IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, causes uncomfortable or painful abdominal symptoms. Constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating are all common symptoms of IBS. IBS doesn’t damage your digestive tract or raise your risk for colon cancer. You can often manage symptoms through medications, diet and lifestyle changes.

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of symptoms that affect your digestive system. It’s a common but uncomfortable gastrointestinal disease, or condition that affects your intestines.

People with IBS experience symptoms that include abdominal pain and cramps. With IBS, you may also have frequent diarrhea, constipation or both. IBS doesn’t cause tissue damage in your GI (gastrointestinal) tract or increase your risk of more serious conditions, like colon cancer. Instead, it’s a chronic (long-term) condition that most people can manage by changing their routines and what they eat, taking medications and receiving behavioral therapy.

What are the types of IBS?

Researchers categorize IBS based on how your stools (poop) look on the days when you’re having symptom flare-ups. Most people with IBS have normal bowel movements on some days and abnormal ones on others. The abnormal days define the kind of IBS you have.

  • IBS with constipation (IBS-C): Most of your poop is hard and lumpy.
  • IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D): Most of your poop is loose and watery.
  • IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M): You have both hard and lumpy bowel movements and loose and watery movements.

The differences are important. Certain treatments only work for specific types of IBS.

How common is IBS?

It’s very common. Experts estimate that about 10% to 15% of adults in the United States have IBS. Only about 5% to 7% see a provider and receive a diagnosis.

It’s the most common disease that gastroenterologists (experts in GI diseases) diagnose.

What are the symptoms of IBS?

Symptoms of IBS can appear frequently. Or, they may occur during flare-ups. In other words, you don’t always experience symptoms. Instead, symptoms may go away (and you’ll have normal bowel movements). At other times, symptoms return.

Signs and symptoms of IBS include:

  • Abdominal pain or cramps, usually related to the urge to poop.
  • Excess gas and bloating.
  • Diarrhea, constipation or alternating between the two.
  • Mucus in your poop (may look whitish).
  • Feeling like you’re unable to empty your bowels after pooping.

What causes IBS?

Researchers don’t know exactly what causes IBS, but they classify it as a neurogastrointestinal (GI) disorder. These conditions, also called disorders of the gut-brain interaction, have to do with problems with how your gut and brain coordinate to help your digestive system work.

Communication challenges between your brain and gut can cause:

  • Dysmotility: You may have problems with how your GI muscles contract and move food through your GI tract. The colon (large intestine) muscle tends to contract more in people with IBS. These contractions cause cramps and pain.
  • Visceral hypersensitivity: You may have extra-sensitive nerves in your GI tract. People with IBS tend to have a lower pain tolerance than people without it. Your digestive tract may be super sensitive to abdominal pain or discomfort.

Other potential causes of IBS include:

  • Gut bacteria: Research has shown that people with IBS may have altered bacteria in their GI tract, contributing to symptoms. Studies have shown that the types and amounts of gut bacteria are different in people with IBS than in people without it.
  • Severe infections: Some people get diagnosed with IBS after a severe infection affecting their GI tract, suggesting germs may play a role.
  • Food intolerance: Sensitivities or allergies to certain foods may contribute to IBS.
  • Childhood stress: IBS is more common in people who experienced severe stressors in childhood, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

IBS triggers

If you have IBS, you may have noticed that certain things trigger symptoms. A trigger doesn’t cause the condition itself, but it can cause or worsen a symptom flare-up. Common triggers include:

  • Periods: You may notice symptoms worsen predictability according to your menstrual cycle.
  • Certain foods: Food triggers vary from person to person. Still, common culprits that can trigger an IBS symptom flare-up include dairy, foods that contain gluten (like wheat) and foods/drinks known to make you gassy.
  • Stress: Some researchers suggest that IBS is your gut’s response to stress. Related, this is why IBS is sometimes called “nervous stomach” or “anxious stomach.”

Risk factors for IBS

IBS most often occurs in people in their late teens to early 40s. Women are up to twice as likely to get diagnosed with IBS. Other risk factors include:

Many people with IBS also have other chronic pain conditions. Conditions associated with an increased risk of IBS include:

How is IBS diagnosed?

The first step in diagnosing IBS is a detailed medical history. Your provider will ask about your symptoms. They may ask:

  • Do you have pain related to bowel movements?
  • Do you notice a change in how often you have a bowel movement?
  • Has there been a change in how your poop looks?
  • How often do you have symptoms?
  • When did your symptoms start?
  • What medicines do you take?
  • Have you been sick or had a stressful event in your life recently?

Depending on your symptoms, you may need other tests to confirm a diagnosis. There isn’t a single test to diagnose IBS. Instead, your provider will determine if you have IBS by:

  • Asking about your symptoms.
  • Making sure you’re up to date on your colon cancer screening.
  • Checking that you don’t have symptoms suggesting other disorders.

Lab tests

Most lab tests exclude other conditions that may be causing your symptoms, like an infection, food intolerance or a different digestive condition, like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Not everyone needs the same tests.

  • Blood test: To check for a digestive disease condition or another condition that may cause your symptoms.
  • Stool test: To check for an infection or signs of inflammation in your bowel caused by a digestive condition.
  • Hydrogen breath test: To see if you have an overgrowth of bacteria in your gut (SIBO) or a food intolerance.

Imaging tests

You may need imaging procedures to rule out conditions involving inflammation or abnormal growths in your GI tract.

  • Colonoscopy: Can help your provider determine if you have certain bowel disorders that may be causing your symptoms, including polyps, IBD and cancerous growths. For this procedure, a provider inserts a scope that allows them to view your entire colon.
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy: Similar to a colonoscopy, except a provider inserts a scope that allows them to view the lining of your rectum and the lower part of your colon only.
  • Upper endoscopy: Can help your provider diagnose celiac disease or other GI conditions. This procedure uses a scope that allows your provider to see inside your esophagus (food tube), stomach and the first part of your small intestine (duodenum).

What is the treatment for IBS?

No specific therapy works for everyone, but most people with IBS can find a treatment plan that works for them. Typical treatment options include changing the foods you eat and your routine. Medications can help, too. Behavioral health therapy may help.

Many of these treatments take time to work. They can help your symptoms, but your symptoms may not go away completely.

Meal changes

A dietitian can help you choose foods and modify eating/drinking habits to avoid symptom flare-ups. They may recommend that you:

  • Increase fiber in your diet. Fiber-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, prunes and nuts, can help if you’re struggling with constipation. Introduce fiber slowly into your diet to give your gut time to adjust.
  • Add supplemental fiber to your diet. Another option is to try fiber supplements, like Metamucil® or Citrucel®.
  • Limit dairy products, like cheese and milk. Lactose intolerance is more common in people with IBS. If you cut back on dairy, make sure to eat nondairy foods rich in calcium, like broccoli, spinach or salmon.
  • Limit foods that can make you gassy. Foods like beans, brussels sprouts and cabbage are notorious for causing gas, but carbonated sodas and even chewing gum can make you gassy. Reduce these foods to go easier on your gut.
  • Avoid gluten. People with IBS — even those without celiac disease — tend to be more sensitive to gluten. If you opt for a gluten-free diet, work with your provider to ensure you’re getting enough of the key vitamins and minerals (like fiber, iron and calcium) often found in foods with gluten.
  • Try the low FODMAP diet. This food plan reduces the amount of hard-to-digest carbohydrates you eat. It recommends alternatives that allow you to get the nutrients you need while going easier on your GI tract.
  • Drink plenty of water. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (2 liters). Water keeps your GI tract lubricated and can help treat or prevent constipation.
  • Keep a food diary. Your provider may recommend that you note the foods you eat to determine which foods trigger IBS flare-ups and then bring this to a nutritionist.

