13 Health Problems That Can Cause GI Issues

3. Thyroid disorders:

These occur when your thyroid gland produces too much or too little of a given hormone. Moss says these disorders can disrupt gut motility — muscle and nerve activity in the digestive tract — leading to constipation or diarrhea. Examples of common thyroid disorders include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease. Depending on which type of disorder you have, other symptoms may include tiredness, heavy periods, trouble sleeping and feeling clammy. 

4. Diabetes:

Chronic high blood sugar from diabetes can cause nerve damage and lead to gastroparesis, a digestive disorder that occurs when your stomach doesn’t empty properly. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and feeling full shortly after starting to eat. 

5. Stress:

Your brain and your gut are linked by hormones, nerves and gut bacteria. Stress triggers your fight-or-flight response, which produces stress hormones that can accelerate or slow down food in your digestive tract. This can lead to symptoms like diarrhea or bloating. 

6. Gallbladder problems:

Gallstones — hardened pieces of digestive fluid that can develop in your gallbladder — can cause sudden and worsening pain in the upper right or center part of your abdomen, pain between your shoulder blades, nausea and vomiting. They don’t always need to be treated, but can lead to a blockage in the organ and gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) — which can cause organ rupture or be life-threatening. Gallbladder inflammation symptoms are similar to those of gallstones and also include tenderness when touching the area. 

7. Alpha-gal syndrome:

This tick-borne illness causes you to develop a food allergy to some meats. Within a few minutes or hours of eating pork, beef or dairy, a person with the allergy can develop hives or a stomachache. Symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal cramping can also occur. “It can look like irritable bowel syndrome or acute foodborne illness,” explains Dr. Sarah McGill, an associate professor of medicine in the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.  

8. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome:

This condition, associated with chronic cannabis use, can cause abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, McGill says. “Cannabis is becoming really broadly consumed, and people can go undiagnosed because the providers may or may not know that they’re actually using pot or other cannabis substances.” McGill adds that it’s important to let your doctor know if you’re using a cannabis product. 

9. Autoimmune diseases:

Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may cause nausea, abdominal pain or vomiting, Moss notes. Symptoms of lupus may include fever, joint pain and fatigue, while RA can lead to loss of appetite, joint stiffness or painful, warm joints.  

10. Infections:

Bacterial and viral infections can lead to nausea, abdominal pain or vomiting, Moss says. In fact, GI symptoms can be one way to tell if a respiratory illness is COVID-19, since illnesses like the flu and a cold don’t typically cause stomach discomfort in adults.  

11. Food intolerances:

Not being able to break down certain food components (like lactose or gluten) can cause discomfort in your GI tract. Bloating, nausea, heartburn, gas and diarrhea are just a few symptoms you may experience if you have a food intolerance. A test is available to detect lactose intolerance, but other intolerances don’t have simple diagnostic tests. Pay attention to symptoms and what you’ve eaten when they occur. Your doctor may see if eliminating a food prevents symptoms, which could indicate that food intolerance is the culprit. 

12. Medicines:

Drugs you may take for your heart, blood pressure or mental health can affect the stomach and intestines, Moss says. Specifically, NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen are a common cause of GI upset like diarrhea and abdominal pain, which can cause ulcers to form in the stomach or even in the colon, McGill says. Magnesium supplements also can cause diarrhea. It may make sense to discontinue a medication, but talk to your doctor first. “A good rule of thumb is that the side effects of a medication or supplement should not be more bothersome or harmful to the patient than the condition that the medication is treating,” McGill says. 

13. GI disorders and diseases:

Celiac disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diverticulitis, colon cancer, Crohn’s disease and colitis are just a few ailments that produce an array of GI symptoms. A lesser-known GI and autoimmune disease, microscopic colitis, is marked by colon inflammation that doesn’t show up on a colonoscopy. It’s common in older women and causes diarrhea, McGill says. The condition can lead to cramping, belly pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation. 

What to do if you experience GI symptoms 

Mild symptoms like temporary heartburn, brief bloating or a short-term change in bowel habits can often be managed at home, Moss says. 

Most symptoms should improve in about seven to 10 days, but if they continue for more than 30 days, you may want to see your primary care doctor, says Dr. Michael A. Pezzone, chief of gastroenterology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Mercy location. 

Signs that warrant urgent medical attention include persistent blood in the stool, severe or continuous abdominal pain, significant and unexplained weight loss, persistent vomiting, high fever and dehydration, Moss says. Seek emergency care if you vomit blood or what looks like coffee grounds, if food becomes stuck as you’re swallowing, or if you have yellow skin or eyes, Pezzone adds. 

“Sudden changes in bowel habits — especially if accompanied by these symptoms — or feeling too weak to stand may require evaluation in an emergency setting,” Moss says. 

Your doctor may order a colonoscopy if you have persistent blood in your stool or chronic diarrhea and may recommend imaging for pain or fever. Stool tests can pinpoint germs if an infection is suspected, Moss adds. Your doctor may call for an upper endoscopy if you have difficulty swallowing, Pezzone says. 

If your doctor finds inflammation, ulcers or visible changes in the digestive tract, it may indicate that you have a GI disease like inflammatory bowel disease. If the tests for such diseases are negative, it can suggest your symptoms may come from other sources, such as another disease or medication, Moss says.