Understanding Common Causes of Stomach Problems

Many individuals experience digestive issues, especially indigestion. After consuming certain foods, discomfort may arise within hours. But what exactly happens in your digestive system that triggers these problems?

Digestion is a vital yet straightforward process where your body breaks down food into essential nutrients. Sometimes, this process can take longer, particularly with harder-to-digest foods, leading to malfunctions. Various factors can cause different stomach ailments.

Heartburn: During digestion, acid is produced in the stomach. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) connects the stomach and food pipe. Normally, it closes after food passes into the stomach, but if it remains open, stomach acid can reflux into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation known as heartburn.

Diarrhea: Digestion involves adding fluids to food, which are usually reabsorbed after digestion. However, rapid digestion caused by bacterial or viral infections, contaminated food, or lactose intolerance can hinder water reabsorption, resulting in loose stools or diarrhea.

Constipation: This condition occurs when waste moves too slowly through the colon, often due to excessive water absorption by the colon or weakened muscle contractions. This causes hardened stool and difficulty in bowel movements.

Colitis: Often triggered by infections or food poisoning, colitis involves inflammation of the colon. It may produce sores in the intestinal lining and is sometimes a reaction of the immune system to bacteria or viruses.