Gastrointenstinal problem causes conditions like bloating, heartburns and formation of gas. These problems are frequently faced by men and women alike. But there are certain GI problems that encountered among just women. These are:
Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects the large intestine (colon). It is a common chronic disorder. Although is a common chronic disorder affecting the intestine, it does not damage the intestine per say. Rather, IBS has a bearing upon the way the digestive tract functions. The major symptoms that IBS commonly causes are cramping, stomach pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. IBS can also cause irregularities in women’s menstrual cycles. The condition of gut health worsens just before or at the ongoing cycle of woman’s period. As per the gastroenterology super speciality hospital, the patients are diagnosed for three common causes which pertain to IBS. IBS commonly causes stomach pain, discomfort but differ with bowel movements.
- IBS with constipation (IBS-C) happens when there is an abnormal delay or infrequent bowel movements. This leads to hard stools and difficulty in releasing excreta.
- In terms of symptoms and nature, IBS with diarrhea is the exact opposite of IBS-C. This IBS leads to the development of urgent need of bowel movements that are abnormally frequent at times. Loose motion or watery stool is the result of IBS-D.
- In some cases, women face a condition where in the IBS alternated between constipation and diarrhea in a combination of both IBS-C and IBS-D.
- Upper GI tract is affected by IBS dyspepsia.
The gastroenterology super specialty hospital label IBS as “complex” disorder as the reasons, the genesis and symptoms are largely unknown, and unpredictable. The symptoms can be persistent, recurrent or can go away in a few months only to reappear again. Stress and some food groups can also be problematic for women who are already suffering from IBS. However, the female gastroenterologist in Varanasi Symptoms advise a change in lifestyle and certain dietary changes that would significantly help in IBS control. In addition, they can also prescribe medications (over-the-counter or prescription) based on analysis of the symptoms.
IBS must not be avoided as it can mimic to other gastrointestinal conditions that can be more significant – such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or colon cancer.
Gallstones
It is another common digestive problem which results from IBS. Gallstones are more commonly developed in women than men. They are crystal-like pieces which get created due to hardened cholesterol that get formed in the gallbladder. This process occurs if bile (made by the liver) contains too much cholesterol or if the gallbladder doesn’t empty completely or often enough. Ranging in size, from very small to as large of a golf ball, gallstones can cause multiple symptoms including right upper abdominal pain after eating (sometimes severe), nausea or vomiting, fever, yellowish skin or eyes and clay-colored stool. Some people develop gallstones and never know it because they are asymptomatic.