Digestion Issues: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Sumiran Racherla, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Digestion Issues?
A gastroenterologist, a doctor who treats the digestive system, handles most long-lasting digestion problems. A primary care doctor can often start the workup. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What are digestion issues?
Digestion is how your body breaks food down into a form it can use for energy and to build cells. Your digestive system is a long, twisting tube that runs from your mouth to your anus. It includes your esophagus (the tube that carries food to your stomach), your stomach, and your small and large intestines. Your liver, gallbladder, and pancreas also make juices that help digestion.
There are many types of digestive disorders, so digestion issues is a broad term. The symptoms vary widely depending on the problem. Around 60 to 70 million people in the U.S. live with a digestive disease.
Symptoms
Everyone has pain or discomfort in their gut once in a while. Common symptoms of gut conditions include:
- Belly pain
- Gas and bloating
- Diarrhea
- Constipation, or going back and forth between constipation and diarrhea, as in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Indigestion is a group of symptoms that occur together. They include pain, a burning feeling, or discomfort in the upper belly, feeling full too soon, or feeling uncomfortably full after eating. If pain and other gut symptoms go on for weeks or longer, something more serious might be wrong.
Causes and who gets it
An infection can make you sick to your stomach for a few days. Longer-lasting gut trouble has other causes, including:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Immune cells in the gut overreact to what the body sees as a threat, and this can damage the digestive tract.
- Gastritis, which is swelling and redness of the stomach lining. The most common cause is infection with bacteria called Helicobacter pylori.
- Long-term use of some pain medicines can also cause gastritis, and untreated gastritis can lead to painful ulcers.
- IBS. Twelve percent of people in the U.S. have it.
- Acid reflux and food sensitivities can also cause gut pain and discomfort.
Stress does not cause IBS, but it can trigger flare-ups in many people.
How doctors diagnose it
It can be tricky to diagnose a digestive disease because many share the same symptoms. Doctors may need to run a variety of tests. These can include blood tests and a stool test to look for infection. Some people have an imaging test, such as a CT scan. Others need an endoscopy, which uses a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end to look inside the intestines or stomach.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause, and it varies widely.
- Gastritis from a bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics, which are medicines that kill germs.
- If a medicine is causing gastritis, switching to a different kind of drug will usually let the stomach heal. Ask your doctor before changing any medicine.
- Food sensitivities can be managed by changing your diet. A nutritionist can help find the foods that irritate your gut.
- Acid reflux can often be improved by changes in diet and medicine.
- IBS treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Some people get relief by adjusting their diet.
- Stress reduction and cognitive behavior therapy, a type of talk therapy, can help some people manage IBS symptoms.
- IBD is harder to treat than most gut disorders. Treatment focuses on stopping inflammation long enough for the gut to heal.
- Some newer IBD drugs suppress the immune system. They can have serious side effects, so they are usually used only when other treatments do not work.
- Indigestion may be treated with over-the-counter or prescription medicines, changes in what you eat and drink, or mental health therapies.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have blood in your stool or changes in bowel habits. Also see your doctor for weight loss you cannot explain or heartburn that antacids do not relieve. Also talk with your doctor if gut pain or discomfort goes on for weeks or lasts long enough to affect your daily life. Many digestive disorders are easiest to treat when they first develop.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you vomit blood or have severe belly pain or pressure. Also go if you have severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. This kind of doctor can listen to your symptoms and order first tests. They can help you find the right specialist if needed. Follow-up visits can show whether treatment is working.
Common questions
Are digestion issues serious?
Not always, because everyone has pain or discomfort in their gut once in a while. If pain and other gut symptoms go on for weeks or longer, something more serious might be wrong.
Can stress cause digestion problems?
Stress can trigger flare-ups of symptoms in many people with IBS, but it does not cause IBS.
What tests find the cause of gut symptoms?
Doctors may need several tests to find the cause. These include blood tests, a stool test for infection, imaging such as a CT scan, and endoscopy.
Can changing my diet help?
Sometimes, yes, depending on the cause. Food sensitivities can be managed with diet changes, and some people with IBS get relief by adjusting what they eat.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Digestive Disorders
- NIH News in Health - Gut Troubles: Pain, Gassiness, Bloating, and More
- NIDDK - Indigestion (Dyspepsia)
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
