People tend to overlook their digestive health. With so much focus on cancer, heart attacks, and strokes, it's easy for your gut health to get lost in the shuffle.
That's why it's vital to have digestive lab tests done regularly. Catching digestive system conditions before they start is the best way to treat them.
If monitoring your gut health is new to you, don't worry. In this article, we're going to cover everything you need to know about your gut.
Digestive System Conditions
There are different kinds of gastrointestinal lab tests to monitor different enzymes and bacteria in your gut. The bacteria in your gut is known as "good bacteria." These bacteria need to maintain their presence in your stomach for the system to remain healthy in the long run. An unhealthy digestive system can give rise to the following conditions.
Celiac Disease
This is an acute gluten sensitivity in the digestive system. People with celiac disease suffer from an immune response triggered in the small intestine whenever they eat foods containing gluten. Gluten is common in flour and wheat-based products. If you don't treat celiac disease, it can affect the absorption of nutrients in your small intestines, and the lining of your small intestine will begin to deteriorate over time. The damage done by celiac disease to your small intestines can lead to more severe complications in the future.
Symptoms of Celiac Disease include:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a blanket term that covers several conditions that affect the bowels. The two major types of inflammatory bowel disease are colitis & Crohn's disease. Ulcerative colitis involves ulcers and inflammation along the lining of the large intestine. This condition can affect your rectum and colon too. Crohn's disease has similar symptoms to colitis and also involves the swelling of the digestive tract. Crohn's can affect the deeper layers of the digestive tract.
Symptoms Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease include:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fast weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Blood in stools
Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS affects the lower and upper regions of the GI tract. The condition can affect the small intestines, large intestines, and colon at the same time—people suffering from IBS experience chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea, or both. Medical experts believe that IBS occurs due to severe food poisoning.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose. This condition occurs due to a lack of lactase enzymes in the digestive system. Lactase is the enzyme responsible for processing lactose in the body. When lactase levels are low in a person's body, they may suffer from lactose intolerance.
Symptoms Of Lactose Intolerance include:
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Pancreatic disease
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
Pancreatic Diseases
Problems in your digestive tract can result in several pancreatic diseases, including acute pancreatitis. If you don't treat acute pancreatitis on time, it can lead to much bigger problems in the long run.
Symptoms Of Pancreas Malfunction include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Excess gas
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Weight loss
- Malnutrition
- Fever
- Light-colored stools
- Foul-smelling stools
- Diarrhea
If you have any of these symptoms for more than 2-3 days, make sure you consult a doctor.
Peptic Ulcers
Peptic ulcers develop in the inner lining of the stomach. They usually affect the upper section of the small intestine and occur as duodenal ulcers or gastric ulcers. While duodenal ulcers occur in the upper section of the small intestine or the duodenum, gastric ulcers will occur in the stomach.
Symptoms Of Peptic Ulcers include:
- Bloating
- Feeling full
- Heartburn
- Belching
- Nausea
- Burning pain in the stomach
- Intolerance to fatty foods
Lab Tests for Digestive Conditions
Digestive lab tests help screen, diagnose, and monitor various digestive conditions. Two of the most common and effective digestive lab tests are the stool culture and fecal occult test. The fecal occult test checks for blood in your stool. The test is conducted by placing a fecal sample on a special card. The card is then sent to a lab for testing. The stool culture test searches for abnormal bacteria in the stool, and results will take at least 2-3 days.
In addition to the above tests, doctors can use imaging tests to take an in-depth look at a patient's digestive system.
Here are some of the most popular procedures to monitor digestive conditions:
- Lower GI series
- CT or CAT scan
- MRI
- Upper GI series
- Colonoscopy
- Ultrasound
Digestive System Lab Tests FAQs
Digestive conditions cover a wide range of diseases affecting the digestive system of a person. If you don't know what you are looking for, it is easy for these conditions to be overlooked. Here are some of the most common FAQs about digestive disorders and lab tests:
Q. What are the most common problems in the GI tract?
Heartburn, IBS, and cancer are some of the most common conditions that affect a person's digestive system. Rectal problems such as fissures and hemorrhoids also can occur.
Q. What are the most common signs and symptoms of digestive conditions?
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Swelling
- Belching
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Fatigue
- Constipation
If you experience any of these symptoms regularly, you should consult a doctor.
Q. Does bloodwork reveal digestive problems?
Yes. Your doctor can order blood tests to diagnose a digestive problem. The tests will check for levels of specific substances in the blood. Bloodwork is common in diagnosing Celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease.
Solving Your Digestive Problems
Ulta Lab Tests offers highly accurate and reliable tests so that you can make informed decisions about your health. Here are some things that you will love about Ulta Lab Tests:
- You don't need health insurance
- Your results are confidential and secure
- We offer affordable rates for lab tests
- You don't need a physician's referral
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
Take control with Ulta Lab Tests today!
