Causes of Digestion Problems

Some of the most common digestive problems are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. It is important to remember that numerous conditions can cause digestive difficulties. Typically, digestive problems are temporary and resolve on their own or with minimal intervention. However, digestive problems can be a sign of a more serious disease, such as cancer. To determine the possible cause of the digestive problems, physicians obtain a medical history, review the patient’s symptoms and conduct a physical examination. Patients may be seen by their regular physician or if necessary, by a specialist such as a gastroenteritis, who is an expert in the problems of the digestive (gastrointestinal) tract.

All unconscious activity in the human body, including both our reactions to stress and digestion, are controlled by the autonomic nervous system. In addition to mental and emotional stresses like fear, anger and worry, physical stresses including infections, trauma from injuries, surgery and environmental toxins can have a major effect on our digestive efficiency. Antibiotics can kill a high percentage of the naturally occurring beneficial bacteria that we need for digestion. Once the antibiotic treatment stops there is an opening and pathogenic bacteria, opportunistic yeasts, fungi and parasites can move in to fill this void. Once they become dominant and multiply, they can damage the gut wall, create toxins and affect your immune system.