Activity changes

Changing daily activities can help, too. Your provider may recommend that you:

  • Exercise regularly. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. This is about 30 minutes a day, five days a week. “Moderate” means you’re raising your heart rate.
  • Try relaxation techniques. Daily yoga, meditation and other de-stressing techniques can help calm an overtaxed nervous system and a “nervous gut.” Sometimes, a behavioral therapist can help.
  • Get enough sleep. Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night. Go to bed at the same time each night. A good night’s rest is one of the most powerful de-stressors available. Reach out to a provider if you’re having trouble sleeping.
  • Keep an activity diary. Record the activities that help you manage your IBS and compare notes with your provider.

Therapy

Many people with IBS benefit from seeing a therapist. Therapy can help you get a handle on stress and conditions such as anxiety and depression that contribute to IBS. Some people find relief through:

Medications

Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to provide symptom relief, including:

Although research into their effectiveness is ongoing, your provider may recommend probiotics. These “good bacteria” may help relieve IBS symptoms.

Medications specifically used to treat IBS include:

Is there a cure for IBS?

There isn’t a cure for IBS. But, most people manage symptoms by avoiding triggers and taking medications when necessary.

Does having IBS increase my risk of developing serious gastrointestinal problems?

No, IBS doesn’t put you at higher risk of developing conditions such as colitis, Crohn’s disease or colon cancer.

What can I expect if I have IBS?

Living with IBS can be challenging because symptoms come and go throughout your life. Treatment often involves trial and error. But the good news is that nearly everyone with IBS can find a treatment that helps them over time.

Usually, changing the foods you eat and your activity levels improve symptoms with time. You may need some patience as you figure out your triggers and take steps to avoid them. Your symptoms may not completely disappear. But, after a few weeks or months, you should notice a significant improvement in how you feel.

Can I prevent IBS?

Since there’s no known cause for IBS, you can’t prevent or avoid it. If you have IBS, you can keep symptoms from flaring up by avoiding triggers.

When should I see a healthcare provider?

See your provider if your symptoms continue for more than three months or if they’re getting worse. If you have symptoms less often, but they interfere with your life, it’s still a good idea to talk to your primary care provider.

Some symptoms may indicate a more serious problem. Contact your provider as soon as possible if you have common IBS symptoms alongside:

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

If you have IBS symptoms, ask your provider:

  • What medications can help?
  • What foods should I avoid?
  • What lifestyle changes should I make?
  • When will I start to feel better?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

IBS symptoms, like stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation and gas, are uncomfortable and can interfere with your life. But IBS is manageable. You can improve symptoms by changing what you eat and adjusting your daily habits to better handle triggers. If you have stomach symptoms that aren’t going away, talk to your healthcare provider. Together, you can find an IBS treatment plan that works for you.

CONSTIPATION

Constipation occurs when your bowel movements become less frequent and stools become difficult to pass. It happens most often due to changes in diet or routine, or due to inadequate intake of fiber. You should call a healthcare provider if you have severe pain, blood in your stool or constipation that lasts longer than three weeks.

What is constipation?

Having fewer than three bowel movements a week is, technically, the definition of constipation. But how often you poop varies widely from person to person. Some people poop several times a day while others only poop one to two times a week. Whatever your bowel movement pattern is, it’s unique and normal for you — as long as you don’t stray too far from your pattern.

Regardless of your bowel pattern, one fact is certain: The longer you go before you poop, the more difficult it becomes for poop to pass. Other key features that usually define constipation include:

  • Your stools are dry and hard.
  • Your bowel movements are painful, and your stools are difficult to pass.
  • You have a feeling that you haven’t fully emptied your bowels.

How common is constipation?

You’re not alone if you’re feeling constipated. Constipation is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal complaints in the United States. At least 2.5 million people see their healthcare provider each year due to constipation.

How does constipation happen?

Constipation happens because your colon (large intestine) absorbs too much water from your poop. This dries out your poop, making it hard in consistency and difficult to push out of your body.

To back up a bit, as food normally moves through your digestive tract, your intestines gradually absorb the nutrients. The partially digested food (waste) that passes from your small intestine to your large intestine becomes your poop. Your colon absorbs water from this waste, which makes it more solid. If you have constipation, food may move too slowly through your digestive tract. This gives your colon more time — too much time — to absorb water from the waste. The stool becomes dry, hard and difficult to push out.

What causes constipation?

There are many causes of constipation, including lifestyle factors, medications and medical conditions.

Lifestyle factors

Common lifestyle causes of constipation include:

  • Not eating enough fiber.
  • Not drinking enough water (dehydration).
  • Not getting enough exercise.
  • Changes in your regular routine, such as traveling or eating, or going to bed at different times.
  • Consuming large amounts of milk or cheese.
  • Stress.
  • Resisting the urge to have a bowel movement.

Medications

Medications that can cause constipation include:

Many drugs can cause constipation. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Medical conditions

  • Medical and health conditions that can cause constipation include:
  • Endocrine conditions, like underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), diabetes, uremia and hypercalcemia.
  • Colorectal cancer.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Diverticulitis.
  • Outlet dysfunction constipation. This is a defect in the coordination of your pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support the organs within your pelvis and lower abdomen. They’re needed to help release poop.
  • Obstructed defecation syndrome. Complex or unexplained causes may be preventing you from pooping normally.
  • Intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Sometimes, the motor system in your colon can become temporarily paralyzed (as in paralytic ileus or Ogilvie syndrome).
  • Neurologic disorders, including spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and stroke.
  • Lazy bowel syndrome. This is when your colon contracts poorly and retains poop.
  • Intestinal obstruction.
  • Structural defects in your digestive tract (like fistula, colonic atresia, volvulus, intussusception, imperforate anus or malrotation).
  • Multiple organ diseases, such as amyloidosis, lupus and scleroderma.
  • Pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of constipation?

Constipation symptoms include:

  • You have fewer than three bowel movements a week.
  • Your stools are dry, hard and/or lumpy.
  • Your stools are difficult or painful to pass.
  • You have a stomachache or cramps.
  • You feel bloated and nauseated.
  • You feel that you haven’t completely emptied your bowels after a movement.

What are the risk factors for constipation?

People of all ages can have an occasional bout of constipation. But certain risk factors make people more likely to become consistently constipated (“chronic constipation”). These factors include:

  • Age. People older than 65 are often less active, have a slower metabolism and have less muscle contraction strength along their digestive tract than when they were younger.
  • Changes in your hormones may make you more prone to constipation. It’s common to have constipation during pregnancy and after childbirth. The fetus inside your uterus may squish your intestines, slowing down the passage of stool.
  • Not eating enough high-fiber foods. Fiber keeps food moving through your digestive system.
  • Taking certain medications.
  • Having certain neurological (diseases of the brain and spinal cord) and digestive diseases.

Can constipation cause internal damage or lead to other health problems?

There are a few complications that could happen if you don’t have soft, regular bowel movements. Some complications include:

  • Swollen, inflamed veins in your rectum (hemorrhoids).
  • Tears in the lining of your anus from hardened stool trying to pass through (anal fissures).
  • An infection in the pouches (diverticula) that sometimes form off your colon wall from stool that’s become trapped and infected (diverticulitis).
  • A pile-up of too much poop in your rectum and anus (fecal impaction).
  • Damage to your pelvic floor muscles from straining to move your bowels. These muscles help control your bladder, among other things. Too much straining for too long may cause urine to leak from your bladder (stress urinary incontinence).

Can constipation cause toxins to build up in my body and make me sick?

This usually isn’t the case. Although your colon holds on to stool longer when you’re constipated and you may feel uncomfortable, it’s an expandable container for your waste. It takes a severe illness in your colon for the walls to leak toxins into your body (toxic megacolon).

What should I expect when I talk to my healthcare provider about my constipation?

