Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUpper GI DisordersLower GI DisordersStomach CancerNon-Digestive DisordersWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Upper GI Disorders
Lower GI Disorders
Stomach Cancer
Non-Digestive Disorders
When to See a Provider
If it feels like there is something wrong with your stomach, the cause could be digestive or it could originate somewhere else, such as your urinary tract.Digestive problemscan cause a range of symptoms, fromconstipationordiarrheato stomach upset and pain.
Most digestive problems are temporary and will clear up on their own, but others are chronic. Some can even be serious and life-threatening. Understanding what different symptoms might mean can help you manage the problem and find a long-term solution.
This article discusses a range of digestive and abdominal problems including those that affect the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. It explains the symptoms of common ailments and signs that you should see a healthcare provider.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Symptoms of Upper GI Disorders
Thedigestive systemconsists of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as well as the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The GI tract itself is made up of several parts. Healthcare providers usually refer to one section as the upper GI tract and the other as the lower GI tract.
The mouth, esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine (duodenum) comprise the upper GI tract. If you have problems with the upper GI tract, you may have symptoms such asheartburn, problems swallowing or passing food along your esophagus and stomach, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms to Never Ignore
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophagealreflux disease(GERD) is the main cause of heartburn, a burning sensation in the upper abdomen that usually occurs after you eat. When the muscles between the esophagus and stomach aren’t working right, the contents of your stomach (including acid and food) go back up the esophagus. This is commonly called “reflux.”
Peptic Ulcer
Gastritis
Gastritisis an inflammation of the stomach lining that causes symptoms similar to heartburn. It’s usually treated withmedicationto reduce stomach acid.
Gastroparesis
Gallstones
Gallstones can form in the gallbladder whenbilehardens. If gallstones block the ducts of the gallbladder, they can cause severe pain. Some gallstones never cause symptoms while others need to be surgically removed.
Celiac Disease
People who haveceliac diseasecan’t eat gluten since it causes an immune response that damages the small intestine. Celiac disease is often mistaken for othergastrointestinal disordersbefore it’s correctlydiagnosed.
Symptoms of Lower Abdominal Disorders
The lower GI tract begins after the duodenum. It runs from thesmall intestinesto thelarge intestines, or colon, to the anus.
There are several digestive disorders that cancontribute to intestinal symptomssuch as lower abdominal pain, cramping, and bowel movement problems.
Epiploic Appendagitis: What to Know
Diverticulitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel diseaseis an umbrella term for two conditions (which can sometimes overlap):Crohn’s diseaseandulcerative colitis. Both are chronic conditions that require lifelong monitoring and treatment.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)is a very common digestive disorder that causes recurring abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, or both.
Symptoms of Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and the seventh most common cancer in women.Often, stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, doesn’t have symptoms in its early stages or the symptoms are similar to other stomach and GI disorders. However, there are some signs to watch for, especially if you have a family history of stomach cancer.
These"red-flag" symptomsinclude:
Other possible symptoms could include anemia,blood in your stool, and recurrent pain.
Symptoms of Non-Digestive Disorders
Certain conditions that originate in other parts of the body, such as the urinary tract and female reproductive system, can cause symptoms that feel like they’re coming from your stomach.
Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the bladder or other parts of the urinary tract, including the urethra and kidneys. Besides urinary symptoms like pain with urination and frequent urination, you may also experience:
Female Reproductive Disorders
A number of different conditions of the female reproductive system can cause problems that feel like they originate from the stomach or intestines. Some of these conditions and their associated symptoms include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
It’s best to discuss any ongoing GI issues with a healthcare provider. Pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea affect everyone from time to time, but if these are a regular occurrence, you could have an underlying health condition. Importantly, anytime you have blood in your stool, you should see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Treating GI issues doesn’t just help relieve the immediate stomach or lower abdominal distress. Research shows the body’s gastrointestinal system (also known as thegut) plays a large role in your overall health.
Talk to your primary healthcare provider first. However, you may be referred to agastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases and disorders of the digestive tract.
Summary
Upper GI issues often cause heartburn and pain or discomfort in the stomach or chest. Problems with the lower GI tract can cause cramping, constipation, or diarrhea. Disorders of the urinary tract and female reproductive system can also cause symptoms that mimic GI conditions.
