Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are common among Americans. In fact, around 62 million Americans are diagnosed with GI issues every year, while 20 million of those suffer from chronic GI diseases.

With so many people having GI problems, how worried should you be if you begin to develop them, too? Our AFC Urgent Care Boulder team shares some helpful info below, so keep reading.

What Exactly Are GI Diseases?

Gastrointestinal diseases are disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the throat, stomach and intestines. During digestion, food and drink are broken down into small parts that the body absorbs and uses as energy and building blocks for cells.

GI diseases range from mild to severe, causing symptoms from the occasional upset stomach to the more life-threatening colon cancer. We’ve listed the most common GI disease symptoms below.

Common GI Disease Symptoms

• Abdominal discomfort (bloating, pain or cramps)
• Unintentional weight loss
• Vomiting and nausea
• Acid reflux (heartburn)
• Diarrhea, constipation (or sometimes both)
• Fecal incontinence
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty swallowing

Should I Be Concerned If I Develop a GI Disease?

There should be a level of concern, but you should refrain from panicking before you even know the severity of your GI issue. Many GI diseases can be easily managed, such as GERD and acid reflux.

If you don’t believe you have a GI disease but want to make sure you do what you can to prevent one from affecting you, be sure to get a colonoscopy when it is time, which is at age 45 for average-risk patients. In addition to this, there are lots of healthy habits you can stick to that lower your risk of GI diseases; we’ve listed them below.

Ways to Prevent GI Diseases

• Maintain a healthy diet. Add fiber, lower salt intake, drink lots of water and eat a variety of whole foods rather than processed foods.
• Stay active. Getting at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity can put you on the right path to a healthy lifestyle.
• Be wary of your medications. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs can cause digestive problems, so talk to your doctor about possible side effects and ask for a substitute if a medicine is causing GI issues.

Not sure how concerned you should be about your GI symptoms? Don’t hesitate to reach out or visit our AFC Urgent Care Boulder team, as we can walk you through your next steps and help to diagnose your symptoms.