Talking to a healthcare provider — or anyone — about your bowel movements (or lack of them) may not be the most pleasant of topics. But know that your provider is there for you. They’re a trained healthcare professional who’s discussed just about every health topic you can think of with their patients.

Your provider will begin by asking you questions about your medical history, bowel movements, lifestyle and routines.

Medical history

These questions may include:

  • What are your current and past diseases/health conditions?
  • Have you lost or gained any weight recently?
  • Have you had any previous digestive tract surgeries?
  • What medications and supplements do you take for constipation relief or other disorders?
  • Does anyone in your family have constipation or diseases of the digestive tract or a history of colon cancer?
  • Have you had a colonoscopy?

Bowel movement history

These questions may include:

  • How often do you have a bowel movement?
  • What do your stools look like?
  • Have you noticed any blood or red streaks in your stool?
  • Have you ever seen blood in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper after you wipe?

Lifestyle habits and routines

  • What do you eat on a typical day for each meal?
  • How often do you eat fruits and vegetables?
  • How much water do you drink?
  • What is your exercise routine?

Your provider will also perform a physical exam, which includes a check of your vital signs (temperature, pulse, blood pressure). They’ll use a stethoscope to listen to the sounds in your abdomen. They’ll also touch your abdomen to check for pain, tenderness, swelling and lumps.

Be aware that your provider may also perform a rectal exam. This is a finger exam of the inside of your rectum. It’s a quick check for any masses or problems that can be felt by a finger.

What lab tests and other medical tests may be done to find the cause of my constipation?

Your healthcare provider may not order any tests or may order many types of tests and procedures. Tests will depend on your symptoms, medical history, and overall health and what they think the cause might be. Most of the time, additional lab testing isn’t required for a diagnosis. However, your healthcare provider may choose to do more based on your symptoms.

  • Lab tests: Blood tests and urine tests reveal signs of hypothyroidism, anemia and diabetes. A stool sample checks for signs of infection, inflammation and cancer.
  • Imaging tests: Your provider may order a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or lower gastrointestinal tract series to identify other problems that could be causing your constipation. But these usually aren’t ordered.
  • Colonoscopy: Your provider may perform a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy — an internal view of your colon with a scope. During this procedure, they may take a small sample of tissue (biopsy) to test for cancer or other issues and they’ll remove any polyps.
  • Colorectal transit studies: These tests involve consuming a small dose of a radioactive substance, either in pill form or in a meal, and then tracking both the amount of time and how the substance moves through your intestines.
  • Other bowel function tests: Your provider may order tests that check how well your anus and rectum hold and release stool. These tests include a certain type of X-ray (defecography), done to rule out causes of outlet dysfunction constipation, and the insertion of a small balloon into your rectum (balloon expulsion test and anorectal manometry).

How do you relieve constipation?

You can manage most cases of mild to moderate constipation at home. Self-care starts by taking an inventory of what you eat and drink and then making changes.

Some recommendations for immediate constipation relief at home include:

  • Drink two to four extra glasses of water a day. Avoid caffeine-containing drinks and alcohol, which can cause dehydration. Also, avoid juice and high-sweetened beverages.
  • Avoid processed meats, fried foods and refined carbs like white bread, pasta and potatoes. It’s OK to eat lean meats like poultry and low-fat dairy products.
  • Add fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other high-fiber foods to your daily diet. Eat fewer high-fat foods, like meat, eggs and cheese.
  • Eat prunes, bran cereal and other high-fiber fruits like oranges, pineapples, berries, mangos, avocados and papaya.
  • Keep a food diary and single out foods that constipate you.
  • Get moving — exercise.
  • Check how you sit on the toilet. Raising your feet, leaning back or squatting may make pooping easier.
  • Add an over-the-counter supplemental fiber to your diet (like Metamucil®, MiraLAX®, Citrucel® or Benefiber®). It’s best to start slowly with these.
  • If needed, take a very mild over-the-counter stool softener or laxative (such as docusate). Mineral oil enemas and stimulant laxatives are other options. There are many laxative choices. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for help in making a choice. Don’t use laxatives for more than two weeks without calling your provider. Overuse of laxatives can worsen your symptoms.
  • Don’t read or use your phone or other devices while trying to move your bowels.
  • Avoid holding the urge to use the bathroom. Eventually, it will block the signal from your colon to your brain to relax and let the poop out.

Medication/supplement review

In addition to self-care methods, your healthcare provider will review your medications and supplements (if you take any). Some of these products can cause constipation. If they do, your provider may change the dose, switch to another drug and/or ask that you stop taking the supplement. Never stop taking your medications or supplements before talking with your provider first.

Prescription constipation medicine

A few prescription drugs are available to treat constipation. These include:

Your healthcare provider will pick the drug that might work best for you based on the results of your tests.

Surgery

Surgery is rarely needed to treat constipation. But your healthcare provider may recommend surgery if a structural problem in your colon is causing constipation. Examples of these problems include:

  • A blockage in your colon (intestinal obstruction).
  • A narrowing in a portion of your intestine (intestinal stricture).
  • A tear in your anus (anal fissure).
  • The collapse of part of your rectum into your vagina (rectal prolapse).

Some causes of outlet dysfunction constipation may be treated with surgery. This is best discussed after testing. You may also need surgery if a colonoscopy reveals cancer in your colon, rectum or anus.

How can I prevent constipation?

Use the same home-based methods you used to treat constipation to prevent it from becoming a chronic problem:

  • Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain breads and cereals. Fiber and water help your colon pass stool. Most of the fiber in fruits is found in the skin, such as in apples. Fruits with seeds you can eat, like strawberries, have the most fiber. Bran is a great source of fiber, too. Eat bran cereal or add bran cereal to other foods, like soup and yogurt. People with constipation should eat between 18 and 30 grams of fiber every day.
  • If you have diverticulitis, you might be advised to avoid fruits with seeds.
  • Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. (Note: Milk can cause constipation in some people.) Liquids that contain caffeine, such as coffee and soft drinks, can dehydrate you. You may need to stop drinking these products until your bowel habits return to normal.
  • Exercise regularly. It doesn’t need to be much, even walking helps a lot.
  • Use a dietary supplement like magnesium for constipation. (Not everyone should take magnesium. Check with your healthcare provider before taking.)
  • Move your bowels when you feel the urge. Don’t wait.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Call a healthcare provider if:

  • Constipation is a new problem for you.
  • You see blood in your poop.
  • You’re losing weight unintentionally.
  • You have severe pain with bowel movements.
  • Your constipation has lasted more than three weeks.
  • You have symptoms of outlet dysfunction constipation.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

  • Why am I constipated?
  • What can I take for immediate constipation relief?
  • What home remedies for constipation do you recommend?
  • What should I eat or drink to prevent constipation?
  • How else can I prevent constipation?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Remember, talk openly and honestly with your healthcare provider about your bowel movements and any questions or concerns you may have. Pooping is something we all should be doing. Constipation may be a temporary situation, a long-term issue or a sign of a more serious condition. Be safe. See your provider, especially if you’ve noticed a change in your bowel pattern or if your life is being ruled by your bowels.

GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES

GERD, diarrhea and colorectal cancer are examples of gastrointestinal diseases. When examined, some diseases show nothing wrong with the GI tract, but there are still symptoms. Other diseases have symptoms, and there are also visible irregularities in the GI tract. You can prevent and/or treat most gastrointestinal diseases.

What are gastrointestinal diseases?

Gastrointestinal diseases are health conditions that affect your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Your GI tract is the path food takes through your digestive system — from your mouth to your rectum. It also includes your liver, pancreas and gallbladder. Some digestive system diseases cause problems that go away relatively fast with treatment. Others cause problems that are more serious.

GI diseases can be acute or chronic:

  • An acute GI disease is one that happens suddenly and lasts a short period of time.
  • A chronic GI disease can affect you for many months or years.

