5 Stomach Problems That Are Way More Normal Than You Think
If you experience pain, bloating, and/or nausea in your stomach after scarfing down a large meal on a regular basis, it’s probably dyspepsia (aka indigestion). Like acid reflux, this can also be treated with OTC acid-blocking meds, says Kisiel. A study published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal found that between 20 and 40% of people in the U.S. deal with these tummy troubles.
3. Irritable bowel syndrome
This condition can come in the form of diarrhea, constipation, or a mixture of the two. If your flow seems off for a few days, there’s no need to assume that you’ve got IBS—it’s diagnosed after 6 months of chronic abdominal pain and change in the form or frequency of bowel movements, says Kisiel. IBS is actually pretty common: According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders, between 25 and 45 million people in the U.S. have IBS. Unfortunately, experts aren’t sure exactly what causes IBS (it’s a chronic illness). But it’s seen more in women than in men, because women’s bowels tend to be less supported in the pelvis. Regardless, if you have any strange symptoms, such as nocturnal bowel movements (getting up just to go), blood in the toilet, fevers, anemia, and unintentional weight loss, those are signs you should seek medical attention and talk to your doctor. If you’re diagnosed, your doc can prescribe meds to manage the symptoms, and in rare cases, refer you for a colon cancer screening, especially if you have a family history of the disease. Staying up to date on preventative colon cancer screenings is important, because there aren’t often symptoms in the early stages.
4. Functional constipation
In other words: consistent difficulty in passing bowel movements. In women, it is sometimes a sign of pelvic floor dysfunction (incoordination between pelvic floor and rectal muscles), and it can be treated with physical therapy, says Kisiel. According to a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, close to 15% of adults have regular constipation. If you’re newly experiencing this, tell your doctor, who can do a scope test to rule out any blockage or a tumor that could be causing the problem.
5. Abdominal wall pain
If your pain is in a pinpointed location rather than all over your abdomen, you might be suffering from abdominal wall pain, which is 4 times more common in women than in men, a study in Clinical Gastroenterology Hepatology reports. According to the UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, it’s usually casued by nerve compression in the abdomen. Although the feeling can be severe, it’s not dangerous. It’s usually not progressive and can be treated with an injection of an anti-inflammatory med every few months by your MD, says Kisiel. If you feel a sharp pain and there are certain positions or movements that can make it feel worse or better, that could be a sign you’ve got this, so make an appointment to get it checked out.