From acid reflux and nausea to rectal bleeding and constipation, gastrointestinal ailments can cause many distressing and painful symptoms. If you have a digestive system problem, contact your local PrimeMD office in North Columbus, Newark, Lancaster, Westerville, Kenton, Marion, Wilmington, Dublin, or New Albany, Ohio. The expert teams can diagnose your gastrointestinal ailment and help alleviate your symptoms. To find out how PrimeMD can help you, call your nearest office today or book an appointment online.
Gastrointestinal ailments are conditions that affect your digestive tract. That includes your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus, plus organs like your liver and gallbladder.
Gastrointestinal ailments can cause symptoms like:
You might develop severe or chronic pain in any part of your digestive system, depending on the type of gastrointestinal ailment you have.
Multiple ailments can affect your gastrointestinal tract. Some examples of conditions that the PrimeMD team often sees include:
Acute infections that cause gastroenteritis are also a common problem.
Diagnosing your gastrointestinal ailment accurately enables your provider at PrimeMD to provide the treatment you need.
The PrimeMD team starts by performing a clinical exam, checking your vital signs (heart rate, pulse, temperature, and blood pressure), and going over your symptoms with you. They can assess symptoms like bloating and pain and look for problems like hemorrhoids.
Your provider might also take blood for lab testing. Blood tests can detect numerous things, from infections and liver function to inflammatory markers, and can also help to rule out potential causes for your symptoms.
Other tests that can help determine what type of gastrointestinal ailment you have include:
The procedure you need to undergo depends on what your provider finds during their initial exam and the results of blood or stool tests. Once they know what's causing your symptoms, they can prescribe the most effective treatment.
The treatment you need for a gastrointestinal ailment depends on the cause of your condition. You might have to take medication, such as proton-pump inhibitors for GERD or antispasmodics for IBS. In many cases, dietary changes and tackling problems like chronic stress can help with issues like constipation and diarrhea.
Complex conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which consists of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, might require multiple medications such as anti-inflammatories, steroids, or immunosuppressants.
If your condition demands specialized treatment such as surgery or you need to see a gastroenterologist, the PrimeMD team can refer you. They then work with your specialist to provide any ongoing care.
To find the cause of your gastrointestinal ailment and get the treatment you need, call PrimeMD today and schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