They can also be either functional or structural:

  • A functional GI disease is when your healthcare provider can’t see any physical or structural issues when they examine your digestive tract.
  • A structural GI disease is when your healthcare provider can see evidence of an issue when they examine you.

Functional gastrointestinal diseases

You’ve likely experienced several functional GI problems in your lifetime. Constipation, gas and diarrhea are examples of functional GI diseases. These types of GI diseases irritate your GI tract and lead to uncomfortable symptoms.

Some of the most common causes of functional GI problems are:

  • Eating a diet low in fiber or high in processed foods
  • Not getting enough exercise
  • Traveling or other changes in your typical routine
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Holding your poop or not going as soon as you need to go
  • Taking certain medicines
  • Hormonal changes (like pregnancy or during menstruation)
  • Food sensitivities or eating something that didn’t “agree” with you

Treatment for functional GI diseases usually involves lifestyle changes like eating more fiber-rich foods, getting more physical activity or avoiding triggers. Sometimes, functional problems go away on their own within a few days.

Structural gastrointestinal diseases

Structural GI diseases are typically more complicated. They tend to cause symptoms that last longer and don’t get better with lifestyle changes alone. Structural problems cause issues your provider can see such as inflammation or blockages. Common examples of structural GI diseases include hemorrhoids, colon polyps and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Causes of structural GI diseases are more widespread.

What are the most common gastrointestinal diseases?

Healthcare providers who specialize in gastrointestinal diseases are called gastroenterologists.

Some of the most common GI conditions they treat include:

Constipation

Constipation causes hard-to-pass or infrequent bowel movements. You may strain or push hard to get your poop out. You can treat your constipation at home by drinking more water and eating more fiber. Over-the-counter laxatives can also be helpful.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is where your intestinal muscles contract more or less often than normal. Abdominal pain, gas and bloating are common symptoms. Treating IBS can involve changing your eating habits or taking medication that your provider prescribes.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your anus or rectum. Straining when having a bowel movement is the most common cause, but you can get them other ways, too. Avoiding constipation activities that cause straining can help hemorrhoids. Your healthcare provider can also remove large, painful or persistent hemorrhoids.

Diverticular disease

Diverticulosis is when small pouches (diverticula) form in the wall of your large intestine. When they become infected, it’s called diverticulitis. This can lead to bleeding and bowel obstruction.

Treatment could involve eating more fiber, taking antibiotics or having surgery.

Colon polyps and colon cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the U.S. Colonoscopy screenings help detect the disease, sometimes long before symptoms appear. Almost all colorectal cancers begin as colon polyps, benign (noncancerous) growths in the tissues lining your colon and rectum. Screening for colorectal cancer is important and early detection of the disease gives you the best chance at a cure.

Colitis

There are several types of colitis, which are conditions that cause inflammation of your bowel. Colitis can cause diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal cramps and urgency (frequent and immediate need to poop). Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are two common types of colitis.

Celiac disease

Celiac disease causes problems in your GI tract when you eat gluten, a protein found in wheat and grains. It can cause symptoms like stomach pain, gas and bloating. It’s also considered an autoimmune condition because your immune system attacks gluten when it’s in your small intestine. The attack can damage your intestine enough that it stops working properly.

Gastritis

Gastritis is inflammation in your stomach lining. You may have symptoms like loss of appetite, stomach pain or nausea. Infection, chemicals and autoimmune diseases are common causes. Most cases of gastritis improve within a few days with over-the-counter medication.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is when inflammation spreads from your stomach into your intestines. It causes pain, vomiting and diarrhea. It usually happens when you have a bacterial infection from food poisoning or a virus like the stomach flu. Most people will have gastroenteritis a few times during their lives for various reasons.

Acid reflux/GERD

Acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is when acid from your stomach flows back up into your esophagus and throat. It causes a burning feeling that can feel like a sore throat. Medications, changing your eating habits and surgery are options for treatment.

Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is when your small intestine can’t absorb lactose, an ingredient in milk and dairy products. It causes symptoms like diarrhea, bloating and gas. Treatment mainly involves avoiding foods and beverages that contain lactose.

Indigestion (dyspepsia)

Indigestion is stomach pain or discomfort after eating. It’s very common and typically happens within a few minutes to a few hours after having a meal. You can usually relieve your symptoms with an antacid.

Barrett’s esophagus

Barrett’s esophagus changes the appearance of the lining of your esophagus. Sometimes, it doesn’t cause symptoms, but chronic acid reflux/GERD almost always causes it. People with this condition have a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer.

Can gastrointestinal diseases be prevented?

You can lower your risk of many GI diseases by eating nutritious foods, being physically active several days each week and going to the bathroom as soon as you need to go. Getting regular screening for colon cancer and visiting your healthcare provider for annual wellness visits are also beneficial.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Having a GI disease can be challenging and disruptive to your daily life. It may be hard to manage your symptoms and find relief. But you’re not alone in what you’re going through. More than 60 million people in the U.S. are affected by a digestive disease. Your healthcare team is there for you, too. Let them know what you’re going through and how it affects you. They’re there to listen to you and help you. They can recommend treatment options based on your condition.

FATIGUE

The definition of fatigue is extreme tiredness. Severe fatigue makes it difficult for you to get up in the morning and make it through your day. Many conditions and lifestyle factors can cause fatigue. You may be able to relieve it by changing your habits. If an underlying condition causes it, a healthcare provider can usually help you manage it.

What is fatigue?

Everyone feels tired from time to time. But fatigue means feeling severely overtired. Extreme fatigue makes it hard to get up in the morning, go to work, do your usual activities and make it through your day. Fatigue feels like you have an overwhelming urge to sleep, but you may not feel refreshed after you rest or sleep.

Fatigue often occurs along with other symptoms, such as:

  • Depression and lack of desire to do the activities you once enjoyed.
  • Trouble concentrating or focusing.
  • Very low energy and motivation.
  • Nervousness, anxiety and irritability.
  • Muscle pain and weakness.

Other fatigue symptoms include:

  • Tired eyes.
  • Tired legs.
  • Whole body tiredness.
  • Stiff shoulders.
  • Malaise (discomfort/uneasiness).
  • Boredom.
  • Impatience.

What causes fatigue?

Many conditions, disorders, medications and lifestyle factors can cause fatigue. Fatigue can be temporary, or it can be a chronic condition (lasting six months or more). You may be able to quickly fix fatigue by changing your diet, medications, exercise or sleep habits. If an underlying medical condition is causing your fatigue, a healthcare provider can usually treat the condition or help you manage it. Fatigue causes include:

Lifestyle habits

Certain lifestyle factors can contribute to fatigue. These factors may include:

Sleep disorders

Certain sleep disorders can cause long-term exhaustion and extreme fatigue. These may include:

Prescription medications and treatments

Certain prescription medications can cause fatigue, including:

Other medications and treatments

Certain other medications and treatments can cause fatigue, including:

What medical conditions cause fatigue?

Fatigue is a symptom of a wide range of diseases, disorders and deficiencies affecting various parts of your body. Hundreds of conditions and disorders can lead to fatigue. Some of the most common causes of fatigue include:

Infections

Many infections can cause fatigue, including:

Heart and lung problems

Fatigue is a common symptom of cardiovascular and lung conditions such as:

Mental health conditions

Fatigue due to certain mental health conditions may make it difficult or impossible to perform daily activities. These conditions may include:

Autoimmune disorders

Fatigue is a symptom of many autoimmune diseases, including:

Hormonal imbalances

Problems with your endocrine system (the glands in your body that make hormones) can lead to exhaustion. Hypothyroidism is a common cause of fatigue.

Other chronic conditions

Certain chronic conditions can cause severe, long-lasting fatigue. These include:

Deficiencies

Anemia and other vitamin deficiencies (such as vitamin D or vitamin B12) are often responsible for fatigue. Dehydration can cause fatigue because the body needs plenty of fluids to function.

