Do you have abdominal pain and discomfort in your digestive tract which does not go away? You should not wait and hope for the gut discomfort to go away as the discomfort might get worse or develop into a life-threatening condition. You should find experts in internal medicine in Lima, OH, who can help you overcome the discomfort. Here is why you should see a gastroenterologist.
Trouble Swallowing
You should see a gastroenterologist when you have persistent difficulty swallowing or a steady lump in the throat. Difficulty swallowing might signify a serious underlying health condition that needs immediate attention. You may have difficulty swallowing due to esophagus damage due to acid reflux which causes the tissues to weaken and form lesions. The acid damage reduces the ability to transport food and liquids from the esophagus to the stomach. Thus the gastroenterologist would perform an upper endoscopy to identify issues in the esophagus.
Frequent Heartburn
Heartburn is the pain that burns at the chest center due to acid reflux into the esophagus. Moreover, heartburn might result from irritants like spicy food, alcohol, fried food, carbonated drinks, and cigarettes. You may need immediate health care if the heartburn is accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, bloody bowel movement, and pain swallowing. The symptoms may indicate inflammation of the esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux diseases, and changes in the esophagus tissues.
Abdominal Bloating and Constipation
Bloating might make your stomach appear more significant than it is, and you may not button your pants for a few days. The rapid gain in the girth shows the stomach retains gas. Although bloating might seem normal if accompanied by bloody stools, nausea, and painful bowel movement, it may indicate a severe underlying issue. Bloating may occur due to celiac disease, gallstones, ulcerative colitis, and gastroesophageal reflux. On the other hand, constipation makes it challenging to have a bowel movement and might occur due to a diet consisting of junk food and less fiber. Chronic constipation leads to tough stool, strain to have a bowel movement, and inability to pass stool completely. Your gastroenterologist might identify underlying issues like intestinal blockage, narrowing colon, rectal cancer, neurological disorders, hormonal problems, and teats on the skin around the anus and treat them efficiently.
Unexplained Weight Loss
Although your primary caregiver would determine the cause of unexplained weight loss, you should see a gastroenterologist if you have unexplained weight loss. The weight loss might be associated with dietary changes or gut issues. Digestive issues might be responsible for unexplained weight loss as they may impact the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Chronic pancreatitis, Crohn’s disease, Peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, and cirrhosis are gut issues that might cause weight loss. Thus your gastroenterologist will diagnose and treat the issues leading to average weight gain.
Digestion tract issues are easy to ignore as they don’t have severe symptoms; it would be wise to see a gastroenterologist specializing in treating digestive issues when you feel uncomfortable. Gut issues might cause unexplained weight loss due to the inability to absorb nutrients. You may experience excessive bloating and constipation, frequent heartburn, and an inability to swallow food. Good luck finding the right gastroenterologist expert who can treat your gut issues appropriately.