Stomach cancer may cause symptoms similar to GI disorders. Look out for severe problems, such as bloody stool, which could be a sign of cancer or an emergency condition that requires immediate medical attention.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Upper GI disorders.Hernández C, Serrano C, Einisman H, et al.Peptic ulcer disease in Helicobacter pylori-infected children: clinical findings and mucosal immune response.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;59(6):773-8. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000000500Young CF, Moussa M, Shubrook JH.Diabetic gastroparesis: A review.Diabetes Spectr. 2020;33(3):290-297. doi:10.2337/ds19-0062Latenstein CSS, de Reuver PR.Tailoring diagnosis and treatment in symptomatic gallstone disease.Br J Surg. 2022;109(9):832-838. doi:10.1093/bjs/znac154Ianiro G, Bibbò S, Bruno G, et al.Prior misdiagnosis of celiac disease is common among patients referred to a tertiary care center: A prospective cohort study.Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2016;7(1):e139. doi:10.1038/ctg.2015.48Lebwohl B, Rubio-Tapia A.Epidemiology, presentation, and diagnosis of celiac disease.Gastroenterology. 2021;160(1):63-75. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.06.098Coffin B, Duboc H.Review article: diagnostic and therapeutic approach to persistent abdominal pain beyond irritable bowel syndrome.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2022;56(3):419-435. doi:10.1111/apt.17064Banerjee A.Gastrointestinal emergencies.Emerg Clin Diagn. 2017:235–60. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-50718-7_12Onur MR, Akpinar E, Karaosmanoglu AD, Isayev C, Karcaaltincaba M.Diverticulitis: a comprehensive review with usual and unusual complications.Insights Imaging. 2017;8(1):19-27. doi:10.1007/s13244-016-0532-3Wehkamp J, Götz M, Herrlinger K, Steurer W, Stange EF.Inflammatory bowel disease.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(5):72-82. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0072Camilleri M.Diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A review.JAMA. 2021;325(9):865-877. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.22532World Cancer Research Fund.Stomach cancer statistics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Stomach (gastric) cancer.Kaur R, Kaur R.Symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections.Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1154):803-812. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139090Johns Hopkins Medicine.Endometriosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibroids.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.Rao M, Gershon MD.The bowel and beyond: the enteric nervous system in neurological disorders.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2016;13(9):517-28. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2016.107Additional ReadingTack J, Vanuytsel T, Corsetti M.Modern management of irritable bowel syndrome: More than motility.Digestive Dis.2016;34(5):566-73. doi:10.1159/000445265
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Upper GI disorders.Hernández C, Serrano C, Einisman H, et al.Peptic ulcer disease in Helicobacter pylori-infected children: clinical findings and mucosal immune response.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;59(6):773-8. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000000500Young CF, Moussa M, Shubrook JH.Diabetic gastroparesis: A review.Diabetes Spectr. 2020;33(3):290-297. doi:10.2337/ds19-0062Latenstein CSS, de Reuver PR.Tailoring diagnosis and treatment in symptomatic gallstone disease.Br J Surg. 2022;109(9):832-838. doi:10.1093/bjs/znac154Ianiro G, Bibbò S, Bruno G, et al.Prior misdiagnosis of celiac disease is common among patients referred to a tertiary care center: A prospective cohort study.Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2016;7(1):e139. doi:10.1038/ctg.2015.48Lebwohl B, Rubio-Tapia A.Epidemiology, presentation, and diagnosis of celiac disease.Gastroenterology. 2021;160(1):63-75. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.06.098Coffin B, Duboc H.Review article: diagnostic and therapeutic approach to persistent abdominal pain beyond irritable bowel syndrome.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2022;56(3):419-435. doi:10.1111/apt.17064Banerjee A.Gastrointestinal emergencies.Emerg Clin Diagn. 2017:235–60. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-50718-7_12Onur MR, Akpinar E, Karaosmanoglu AD, Isayev C, Karcaaltincaba M.Diverticulitis: a comprehensive review with usual and unusual complications.Insights Imaging. 2017;8(1):19-27. doi:10.1007/s13244-016-0532-3Wehkamp J, Götz M, Herrlinger K, Steurer W, Stange EF.Inflammatory bowel disease.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(5):72-82. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0072Camilleri M.Diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A review.JAMA. 2021;325(9):865-877. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.22532World Cancer Research Fund.Stomach cancer statistics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Stomach (gastric) cancer.Kaur R, Kaur R.Symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections.Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1154):803-812. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139090Johns Hopkins Medicine.Endometriosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibroids.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.Rao M, Gershon MD.The bowel and beyond: the enteric nervous system in neurological disorders.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2016;13(9):517-28. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2016.107Additional ReadingTack J, Vanuytsel T, Corsetti M.Modern management of irritable bowel syndrome: More than motility.Digestive Dis.2016;34(5):566-73. doi:10.1159/000445265
