best not to ignore them and visit a gastro doctor. Waiting for these digestive problems to go away on their own and not seeing a gastro-doctor for too long can prove to be harmful to your health. If you overlook or ignore your digestive problems for too long, they can become worse or even life-threatening.
1. Trouble Swallowing
If you persistently have difficulty swallowing or have a steadily worsening lump in your throat, you should go see a gastroenterologist doctor or a gastrologist doctor. Frequent throat pain or swelling are also signs that should prompt you to visit a doctor. If even swallowing water causes problems for you, it could be an indication of a serious digestive problem or a gastrointestinal disease issue. Difficulty swallowing can be a sign of acid reflux damage to the esophagus, weakness of the esophagus muscle due to illness or injury, or a lesion on the esophagus, or even the narrowing of the esophagus. It’s best to visit a reputed gastrologist or a gastroenterologist near you in case your condition further worsens.
2. Frequent Heartburn
Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest that typically results from esophageal irritation, which in other words refers to the building up of stomach acid in the esophagus. This can be caused by various foods such as spicy food, fried foods, carbonated drinks, as well as cigarettes. You could be having digestive problems if you have a heartburn along with the following gastric problem symptoms:
- Shortness of breath.
- Pain when swallowing.
- Tarry or bloody bowel movements.
- Dizziness
These symptoms could be because of inflammation of the esophagus lining, changes in the tissue of the esophagus lining, or because of backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. Heartburn can prove to be quite harmful and painful, so try to seek help right from the first time you experience any heartburn or gastric problem-related symptoms.
3. Abdominal Bloating
Another one of the symptoms related to stomach problems is abdominal bloating. If you have difficulties buttoning pants that fit perfectly fine a few days ago, then it could be because of bloating. A sudden increase in girth indicates that your stomach is bloated due to gas. If painful bloating is accompanied by bloody diarrhea, nausea, or painful bowel movements, then it could be because of conditions such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), celiac disease, gallstones, and Crohn’s disease, among others. It would be best to see a doctor or gastro-doctor for an evaluation so that your gastrointestinal disease problem can be properly diagnosed and treated as well.
4. Constipation
If you drink insufficient water, don’t exercise sufficiently, use too many laxatives, take antidepressants, or eat unhealthy foods, your bowel may occasionally experience constipation or other gastric-related symptoms. Constipation refers to when it becomes difficult to have a smooth and easy bowel movement; for some people, this can persist over time and lead to chronic constipation. If you go more than three days without having a bowel movement, your feces will become harder and drier until it is almost impossible to excrete it. You might be struggling with chronic constipation if you have had two or three of the following for 3 months:
- Your stools are hard.
- You strain to have a bowel movement.
- You’re unable to completely pass the stool.
If constipation is one of the digestive problems that you’re struggling with, it is important to see a doctor or a gastrologist. It could be a symptom of stomach problems such as intestinal blockage, narrowing of the colon, tears in the skin surrounding the anus, colon or rectal cancer, neurological disorders, or hormonal problems.
5. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is when you have watery bowel movements. Diarrhea is a common occurrence that usually resolves within a day or two. It can be caused by anything from consuming too much caffeine to drinking water in a foreign country, or eating too much spicy food, or any other combination of factors. If your diarrhea lasts for more than four weeks, it could potentially be indicative of an issue with your digestive system. You should see a doctor or a gastro-doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Dehydration
- Your stools are black or tarry.
- You have severe rectal or abdominal pain.
- You have a fever which is 102 degrees or more.
- Your stools have pus or blood.
Chronic diarrhea could be a symptom of stomach problems such as Ulcerative Colitis, Ibs (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease, or Parasitic Infections. It’s best to check your symptoms in case of a gastrointestinal disease occurrence.
6. Unexplained Weight Loss
If you’re losing weight because of exercise or diet changes, then that’s normal. However, rapid weight loss is not normal. If you suddenly lose a lot of weight, it is advisable to see a doctor. Rapid weight loss over the course of six to twelve months should not be ignored if it equals a 5% drop in body weight. Your weight loss could be a symptom of stomach problems. Drastic weight loss could be a sign of Chronic Pancreatitis, Cirrhosis, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, or Peptic Ulcer.
