Digestive Health

Common signs

These descriptions can help you understand and record what you notice. They cannot establish a diagnosis on their own.

• Bloating +

  A tight, stuffed belly after meals — the kind that makes you loosen your belt — often worse in the afternoon or evening. Notice whether it tracks with eating speed or foods like beans and dairy; if bloating never settles, have it checked.

• Gas +

  Frequent belching or passing gas with a gurgling belly, often linked to eating fast, swallowing air, or gas-producing foods. Slowing meals down is a reasonable first step; if it comes with weight loss or blood in the stool, see a doctor promptly.

• Indigestion +

  Feeling full after a few bites, with upper-belly fullness or burning after meals and a fading appetite. If symptoms last more than two weeks or keep getting worse, get the cause looked into.

• Irregular bowel movements +

  Swinging between constipation and loose stools, no predictable schedule, or a lingering sense of incomplete emptying. Keeping a one-to-two-week log of frequency and stool form makes a useful reference for a doctor visit.

• Stomach discomfort +

  Dull pain, acid reflux, nausea, or burning — whether it shows up on an empty stomach or after meals is worth noting. Recurrent episodes, pain that wakes you at night, or trouble swallowing are reasons to seek evaluation soon.