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Health Matters: Providence Mission Hospital | 11 I t's easy to dismiss gastrointestinal (GI) issues as just a bout of stomach flu (more accurately called gastroenteritis), the result of overindulgence, or maybe a touch of food poisoning. But sometimes stomach problems can signal something more serious. Here are five types of GI distress that mean a visit to the doctor—or even the ER—is in order. Feeling full on little food If you haven't eaten much, yet you feel stuffed and don't want to take another bite, it might indicate you have diverticulosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a peptic ulcer. Less commonly, unexpectedly feeling full can be a symptom of ovarian, pancreatic or stomach cancers. It can also indicate gastroparesis, where the stomach doesn't empty as fast as it should. (New weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy work by intentionally slowing stomach emptying, so use of one of these medications may explain it.) Frequent heartburn If you're experiencing heartburn twice a week or more, consider seeing your doctor. The most likely cause is GERD, which is treatable with lifestyle changes and medication. Left untreated, though, GERD can lead to more serious diseases over time, including precancerous and cancerous changes in the esophagus. Persistent irregularity Constant diarrhea or constipation are never welcome, but they can also be warnings of an underlying disease or condition, especially if the bowel pattern is something new for you. The range of possible causes is wide: It might be as simple as a bacterial, parasitic or viral infection, or it could be a disease or condition such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or even colon cancer. More recently, diarrhea has been identified as an early symptom of COVID. Rectal bleeding There are some relatively harmless conditions (such as hemorrhoids) that may cause blood on toilet paper or in the toilet, but there are also some serious ones. These include precancerous or cancerous polyps in the colon, diverticulosis, peptic ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease). Sudden abdominal pain Sudden pain and other acute symptoms such as intense nausea or vomiting can be red flags for all kinds of problems, both gastrointestinal and not. GI- related conditions that can cause pain (and vomiting in some cases) include appendicitis, a gallbladder attack, IBD, IBS, pancreatitis and ulcers. Non- GI conditions include heart attack and aortic aneurysm, both of which are life-threatening. In women, some reproductive system disorders (for example, ectopic pregnancy or ovarian cysts) can cause these symptoms. To make an appointment with Dr. Douglas Nguyen or one of our other talented gastroenterologists, call 949-364- 5090. Dr. Nguyen will offer a free webinar about inflammatory bowel disease on November 11 at 5 p.m. To sign up, call 844- 943-1060 or scan the QR code. MEET THE CENTER FOR DIGESTIVE HEALTH With a patient-centric approach to care, Providence Mission Hospital's Center for Digestive Health in Mission Viejo is dedicated to diagnosing, treating and monitoring gastrointestinal diseases and disorders. The center 's innovative facility includes outpatient treatment rooms close by the physicians' offices, so patients can receive convenient, compassionate care in one modern, state- of-the-art setting. The center 's resources include dietitians and therapists, as well as a Spanish language interpreter. The team at the center works closely with the gastrointestinal specialists at Providence Mission Hospital, so if a patient needs to be admitted for inpatient care, the process is seamless. Dr. Douglas Nguyen

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