Digestive Disorders Medical Reference
- How Can I Prevent Belly Pain?
You can do some things to make stomach pain less likely to ruin your day.
- Lactose Intolerance vs. Dairy Allergy
Lactose intolerance and dairy allergy may seem the same, but there are important differences. Find out how they differ and what tests are used for diagnosis.
- What Causes Lactose Intolerance?
If you feel stomach pain, bloating, cramping, or have diarrhea after you eat or drink dairy products, you may be lactose intolerant. Learn about what causes the different types of lactose intolerance.
- What Are the Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance?
If you feel bloated and gassy after you drink milk or eat ice cream, you might be lactose intolerant. Learn what causes this common condition.
- What Is Lactose Intolerance?
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, the sugar in milk and dairy products. Learn more about this common condition.
- Esophageal Spasm
Esophageal spasm is a rare cause of chest pain that can feel like a heart attack. Learn the causes, symptoms, and treatment for esophagus spasms.
- What Is a Gallbladder (HIDA) Scan?
This test uses a radioactive compound to “trace” the path bile takes through your body. This article explains how and why it’s done.
- What Are Intractable Hiccups?
Intractable hiccups are a very rare condition in which a person has hiccups lasting more than a month. This may indicate an underlying health problem.
- How Do I Treat Constipation?
Constipation is a common problem that can be treated at home with changes to your diet and exercise. Laxatives can also help with constipation, but should be used after speaking with your doctor.
- Rectal Prolapse
Rectal prolapse is not a common ailment or life-threatening. But if you have this disorder, it can be embarrassing and uncomfortable.
- Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff)
If you’re taking antibiotics and develop a serious case of diarrhea, you could have a bacterial infection known as C. diff. Learn more from WebMD about the symptoms and what doctors can do to treat it.
- Inguinal Hernia
Inguinal hernia occurs when tissue pushes through a weak spot in the groin muscles. Learn causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
- What Is Laparoscopic Surgery?
Learn more about laparoscopic surgery, in which the surgeon inserts a tiny camera into your body and operates it without having to put in their hands.
- Mucus in Stool
Sometimes it’s normal to have mucus in your poop, but learn when this symptom is the sign of a digestive problem.
- What Is a Lipase Test?
Lipase test: Lipase is a protein that helps your body absorb fats. Your doctor can order a lipase blood test to find out how your pancreas is doing.
- Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Test: What Does It Mean?
An alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test can show whether you have a liver disease or injury. Learn how this test works and how it can help your doctor diagnose you.
- What Is an Alkaline Phosphatase Test?
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is one kind enzyme found in your body. If you show signs of liver disease or a bone disorder, your doctor may want you to get an ALP test to diagnose the problem.
- What is Malabsorption Syndrome?
If your body is not taking in the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals you need, it could be because of malabsorption syndrome. Learn what causes it and what you can do about it.
- What Are the Tests for Cirrhosis?
The earlier your doctor finds cirrhosis, the better your chances of stopping liver damage. Learn about the tests used in making a diagnosis.
- What Is Diverticulosis?
Diverticulosis: WebMD explains what you need to know.
- What is Functional Constipation?
Functional constipation isn’t caused by medicine or a medical problem. Learn why this problem happens and how doctors diagnose it.
- How Chronic Constipation Affects Your Body
What effects does chronic constipation have on your body? Learn about anal fissures, fecal impaction, rectal prolapse, hemorrhoids, and more.
- Medical Causes of Chronic Constipation
Medications and medical conditions are common causes of constipation. Here’s a look at what could be backing things up.
- Treatment Options for Chronic Constipation
Looking for constipation treatment options? Learn more about laxatives, fiber supplements, stool softeners, and more.
- Chronic Constipation: Your Doctor’s Visit
Dealing with chronic constipation? Here’s what to expect at your doctor’s visit.
- Risks and Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics are "good" bacteria found in some foods and supplements. They keep your gut healthy and have other benefits for your body, but may have some risks, too.
- What Does My Stool Color Mean?
What does it mean if your poop is green? What about red, yellow, white, or black? Find out possible causes and when to call a doctor.
- Best Types of Probiotics
How to get the most from probiotics for digestive health, including whether to use supplements, foods, or yogurt depending on your condition.
- What Are Probiotics?
Everything you need to know about probiotics from why you'd take them to the differences between the different types, and then some.
- When Can Probiotics Help?
A look at how probiotics may help with diarrhea, pouchitis, irritible bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis.
- Ascites: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Ascites is a condition, usually caused by cirrhosis, where excess fluid builds up in your abdomen. Learn the symptoms of ascites and how it’s treated.
- Fecal Impaction: What Is It and How Is It Treated?
When you haven’t had a bowel movement in so long that a hard mass of stool gets stuck in your colon or rectum, it’s known as a fecal impaction. Find out the causes and treatments for this dangerous problem.
- Bowel Obstruction
If a section of your bowel becomes blocked, you'll need to be hospitalized to get better. Learn what causes a bowel obstruction, what the symptoms are, and how it's treated.
- Tips for a Quiet Tummy, Restful Sleep
There are some simple steps you can take to help ease the symptoms of indigestion and set yourself up for a restful night's sleep.
- Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Treatment and Complications
There's no cure for primary biliary cholangitis, but you can ease symptoms and stop the disease from getting worse. Here's a look at some treatments for the condition.
- How Is PBC Diagnosed?
Primary biliary cholangitis often doesn't have symptoms early on. Your doctor will use blood tests and imaging tests to help diagnose the disease.
- What Is Primary Biliary Cholangitis?
Primary biliary cholangitis, also known as primary biliary cholangitis, is a chronic liver disease. Learn about its causes, symptoms, treatment and more.
- What Is Eosinophilic Esophagitis?
Doctors used to think that eosinophilic esophagitis was the same thing as acid reflux. Now they know that it’s not, and more people are being diagnosed than ever before.
- Cholecystitis
If you’re nauseated and in pain, it may not be a stomach bug. Learn what cholecystitis is, what it has to do with the gallbladder, and how it is treated.
- Why Do I Hiccup?
Everyone’s had them, but do you know where hiccups come from? Learn why these funny sounds sometimes happen.
- What Is Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome?
Doctors don’t know for sure what causes cyclic vomiting syndrome, a rare condition that can bring on intense nausea and vomiting. Find out about symptoms and how to manage the condition.
- What Is Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis?
Find out about this potentially deadly disease of the bile ducts that can gradually cause serious liver damage.
- What Is Pseudomyxoma Peritonei?
Find out more about this rare abdominal disease that may or may not be cancer.
- How Do I Get Rid of the Hiccups?
The hiccups can be awfully annoying. You’ve been told you can scare them away, but how can you really get rid of them?
- What is Hypokalemia?
Do you have low potassium? Find out the causes, symptoms, and treatment of hypokalemia.
- Achalasia: What You Should Know
Trouble swallowing? Pain in the chest? A rare condition called achalasia may be to blame.
- Why Do I Need a Liver and Spleen Scan?
Liver-spleen scan: Why do I need one?
- Best and Worst Foods for Hemorrhoids
"Eat more fiber." "Stay hydrated." That's good advice when you have hemorrhoids, but what does it mean in practical terms?
- What Is Primary Biliary Cholangitis?
Primary biliary cholangitis is a disease affecting the bile made by your liver. Here’s what to know about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and outlook.
- Is Your Treatment for Frequent Diarrhea Working?
When diarrhea strikes, you may turn to an over-the-counter medicine for relief. But do you know how to use it right?