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Upper GI disorders.Hernández C, Serrano C, Einisman H, et al.Peptic ulcer disease in Helicobacter pylori-infected children: clinical findings and mucosal immune response.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;59(6):773-8. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000000500Young CF, Moussa M, Shubrook JH.Diabetic gastroparesis: A review.Diabetes Spectr. 2020;33(3):290-297. doi:10.2337/ds19-0062Latenstein CSS, de Reuver PR.Tailoring diagnosis and treatment in symptomatic gallstone disease.Br J Surg. 2022;109(9):832-838. doi:10.1093/bjs/znac154Ianiro G, Bibbò S, Bruno G, et al.Prior misdiagnosis of celiac disease is common among patients referred to a tertiary care center: A prospective cohort study.Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2016;7(1):e139. doi:10.1038/ctg.2015.48Lebwohl B, Rubio-Tapia A.Epidemiology, presentation, and diagnosis of celiac disease.Gastroenterology. 2021;160(1):63-75. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.06.098Coffin B, Duboc H.Review article: diagnostic and therapeutic approach to persistent abdominal pain beyond irritable bowel syndrome.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2022;56(3):419-435. doi:10.1111/apt.17064Banerjee A.Gastrointestinal emergencies.Emerg Clin Diagn. 2017:235–60. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-50718-7_12Onur MR, Akpinar E, Karaosmanoglu AD, Isayev C, Karcaaltincaba M.Diverticulitis: a comprehensive review with usual and unusual complications.Insights Imaging. 2017;8(1):19-27. doi:10.1007/s13244-016-0532-3Wehkamp J, Götz M, Herrlinger K, Steurer W, Stange EF.Inflammatory bowel disease.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(5):72-82. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0072Camilleri M.Diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A review.JAMA. 2021;325(9):865-877. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.22532World Cancer Research Fund.Stomach cancer statistics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Stomach (gastric) cancer.Kaur R, Kaur R.Symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections.Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1154):803-812. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139090Johns Hopkins Medicine.Endometriosis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibroids.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.Rao M, Gershon MD.The bowel and beyond: the enteric nervous system in neurological disorders.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2016;13(9):517-28. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2016.107
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Upper GI disorders.
Hernández C, Serrano C, Einisman H, et al.Peptic ulcer disease in Helicobacter pylori-infected children: clinical findings and mucosal immune response.J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014;59(6):773-8. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000000500
Young CF, Moussa M, Shubrook JH.Diabetic gastroparesis: A review.Diabetes Spectr. 2020;33(3):290-297. doi:10.2337/ds19-0062
Latenstein CSS, de Reuver PR.Tailoring diagnosis and treatment in symptomatic gallstone disease.Br J Surg. 2022;109(9):832-838. doi:10.1093/bjs/znac154
Ianiro G, Bibbò S, Bruno G, et al.Prior misdiagnosis of celiac disease is common among patients referred to a tertiary care center: A prospective cohort study.Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2016;7(1):e139. doi:10.1038/ctg.2015.48
Lebwohl B, Rubio-Tapia A.Epidemiology, presentation, and diagnosis of celiac disease.Gastroenterology. 2021;160(1):63-75. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.06.098
Coffin B, Duboc H.Review article: diagnostic and therapeutic approach to persistent abdominal pain beyond irritable bowel syndrome.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2022;56(3):419-435. doi:10.1111/apt.17064
Banerjee A.Gastrointestinal emergencies.Emerg Clin Diagn. 2017:235–60. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-50718-7_12
Onur MR, Akpinar E, Karaosmanoglu AD, Isayev C, Karcaaltincaba M.Diverticulitis: a comprehensive review with usual and unusual complications.Insights Imaging. 2017;8(1):19-27. doi:10.1007/s13244-016-0532-3
Wehkamp J, Götz M, Herrlinger K, Steurer W, Stange EF.Inflammatory bowel disease.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2016;113(5):72-82. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2016.0072
Camilleri M.Diagnosis and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: A review.JAMA. 2021;325(9):865-877. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.22532
World Cancer Research Fund.Stomach cancer statistics.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Stomach (gastric) cancer.
Kaur R, Kaur R.Symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections.Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1154):803-812. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-139090
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Endometriosis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibroids.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Rao M, Gershon MD.The bowel and beyond: the enteric nervous system in neurological disorders.Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol.2016;13(9):517-28. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2016.107
Tack J, Vanuytsel T, Corsetti M.Modern management of irritable bowel syndrome: More than motility.Digestive Dis.2016;34(5):566-73. doi:10.1159/000445265
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