Weight issues and eating disorders

Certain weight issues and eating disorders can lead to fatigue and a range of other symptoms. These may include:

How can my healthcare provider help me manage fatigue?

To find out what’s causing your fatigue, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your lifestyle and medications. They’ll also conduct a physical examination. They might order some lab tests to check certain levels in your blood and urine. Your provider may also order a pregnancy test.

To relieve fatigue, your provider will treat (or help you manage) the condition or disorder that’s causing it. Depending on your health, your treatment plan may include a combination of medication, exercise or therapy. If you’re taking a medication that makes you feel exhausted, talk to your provider about the risks and benefits of stopping the medication or trying a new one.

How can I ease or relieve fatigue at home?

If a medical condition isn’t causing your fatigue, lifestyle changes may improve your symptoms. To reduce fatigue, you can:

  • Practice good sleep habits: Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Don’t drink caffeine, use electronics or exercise right before bed. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
  • Avoid alcohol and substance use: Don’t use illegal drugs, and drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
  • Eat a healthy diet: A balanced diet and plenty of water will keep your body nourished and hydrated.
  • Manage stress: Yoga, mindfulness, meditation and regular exercise can help you relieve stress and gain more energy.
  • See your healthcare provider: Make an appointment to rule out infections, disease, illness, vitamin deficiencies and other health conditions. You should also talk to your provider about the medications you’re taking to see if they’re causing your symptoms.
  • Exercise often: Regular exercise is crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Though it might seem counter-intuitive, vigorous exercise can help you feel more energetic once you get used to it. But exercising too much can cause fatigue, so talk to your provider about what’s best for you.
  • Reach and maintain a healthy weight: Talk to your healthcare provider about your ideal weight and try to stay within that range.

When should I call my healthcare provider about fatigue?

It’s normal to feel tired now and then. Everyone experiences occasional, brief fatigue due to illness, sleep disturbances, travel or changes in diet or medication. But you should talk to your healthcare provider if you’re tired all the time. You should also call your provider if:

  • Your fatigue lasts longer than a few days.
  • You’re having a hard time going to work or performing daily activities.
  • There isn’t a clear reason (such as a recent illness) for your fatigue.
  • It comes on suddenly.
  • You’re over the age of 65.
  • You’ve also been losing weight.

Fatigue can be a sign of a serious health condition. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have fatigue along with other symptoms, such as:

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Everyone has bouts of tiredness now and again. But fatigue makes it difficult for you to get up in the morning and make it through your day. Many factors can lead to fatigue, including health conditions, medications and lifestyle habits. If you’ve been feeling overly tired for more than a few days, reach out to your healthcare provider. They can help you figure out the underlying reason for your condition and help you treat or manage it.

RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a movement condition that causes a strong urge to move your legs when you’re resting. You may also feel sensations like itching, pulling, crawling or throbbing. There isn’t a cure for RLS, but treatment is available.

What is restless legs syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a brain, nerve and sleep condition that causes a strong, nearly irresistible urge to move your legs that’s at least partially relieved by movement. Symptoms are more common when your body is at rest in the evening. It usually occurs in addition to uncomfortable sensations in your legs like throbbing or aching. The urge to constantly move can interfere with your ability to relax or fall asleep.

You may hear your healthcare provider call RLS restless leg syndrome or Willis-Ekbom disease.

What are the types of restless legs syndrome?

There are two types of RLS:

  • Early onset: A diagnosis happens before age 45, it usually runs in your biological family history and the condition progresses slowly.
  • Late onset: RLS progresses more quickly and a diagnosis happens after age 45.

How common is restless legs syndrome?

Between 7% and 10% of the United States population has restless legs syndrome. It’s more common among white people and females. Your risk of developing it increases as you get older.

What are the symptoms of restless legs syndrome?

Symptoms of restless legs syndrome include:

  • Uncomfortable sensations in your legs that make you want to move them.
  • Sensations get worse when you’re resting.
  • Relief of discomfort (at least temporarily) when you move your legs.
  • Twitchy legs or leg jerks in the evening and during sleep.

Symptoms of restless legs syndrome can affect your sleep. This can cause:

  • Sleep disruptions, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
  • The urge to get out of bed to stretch or move your legs.
  • Fatigue or daytime sleepiness.
  • Behavior or mood changes.
  • Difficulty paying attention, remembering things or concentrating.
  • Depression or anxiety.

What does restless legs syndrome feel like?

Restless legs syndrome causes sensations that make you want to move your legs. These sensations most often happen in your legs, but they can also affect your arms or your entire body. You may experience the following feelings:

  • Crawling.
  • Itching.
  • Aching.
  • Burning.
  • Throbbing.
  • Pulling.
  • Tugging.

Sensations can happen on one side of your body, but more commonly affect both sides equally, like both legs.

What causes restless legs syndrome?

The cause of restless legs syndrome isn’t well understood. It may relate to how the part of your brain that causes movement (basal ganglia) functions. The basal ganglia use dopamine to regulate how your body moves. If this part of your brain doesn’t get enough dopamine, it isn’t able to regulate your movement as efficiently as it should. This can lead to RLS symptoms.

Research suggests the following may contribute to RLS:

  • Genetics: You can inherit RLS. During conception, one of your biological parents passes a genetic trait (autosomal dominant) that leads to an RLS diagnosis.
  • Iron deficiency: Iron can be low in your brain despite normal blood levels.
  • Underlying medical condition: Some conditions can cause secondary RLS, which is when RLS occurs with another medical condition.
  • Medications: Certain medications, like antihistamines, antidepressants or antinausea medications, can cause RLS or make symptoms worse.

What conditions cause restless legs syndrome?

Some medical conditions can happen in addition to RLS, including:

What triggers restless legs syndrome?

Triggers are things that make your RLS symptoms worse. Possible triggers can vary but could include:

  • Alcohol.
  • Caffeine.
  • Nicotine.
  • Certain medications.
  • Stress.

If you experience these triggers or use/take them before you rest or go to bed, they’re more likely to set off your symptoms. In addition, a lack of sleep can lead to worsening symptoms. This means that your symptoms can trigger worsening symptoms. If you need help identifying what triggers your symptoms, talk to a healthcare provider.

What age group does restless legs syndrome affect?

Restless legs syndrome can affect anyone, including children, adolescents and adults. It’s more common to affect people after age 50. Symptoms tend to get worse as you age.

How is restless legs syndrome diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will diagnose RLS after a physical exam to review your symptoms. During the exam, they’ll take a complete medical history and family medical history.

As there isn’t a test to diagnose RLS, a healthcare provider may offer a neurological exam and blood tests to rule out other conditions or determine the cause of your symptoms. Your provider may recommend an overnight sleep study to evaluate other possible sleep conditions. However, RLS is a clinical diagnosis that doesn’t require sleep testing.

To confirm a diagnosis of RLS, a healthcare provider will look for the following criteria:

  • You have the urge to move your legs, usually occurring with uncomfortable sensations like aching or pulling.
  • Symptoms begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity.
  • You have partial or total relief when stretching, walking or exercising the affected muscles.
  • Your symptoms are worse or only occur in the evening or at night.
  • Another medical condition didn’t cause your symptoms.

Is restless legs syndrome hard to diagnose in children?

Yes, it’s sometimes difficult for healthcare providers to diagnose RLS in children. This is because a child may not be able to describe their symptoms or what they feel. It’s common for RLS in children to look like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or growing pains.

How is restless legs syndrome treated?

Treatment for RLS may include taking medications or changing your routine at home to help relieve your symptoms. Some people may reduce their symptoms if they work with their healthcare provider to manage other underlying health conditions. You and your healthcare provider will discuss the treatment options that might be best for you, as well as any side effects to look out for.

