Digestive Diseases (original) (raw)

Also called: Gastrointestinal diseases

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors

See, Play and Learn

• Videos and Tutorials

Summary

When you eat, your body breaks food down to a form it can use to build and nourish cells and provide energy. This process is called digestion.

Your digestive system is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube. It runs from your mouth to your anus and includes your esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. Your liver, gallbladder and pancreas are also involved. They produce juices to help digestion.

There are many types of digestive disorders. The symptoms vary widely depending on the problem. In general, you should see your doctor if you have:

• Blood in your stool
• Changes in bowel habits
• Severe abdominal pain
• Unintentional weight loss
• Heartburn not relieved by antacids

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

• Learn about GI Motility (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)

• Problems of the Digestive System (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)

• Your Digestive System and How It Works (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

• Confusing or Ambiguous Upper Gut Symptoms (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)

• Personal Relationships and Digestive Disorders (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)

• Globus (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)

• What Is a Gastroenterologist? (American College of Gastroenterology)

• Gut Troubles: Pain, Gassiness, Bloating, and More (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

• Peristalsis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Digestive diseases (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• EGD discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Fecal fat (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Gastrointestinal fistula (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Gastrointestinal perforation (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Stools - floating (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Upper GI and small bowel series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish