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Digestive Diseases
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Digestive System

Digestive Diseases

Digestion is the essential process of breaking down food to nourish cells and provide energy, a function carried out by a complex system of organs.

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, as they produce juices to help digestion.

Symptoms and When to See a Doctor

There are many types of digestive disorders, and symptoms vary widely depending on the specific 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

Frequently Asked Questions

You should seek immediate care if a change in bowel habits is accompanied by blood in the stool, black or tarry stools, severe abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss. While occasional irregularity is common, persistent changes lasting more than two weeks, especially if they involve alternating diarrhea and constipation or a significant narrowing of stool width, warrant a prompt evaluation to rule out conditions like colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.
Gastrointestinal bleeding does not always present as bright red blood. Upper GI bleeds, such as those from peptic ulcers, often result in melena, which is black, tarry, and foul-smelling stool. Patients may also experience hematemesis, which is vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds. Other subtle signs include sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, or fatigue, which indicate anemia from chronic, slow bleeding that may not be visible in the toilet bowl.
If antacids provide only temporary relief, managing the underlying cause is critical. This typically involves elevating the head of your bed by six to eight inches to prevent nighttime acid reflux, avoiding meals within three hours of bedtime, and eliminating trigger foods such as caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and fatty meals. Weight management is also a key factor, as excess abdominal pressure can force stomach acid upward, and quitting smoking helps reduce the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.
Benign discomfort often resolves with eating or passing gas, whereas serious conditions may present with persistent, dull pain that radiates to the back, accompanied by jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), dark urine, or pale stools. Unintentional weight loss without dieting, new-onset diabetes in an older adult, or persistent nausea after eating fatty foods are red flags that suggest the pancreas or liver may be compromised and require urgent diagnostic imaging and blood work.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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