Restless legs syndrome medication

Certain medications can help relieve your symptoms of RLS. Your healthcare provider may recommend or prescribe the following:

Certain medications like benzodiazepines (clonazepam), hypnotics (zolpidem) or opioids (methadone, buprenorphine) may help with severe cases if all other forms of treatment are ineffective. The side effects of these medications may be harmful and can lead to dependence on the medication.

There are many types of iron supplements. Blood tests can help to identify the best type for you. When levels of iron in your brain are suspected to be very low and RLS symptoms are severe, an iron infusion may help.

Medications that increase dopamine can worsen RLS symptoms over time (augmentation). Close monitoring is required.

At-home restless legs syndrome therapies

If you have mild RLS symptoms, a healthcare provider may recommend the following at-home therapies to help you feel more comfortable and fall asleep with restless legs. These may include:

  • Getting regular exercise, such as aerobics, riding a bike/stationary bike or walking. Avoid heavy or intense exercise within a few hours of bedtime.
  • Following good sleep habits like avoiding reading, watching television or being on a computer or phone while lying in bed. Not getting enough sleep can make RLS symptoms worse.
  • Soaking your legs in a warm tub, and applying a heating pad or cold compress to your legs. These may provide temporary relief for your discomfort.
  • Reducing your overall stress. A mental health professional can help you with this.
  • Avoiding caffeine, like drinking coffee, before bedtime.

What relieves restless legs fast?

Moving your legs can temporarily relieve restless legs immediately, but your symptoms often return when you stop moving. You can also try massaging your legs, walking around or stretching.

Is restless legs syndrome serious?

Restless legs syndrome doesn’t affect your life expectancy, but it can affect your overall wellness. Symptoms may be mild to severe. Even mild symptoms can have a major impact on your life. Depending on what your definition of a “serious” medical condition is, your symptoms may fall into this category.

Is there a cure for restless legs syndrome?

There’s no cure available for RLS, but treatment can help manage your symptoms.

Can restless legs syndrome be prevented?

There’s no known way to prevent restless legs syndrome. You can reduce your risk of experiencing worsening symptoms by treating any underlying health conditions or avoiding triggers like caffeine and alcohol.

When should I see a healthcare provider?

Visit a healthcare provider if you have symptoms of RLS that:

  • Don’t improve with at-home therapies.
  • Get worse.
  • Affect your ability to sleep.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

  • What caused my symptoms?
  • What type of treatment do you recommend?
  • Are there side effects of the treatment?
  • How do I get better sleep with RLS?
  • How can I improve my nighttime routine to decrease RLS symptoms?

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Living with restless legs syndrome (RLS) can be a constant annoyance. It interferes with your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. When your alarm goes off in the morning, you may wish you could hit the snooze button a few more times. Drinking coffee (caffeine) to cope in the morning may make your symptoms worse at night. While there isn’t a cure available for RLS, treatment can help you manage your symptoms, feel better and get back to a regular sleeping routine.

LEG PAIN

Leg pain is a very common symptom. You may have a mild leg muscle cramp or severe shooting pains in your leg. Treatment will depend on the cause. You can treat mild pain at home, but you should seek medical treatment for more severe, sudden or long-lasting pain.

What is leg pain?

Pain in your legs is a common symptom with many different possible causes. Leg pains may occur due to overuse or from general wear and tear. You may simply have a muscle cramp, but it may also happen after some type of sports injury or because of a certain health condition. You may have leg pain at night. You may also be experiencing left leg pain or right leg pain. You may have a sharp, shooting pain in your leg or a dull ache. Causes of leg pain may be related to many different parts of your body, including your:

Treatment for your leg pain will depend on the cause. You can usually treat your pain at home. But it’s important to seek medical treatment if you have sudden, severe or long-lasting pain.

What causes leg pain?

Leg pain causes vary widely, from muscle cramps to serious health conditions that require immediate treatment.

Muscle cramps

If you have leg muscle pain, you may be experiencing a muscle cramp. Other names for a muscle cramp include a muscle spasm or a charley horse. You may get a muscle cramp due to:

  • Dehydration: Dehydration is a condition that occurs when your body doesn’t have enough water to function properly.
  • Medications: Certain medications, like statins and diuretics, can cause cramping in your muscles.

Injuries

Injuries are a common reason why you’d have leg pain. They can occur due to:

  • Muscle strains: A muscle strain is an injury that happens when you pull, or tear, a muscle. It’s one of the most common injuries, especially among athletes.
  • Shin splints: Shin splints occur when the tissues, muscles or tendons around your shin bone (tibia) become irritated and inflamed.
  • Stress fractures: A stress fractures is another common sports injury. It occurs when repeated force on a bone causes a small crack to form.
  • Tendinitis: Also spelled tendonitis, this condition happens when the tendons between your bones and muscles become inflamed.

Blood flow issues

Problems with how your blood flows can cause leg pain.

  • Varicose veins: Varicose veins occur when blood backs up inside your veins. This makes them look purple or blue under your skin.
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD): PAD is a condition that causes fat and cholesterol (plaque) to collect in your arteries, causing them to narrow.
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): DVT happens when you have a blood clot in a deep vein, which keeps your blood from flowing properly in your vein. This can be a dangerous condition, so you need to get help quickly.

Nerve problems

If you have nerve pain in your legs, you may be experiencing one of the following conditions:

  • Sciatica: Sciatica is a common condition that involves the nerves in your legs, back and butt.
  • Meralgia paresthetica (burning thigh): This is a painful condition that causes a burning sensation in your thigh. You may also feel aching, numbness or stabbing pain in your leg.
  • Peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy is a group of nerve diseases that affect a specific part of your nervous system. It can affect many different body parts, including your legs.

Other health conditions

  • Electrolyte imbalance: An electrolyte imbalance occurs when you have too few or too many electrolytes in your body. This may be a sign of an issue with your liver, heart or kidneys.
  • Arthritis: Arthritis is a very common condition that causes joint pain, stiffness and inflammation. There are more than 100 types of arthritis.
  • Gout: Gout is one type of inflammatory arthritis that causes swelling and pain in your joints. It occurs when you have a buildup of uric acid in your body.
  • Restless legs syndrome: This is a condition where you have the urge to move your legs when you’re at rest. This can interfere with sleep.

Less common issues that cause leg pain include bone conditions, like bone cancer and Paget’s disease of the bone (osteitis deformans), as well as infections like cellulitis and osteomyelitis.

How do you get rid of leg pain immediately?

If you have a mild case of leg pain, like pain from overuse or muscle cramps, you can try the RICE method. RICE stands for:

  • R — Rest: Rest your leg as much as possible.
  • I — Ice: Apply ice to the area that hurts for 15 minutes at a time.
  • C — Compression: Gently wrap your leg in a bandage.
  • E — Elevation: Elevate your leg above your heart.

You can also try gently massaging and stretching your leg muscles. Depending on your condition, you may want to take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever, like a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (Advil®) or acetaminophen (Tylenol®).

To relieve other types of pain, like nerve pain or severe leg pain at night, talk to your healthcare provider.

Can leg pain be prevented?

You can prevent some forms of leg pain by remembering to stretch your muscles before and after participating in any kind of physical activity. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration. It’s also important to eat foods containing lots of potassium, like chicken and bananas. This can help you prevent injuries to the muscles and tendons in your legs.

To prevent health conditions that can cause leg nerve damage:

  • Participate in some form of physical activity for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
  • Maintain a healthy weight for you.
  • Quit smoking. Ask your provider for helpful resources.
  • Track your blood pressure and cholesterol and take steps to keep them at a healthy level.
  • Reduce your alcohol intake.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about specific ways you can prevent leg pain.

When should leg pain be treated by a healthcare provider?

