Gastrointestinal diseases and disorders

Digestive Health Specialists is dedicated to protecting your digestive health. Our board-certified gastroenterologists offer effective treatment for a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases. To help protect your digestive health, here are common symptoms for some of the disorders that we treat. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns at all, see your gastroenterologist.

Colon cancer -- Colon cancer can be indicated by a variety symptoms, although any single symptom or combination of symptoms does not necessarily indicate colon cancer. That’s why it’s important to see your physician regularly and have a colonoscopy beginning at the age of 50. Symptoms include: changes in bowel habits or frequency, constipation or diarrhea, rectal bleeding, blood in stool and smaller or thinner stools than normal. Learn more about colonoscopy procedures here.

Hemorrhoids -- Bleeding during bowel movements, itching, and rectal pain are the most common hemorrhoid symptoms. The symptoms of internal hemorrhoids can be different, for instance pain is most often associated with external hemorrhoids and itching with internal hemorrhoids (learn more about hemorrhoids here). Rectal bleeding and pain and recent changes in bowel habits are also symptoms of colon, rectal, or anal cancer, so it is recommended that people who have these symptoms, especially those age 50 or older or those with a family history ofcolon cancer, talk to their doctors about procedures such as colonoscopy that can rule out this possibility. To treat hemorrhoids, our gastroenterologists can perform a procedure called hemorrhoid banding that can provide long-term relief.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease -- The term inflammatory bowel disease actually covers a group of digestive disorders in which the intestines become inflamed. Although the specific cause is unknown, it is theorized that these disorders are a result  a result of an immune reaction of the body against its own intestinal tissue. Symptoms include abdominal pain, cramps, gas and diarrhea. The diarrhea usually contains bright red blood and anemia may result if the bleeding persists. Fatigue and low grade fever are also common with this disorder.

Acid Reflux Disease -- Heartburn, regurgitation, and stomach discomfort are a few of the most common acid reflux symptoms. Heartburn is a burningpain or discomfort that can move up from your stomach to the middle of your abdomen and chest. Regurgitation is the sensation of acid backing up into your throat or mouth and can produce a sour or bitter taste. Stomach discomfort can include burping, nausea after eating, stomach fullness or bloating and upper abdominal pain and discomfort. Although acid reflux is extremely common and rarely serious, you should not ignore your acid reflux symptoms. Complications can develop and a test such as an endoscopy can determine if there are more serious disorders present.

Stomach Ulcers --  Stomach ulcers are fairly common; this digestive disease affects millions of people in the United States every year. The direct cause of peptic ulcers is the destruction of the gastric or intestinal mucosal lining of the stomach by hydrochloric acid, an acid normally present in the digestive juices of the stomach. Infection with the bacterium helicobacter pylori is thought to play an important role in causing both gastric and duodenal ulcers. The major symptom of an ulcer is a burning or gnawing feeling in the stomach area that lasts between 30 minutes and 3 hours. This pain is often interpreted as heartburn, indigestion or hunger. Other symptoms of of ulcers include loss of appetite and weight loss. As with many digestive diseases, these symptoms can indicate other conditions as well, so a test like an endoscopy is helpful in determining the cause of the symptoms and treatment. 

Stomach Cancer -- Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is a malignant tumor arising from the lining of the stomach. Stomach cancers are classified according to the type of tissue where they originate. The most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma, which starts in the glandular tissue of the stomach and accounts for 90% to 95% of all stomach cancers. Early stages of stomach cancer have symptoms similar to those of ulcers, including pain, heartburn, indigestion and loss of appetite. Again, this is why it’s important to have a test such as an endoscopy to determine the exact causes of certain symptoms. The symptoms of more advanced stomach cancer include discomfort in the upper or middle part of the abdomen, blood in the stool (which appears as black, tarry stools), vomiting or vomiting blood, weight loss, pain or bloating in the stomach after eating, weakness or fatigue associated with mild anemia (a deficiency in red blood cells).

Hepatitis C --  Although hepatitis C damages the liver, 80% of people with the disease do not have symptoms. In those who do, symptoms may not appear for 10-20 years, or even longer. Even then, the symptoms usually come and go and are mild and vague. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms appear, the damage may be very serious A minority of people have symptoms during the early acute phase of the infection. These symptoms typically develop 5-12 weeks after exposure to HCV. Some people describe the symptoms as being flu-like and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue, pain over the liver (on the right side of the abdomen, just under the rib cage) jaundice, dark-colored urine and stools that are pale in color.