7. Rectal Bleeding
A black or bloody stool may indicate that there is something wrong with your digestive system. This could be due to anything from hemorrhoids to cancer. Rectal bleeding is considered abnormal, and it can be a sign of digestive problems such as Ulcers, Inflammatory bowel disease, Polyps, or Lesions. You need to see a doctor in order to determine the cause and treat the issue. It’s especially important to consult a doctor if this problem occurs frequently or if you are over 40 years old.
8. Excessive Gas
Passing gas is a natural process that occurs throughout the day. In fact, people pass gas five to fifteen times per day on average. If you have an intestinal condition, it can disrupt your regular digestive flow and cause excessive flatulence or gas. Some of these conditions include Autoimmune Pancreatitis, GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease), Celiac disease, IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease), and IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome).
Your gas issues may be abnormal if they are unresponsive to home remedies or over-the-counter medication. You should see a doctor if gas is accompanied by symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, bloody stools, fever, muscle aches, or weakness.
9. Pale-Colored Stools
If you’re having pale- colored stools, they should generally return to their normal color in a few days. If you continue to have pale- colored stools, you need to see a doctor. Pale stools could be an indication of Gallbladder disease, Giardiasis, Liver issues, Pancreatic problems, Alcohol hepatitis, or Biliary cirrhosis.
10. Peptic Ulcers
Ulcers are caused by the accumulation of stomach acid in the small intestine or stomach, which can erode the walls and cause sores. Ulcers can be of two types – a) Gastric Ulcer that develops on the stomach’s lining and b) Duodenal Ulcer that forms at the top of the small intestine. Peptic ulcers can be because of smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, long-term long term use of painkillers, stress and anxiety, or bacteria.
Peptic ulcers can cause a hole in the gastric wall, which can allow bacteria to enter and cause an infection. This may lead to swelling and obstruction of food supply from the stomach to the small intestine. Following are the symptoms of a peptic ulcer:
- Intense burning sensation in your upper abdomen when you take aspirin or drink an acidic beverage.
- Bloody stools.
- Tarry or black stools.
- Nausea.
- Feeling full too soon when you’re eating.
If you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms kindly reach out to a home visit doctor. Simply search for a gastroenterologist near me in your search browser and search for FRH in your results. You’ll be provided with a wide variety of search results but we highly suggest you avail use of our expert-curated solutions.
Doctor At Home In Dubai | First Response Healthcare
If you are looking for a doctor for digestive problems, First Response Healthcare (FRH) is one call away. First Response Healthcare (FRH) is a JCI-accredited JCI accredited home healthcare company in Dubai that provides prompt and reliable medical care to patients right in the comfort of their homes. FRH has received a gold seal of approval from the Joint Commission of International Standards for its international quality services. The staff at FRH provides compassionate service to all people, regardless of their age or nationality.
FRH provides a range of services including Doctor at Home service in Dubai. We have a team of DHA-licensed DHA licensed doctors, who provide their services 24*7, 365 days a year. Our doctor can reach you anywhere within the Emirate of Dubai, may it be your home, office, or hotel. We can reach you within 30 minutes after you book an appointment with us. Our doctors are internationally trained and they work in shifts to provide 24/7 services, and thus are available at any time of the day and even at odd hours in the night. Our doctor can diagnose and treat any digestive problems that you might have. When required, our doctor can also make referrals to specialists and can link you up with a gastro doctor for symptoms of stomach problems. Our team of doctors can also provide diagnosis and treatment for fever, cold, migraines, and allergic reactions to respiratory conditions, chronic diseases, gastrointestinal illnesses, skin problems, or any other condition.
To avail of the service of a doctor at home for any symptoms of stomach problems, you can call on 0505050387 or 800DIALDOC. You can also reach out to us by visiting our website.