You might wonder when to worry about leg pain. It’s important to contact your healthcare provider if:

  • Your leg is red and swollen, or black and blue.
  • Your leg is cold and pale.
  • Your leg pain worsens when you’re active and gets better with rest.
  • At-home treatment options aren’t helping with your pain.
  • You have a fever.
  • You’re taking any medications that may be causing the pain. But don’t stop taking them until you talk to your provider.

If you have leg pain that worsens with activity, it’s likely arthritic and can be nonurgently evaluated.

You should be evaluated urgently if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Cellulitis or joint infection: Redness and pain of the skin or around a joint, especially with any fevers.
  • DVT: You notice new swelling of one leg that may be associated with redness or pain. Risk factors for having a DVT include recent travel, surgery or an illness that may have limited your ability to walk around as regularly.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Leg pain is a very common symptom with many different possible causes. It may be a mild, nagging pain that goes away with massage and a pain reliever. Or it may be severe, making it impossible for you to stand or walk. Don’t try to diagnose yourself. If your pain is that serious, you should see a healthcare provider for help right away. The cause of your pain may be something serious that needs immediate treatment.

FEVER

A fever is when your body temperature is higher than your normal average temp. Most providers say a fever is either 100.0 F (37.8 C) or 100.4 F (38 C). When you have a fever, it’s your body’s normal response to fighting an infection or illness. Fevers usually aren’t a serious concern. They typically go away when the infection passes.

What is a fever?

A fever is when your body temperature rises higher than normal. A fever itself isn’t an illness. Rather, it’s a symptom of a wide range of health conditions. When your body temperature rises a few degrees above normal, it can be a sign that your immune system has been activated, often to fight an infection.

What is considered a fever?

Common knowledge states that a “normal” body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). But your baseline body temperature may vary by a degree or more. It also fluctuates. It’s typically lower in the morning and higher in the evening. It’s higher during certain points of your menstrual cycle and when you’re exercising.

Infants and young children normally have slightly higher body temperatures than older children and adults. So infants and younger children have slightly higher fever temperatures.

There are no strict guidelines for what temperature is a fever, because body temperature varies by person, time of day and method of measurement. But healthcare providers most often say a fever temperature is 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) when measured orally (by mouth).

Rectal and ear thermometers typically measure temperatures at about 1.0 degrees F (0.6 degrees C) higher than oral thermometers. Skin thermometers (such as forehead thermometers) typically measure temperatures at about 1.0 degrees F (0.6 degrees C) lower than oral thermometers.

What is a low-grade fever?

A low-grade fever means a body temperature slightly above normal. This type of fever can be a sign your immune system has been mildly activated. There’s no standard low-grade fever range. But many healthcare providers consider a body temperature between 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.5 degrees Celsius) and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit (37.9 degrees Celsius) to be a low-grade fever.

What are fever symptoms?

In addition to an elevated temperature, you may experience the following symptoms:

Additional fever symptoms in babies and children may include:

  • Lack of appetite — not eating and drinking well.
  • Earache or pulling at their ears.
  • High-pitched crying.
  • Fussiness.
  • Paleness or flushness.
  • Excessive thirst.
  • Decreased urination.

What are the most common causes of fever?

A fever has many causes and can be a symptom of almost any illness. Common conditions that cause fever include:

You may also develop a fever due to:

Can allergies cause fever?

Allergies can cause cold-like symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes, but they typically don’t cause fever. Despite its name, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis) doesn’t cause fever.

What’s the best way to measure body temperature?

You can take your temperature in several different parts of your body. The most common site is your mouth (oral temperature). Other sites include your ear (tympanic membrane), forehead (temporal artery) and armpit (axillary). The most accurate site is the rectum, and the least accurate site is the armpit.

The best way to measure your temperature is with a digital thermometer. Glass thermometers contain mercury and providers no longer recommend them.

How can I break a fever at home?

If your fever is mild — less than 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) — you usually don’t need treatment with medication. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest. Taking a lukewarm bath — about 98 degrees F (36.7 degrees C) — may also help bring your body’s temperature down. Keep an eye on signs of dehydration and other worsening symptoms.

If you’re feeling uncomfortable and your temperature is higher than 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C), you can try to break the fever. The most common way to get rid of a fever is to use over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin.

Don’t give aspirin to children under the age of 17. Aspirin in children may cause Reye’s syndrome, a sometimes fatal illness.

Does ibuprofen reduce fever?

Yes, you can take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen to try to reduce a fever.

How long does a fever last?

The cause of the fever determines how long it’ll last. Typically, if an infection is the cause of your fever, it should pass within three to four days. Call your healthcare provider if the fever lingers longer than that or comes along with breathing changes.

When should a fever be treated by a healthcare provider?

In adults, fevers less than 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) typically aren’t dangerous and aren’t a cause for concern. If your fever rises above that level, make a call to your healthcare provider for treatment.

In children, call your child’s healthcare provider if:

  • Their fever lasts more than five days.
  • Their fever is higher than 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
  • Medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen don’t break the fever.
  • You’re concerned they aren’t behaving normally.
  • They have any problems breathing or urinating.

When should I go to the ER?

If you have a fever along with any of the following symptoms, go to your nearest emergency room or call 911. It may be a sign of a serious or life-threatening illness.

  • Pain or tenderness in your belly (abdomen).
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Severe headache.
  • Stiff neck.
  • Light irritates your eyes (photophobia).
  • Convulsions or seizures.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Strange behavior and/or altered speech.
  • Confusion or irritability.
  • Difficulty waking or extreme sleepiness.
  • Fever rash (small bleeding spots under your skin).

When should I take my child to the ER?

If your baby has a fever and is under 3 months of age, take them to the ER right away. Your baby’s immune system hasn’t developed fully yet, and they could have a serious infection.

If your child has a fever along with any of the following symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room:

  • Extreme sluggishness or drowsiness.
  • Lack of appetite.
  • Excessive drooling or difficulty swallowing.
  • Continuous crying.
  • Stiff neck.
  • Fever rash.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Severe abdominal pain.
  • Redness or swelling.
  • Dehydration (not drinking many fluids).
  • Decreased urination.

What are the possible complications or risks of not treating a fever?

Untreated fevers above 105.8 degrees F (41 degrees C) can be dangerous. If your body temperature reaches this level, your organs will begin to malfunction and will eventually fail.

Even moderate fevers can be dangerous for adults with lung or heart disorders because fever causes your breathing rate and heart rate to increase. Fever can also worsen the mental state of people with dementia.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

While a fever can be uncomfortable, it’s typically a sign that your body is working properly and your immune system is kicking into action. You don’t need to treat low fevers, but you can take over-the-counter pain relievers until they pass. If you or your child has a higher temperature or your fever hasn’t passed within a few days, you should make a call to your healthcare provider. While infections most often cause fevers, there could be other underlying conditions you’ll want to get checked out.

ABDOMINAL PAIN

Abdominal pain has many causes, some more serious than others. What feels like a stomachache may be coming from another organ in your abdomen. Or it may be coming from outside your digestive system. Always seek medical care if your abdominal pain is unexplained, severe or doesn’t stop.

What Is Abdominal Pain?

Abdominal pain is discomfort anywhere in your belly region — the area between your ribs and pelvis. We often think of abdominal pain as “stomach pain” or a “stomachache.” But pain in your abdomen could be coming from organs other than your stomach.

Your abdomen is home to many important organs, including:

  • Stomach
  • Liver
  • Bladder
  • Spleen
  • Bile ducts
  • Gallbladder
  • Kidneys
  • Pancreas
  • Small intestine
  • Large intestine (colon)
  • Appendix

These are all organs in your digestive system and urinary system. But pain can also be in your abdominal wall. This is the skin and muscles that make up the outer shell of your abdomen. Sometimes, the pain that you feel in your belly may be coming from somewhere else, like your chest, pelvis or back.

What does abdominal pain feel like?

