Heads up to those who regularly take more than the recommended dose of aspirin or ibuprofen: Occasionally, this practice can cause an ulcer. Usually, however, these sores in the stomach lining are triggered by H.pylori, a bacteria often contracted when you're young; the bug typically lies dormant for years, but a gastroenterologist can detect it through a blood test if he suspects it's to blame for your ache. If the test is positive, you'll get a round of antibiotics and several months' worth of acid-reducing medication to help the ulcer heal. Many patients are cured of the bacteria after one round of therapy. If your doctor thinks your pain is due to too many over-the-counter meds, he'll likely suggest you stop taking them and recommend an acid-reducer. But if you continue to suffer after a month or so, you may need an endoscopy, a procedure in which a small camera is inserted through the mouth and into the stomach to allow further examination. Day to day, ulcers might hurt less when you have food in your stomach, and you can forget those old rules about eating a bland diet; there's no evidence it helps. Still, it's a good idea to avoid any foods that trigger your pain, and the same goes for cigarettes and alcohol.


You thought those fire-breathers at the circus were illusionists; heartburn will make you wonder if they're for real. But that scorching pain right behind your breastbone is often nothing to worry about. If it strikes only once in a while, try chewable antacids or OTC acid reducers. But when it flares more than twice a week or is no match for OTC remedies, you are probably possessed by heartburn's evil twin, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Call a gastroenterologist for an exorcism. People with GERD have a lazy or confused sphincter muscle separating the esophagus and stomach; either it doesn't stay closed or it opens at the wrong times, both of which allow gastric acid to slip up and irritate the lining of the esophagus. Besides the telltale burn, you may experience coughing, hoarseness and a sore throat. Over time, GERD can lead to bleeding or ulcers in the esophagus; left untreated, it can increase the risk for esophageal cancer in some people. The usual strategy: prescription-strength meds along with a couple of lifestyle changes. Eating five or six small meals a day and avoiding irritants - chocolate, peppermint and high-fat foods - can all help prevent reflux. Large meals overfill the stomach, putting extra pressure on the sphincter, while the treats relax the muscle. Surgery is a last-resort option.


Don't give up on milk just yet. You may have difficult time digesting lactose, but that doesn't mean you'll have to give up all milk products for good. Try this home test: Eat little or no dairy for two weeks; if the symptoms disappear, you can be pretty certain lactose intolerance is the culprit. If it is, try eating small quantities of your favourite moo foods along with something else. Many people who cannot digest milk often do pretty okay on the fermented stuff, i.e. yogurt, cheese, paneer, etc. Eating the lactose based product with another food - e.g. Cheese with crackers or bread or your ice cream with cake, also helps. Doing so may help you absorb the milk sugar more gradually. You can also ask your doctor about lactase enzyme supplements to help keep your tummy happy, and some calcium supplements, too. You'll need extra help getting your daily dose (1,000 milligrams). If your symptoms don't disappear after two weeks of no dairy, give your doctor a call; you may have irritable bowel syndrome or another condition.


Celiac disease is serious, but you and your doctor can control it. The disease is an immune disorder: When people who have it eat foods containing gluten, a protein in wheat, barley, rye and oats, their body's immune system attacks the small intestine. The resulting damage to the lining leads to poor nutrient absorption. Aside from the classic symptoms, some people also develop a painful, blistering skin rash. The condition is diagnosed with a blood test to measure certain antibodies and confirmed with an intestinal biopsy.

The main treatment is a gluten-free diet, but cutting out wheat is much easier said than done. Gluten shows up in many unexpected places, such as soy sauce, potato chips, ice cream, yoghurt and even vitamins. But once you do learn what you can eat, you can live well with few symptoms.


Not to freak you out, but anytime you have blood in your stool or diarrhea that lasts longer than two weeks, you need an examination, fast, particularly to rule out colon cancer. If your flow-chart path ended on IBD, you could have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, two chronic illnesses with no known causes. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor will first need to rule out other possible causes of intestinal inflammation, including infection; ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease and ovarian cysts; or tumours. No matter what, gear up for a lot of tests: A barium X ray, a CT scan and a colonoscopy are all likely possibilities.

Ulcerative colitis usually involves only the large intestine and rectum, whereas Crohn's can affect any part of the digestive tract. Symptoms are similar: chronic diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and weight loss. Both illnesses tend to flare irregularly throughout life. Occasionally, an attack requires hospitalization. Although neither has a cure, both are often managed well with medication; severe forms may require surgery.


There's one very important thing to know about irritable bowel syndrome - it's not in your head; it's a real, treatable disease. People with IBS typically have abdominal pain with diarrhoea, constipation or both. The cause remains a mystery, but the prevailing theory is that prolonged physical or psychological stress triggers the condition in genetically susceptible people. There are drugs to treat IBS, and lifestyle changes also help. Working out regularly and eating smaller, more frequent meals can keep your gastrointestinal (GI) tract operating smoothly. Some people with IBS also find relief through psychotherapy, hypnosis or antidepressants.


The chicken! It must have been the chicken! The signs of food poisoning are all too obvious: diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. Just sit tight and let your body rid itself of the toxins. Medications are OK for the occasional case of diarrhoea, but it's best to skip them if you suspect food poisoning. To get better, let your body expel what it needs to. If you can keep anything down, sip clear liquids, like Ectral or lime juice, to prevent dehydration. Regardless, you should feel much better within 24 hours. If you're still throwing up or having diarrhoea after a day or if you develop a fever, you may have a more serious bacterial or viral infection, so consult your doctor.


The last whole grain you had was the butter-smothered popcorn at the movies last week? Well, you can stop wondering why all your efforts in the bathroom are going nowhere: You need more fibre. Go ahead and try a laxative or stool softener to get things moving. But be careful not to use laxatives regularly; the muscle lining in your bowel can become dependent on the drug's stimulation. To prevent future bottlenecks, drink plenty of water, maintain your exercise routine and shoot for 25 grams of fibre a day. Whole grains, beans, fruit and veggies can help you get there. If you have severe pain or if your belly looks swollen, rush to the doctor.


Welcome to the GI grey area. Dyspepsia is the medical catchall for any pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. It’s cause? Take your pick: an infection, medication, an underlying condition such as GERD or an ulcer, or no apparent cause at all. If your discomfort is a once-in-a- while problem, OTC antacids or acid-reducers, or products such as Milk of Magnesia should help. But if the pain lasts longer than two weeks, get it checked out. You may have one of the problems mentioned above, or functional dyspepsia, a disorder similar to IBS. The biggest clue is that people with functional dyspepsia usually don't have severe heartburn.

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