Abdominal pain can take many forms and mean many things. It may be constant, or come and go. You may feel it in one spot or all over. It may feel:

  • Mild or severe
  • Dull or sharp
  • Burning or achy
  • Crampy, twisting or pulsing

Your abdominal pain is a symptom that only you can describe. Since your healthcare provider can’t measure it, it’s what you say it is. Whether your abdominal pain is serious or mild, your provider will help you find the cause and provide treatment.

Types of abdominal pain

There are many different organs in your abdomen. So, your healthcare provider may narrow down the pain you’re having by which area you’re feeling it in. Providers often group your abdomen into quadrants, or four parts. They may ask if your pain is in the:

  • Upper right quadrant (above your belly button, to your right)
  • Lower right quadrant (below your belly button, to your right)
  • Upper left quadrant (above your belly button, to your left)
  • Lower left quadrant (below your belly button, to your left)

What does abdominal pain location tell you?

Location is an important clue to your abdominal pain. But it’s not the only factor. It may tell your healthcare provider which organs are involved. For example, pain in the upper right quadrant may mean you have a problem in your liver or gallbladder.

But your provider will also want to know more about your pain, including:

  • What it feels like
  • How often you feel it
  • How severe it is
  • If it spreads or radiates from one place to another

The answers to these questions give them additional clues about the kind of condition you may have.

Why do I have abdominal pain?

There are many reasons you may have abdominal pain. It may be related to digestion, injury, infection or disease. It may come from an organ inside your abdominal wall, or from the muscles or skin within it. Or it may have spread from somewhere else nearby.

Your healthcare provider will ask you detailed questions about your pain to figure out the cause. Keep in mind that the level of pain you feel doesn’t always line up with how serious it is. Some common, temporary conditions can cause intense abdominal pain. And some life-threatening, serious conditions may feel mild.

Abdominal pain can feel much worse than others might expect. So, make sure your provider knows exactly what kind of pain you’re in.

What is the main cause of abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain has many causes. Most are short-lived and not serious. They may have to do with digestion, inflammation or menstruation.

Digestive issues

Abdominal pain after eating may be due to:

  • Indigestion
  • Gas and gas pain
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Food allergies and intolerances
  • Food poisoning

Inflammation

Irritation or infection in your organs can cause temporary inflammation, like:

  • Stomach flu
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Chronic acid reflux (GERD)
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Menstruation

Causes of female abdominal pain may include:

What are the more serious causes of abdominal pain?

Sometimes, abdominal pain can mean a more serious medical condition. This can depend on where you’re experiencing the pain. Pain in different areas may mean certain organs are involved. You may have:

Causes of upper right abdominal pain include:

  • Hepatitis
  • Gallstones
  • Gallbladder inflammation
  • Bile duct, gallbladder or liver cancer
  • Kidney stones and infections
  • Bowel obstruction

Causes of upper left abdominal pain include:

  • Pancreatitis
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Gastritis
  • Stomach ulcer
  • Stomach cancer

Causes of lower abdominal pain include:

  • Bladder inflammation
  • Bladder stones
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Hernia

Pain referred from your pelvic organs could be due to:

  • Endometriosis
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  • Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS)
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Uterine cancer

Causes of lower left abdominal pain include:

Causes of lower right abdominal pain include:

When you talk to your healthcare provider, let them know which region your pain is in.

How is abdominal pain treated?

Abdominal pain has a wide variety of causes and treatments. For some conditions, you’ll just need medicine to relieve your symptoms. For others, you may need surgery. And sometimes, you just have to get through a bout of stomach flu or a kidney stone until it passes.

If you don’t know what’s causing your abdominal pain, it’s important to find out. This is especially true if it doesn’t go away on its own. Remember that even mild cases can be serious.

Your healthcare provider may ask you to complete an imaging study so they can further evaluate your pain. Depending on the pain location and other factors, imaging tests may include:

  • Ultrasound
  • CT scan
  • MRI

If you have a good idea that your stomachache is related to digestion, you can begin by treating yourself with:

  • Bowel rest: Stop eating, or only eat easy-to-digest foods like crackers or bananas.
  • Hydration: Drink plenty of water or a hydration formula.
  • Heat therapy: Try a warm water bottle or a soak in the bath.
  • Home remedies: You can try licorice for abdominal gas pain. Ginger can relieve indigestion, and peppermint may help relax your intestinal muscles.
  • Pain relievers: Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, like acetaminophen.

For more serious conditions, treatment may include:

Can abdominal pain be prevented?

You can’t always prevent abdominal pain. But you can take some steps to keep your abdominal organs healthy. You can:

  • Eat smaller meals more often
  • Make sure you’re getting enough fiber
  • Get regular physical activity
  • Drink enough water
  • Avoid alcohol or limit how much you drink

If you have certain health conditions — like lactose intolerance or celiac disease — you may be able to prevent stomach pain. Your healthcare provider may recommend avoiding certain foods or drinks. Talk to your provider before starting any new eating plan.

When should abdominal pain be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?

Always see your doctor if your pain is unexplained, severe or doesn’t go away. Or if you’ve been injured or are pregnant.

Also, see your provider if you have abdominal pain along with:

  • A fever that doesn’t go away on its own
  • Nausea or vomiting that doesn’t stop
  • Blood in your poop, pee or vomit
  • Swelling and tenderness in your belly
  • Jaundice (yellowing of your eyes and skin)
  • Pain in any other part of your body
  • Shortness of breath or symptoms that get worse with physical activity

A note from QBan Health Care Services

So many things can cause abdominal pain. So, it’s certain that you’ll experience it from time to time. You may recognize common causes, like abdominal pain and diarrhea. Other causes may be more mysterious. And sometimes, abdominal pain is a sign of an unknown or serious medical condition.

Your healthcare provider can help you figure out what’s causing your pain. They can often treat common causes easily, helping you find relief. Even if your abdominal pain is mild, make sure you see your provider if it doesn’t go away, keeps coming back or gets worse.

CHRONIC COUGH

A chronic cough is a cough that doesn’t go away. Common causes of chronic cough include asthma, postnasal drip and acid reflux (GERD). Treatments depend on the underlying cause. But they usually involve taking medicines and making changes to your routine. If you or your child has a long-lasting cough, see a healthcare provider.

What is chronic cough?

Chronic cough is a cough that lasts longer than eight weeks in adults and four weeks in children. It’s one of the most common reasons people visit their healthcare providers.

Coughing is usually a good thing. It helps you get rid of substances that can irritate your airway. Everyone coughs sometimes. But chronic cough is often a symptom of a health condition. Depending on what’s causing it, you may also have symptoms like:

No matter the cause, frequent coughing can leave you exhausted and self-conscious about when the next coughing fit will happen. This is why it’s important to see a healthcare provider to find ways to manage it.

The most common chronic cough causes include:

  • Asthma. Asthma is the most common cause of chronic cough. Coughing may worsen in certain seasons or in response to dry or cold air. It may get worse when you’re around mold, pollen or smoke.
  • Postnasal drip. Another name for this condition is upper airway cough syndrome (UACS). Allergies and nasal disease can cause your nose to make too much mucus. It can drip down your throat and irritate your windpipe and lungs, making you cough.
  • GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). With GERD, stomach acid backflows into your food pipe (esophagus). It can irritate the tissue lining and make you cough.
  • Other lung disease. Bronchitis, COPD, pleural effusions, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis and lung masses can also cause chronic cough.

Other reasons for chronic cough include:

  • ACE inhibitors (a drug class of blood pressure medicine)
  • Allergies
  • Heart failure
  • Smoking
  • Upper respiratory infections (like whooping cough)

When providers can’t find the cause, chronic cough becomes a condition instead of a symptom. In this case, they call it “chronic refractory cough.” In children, providers sometimes call this condition “habitual cough.”

How is chronic cough treated?

Treatment depends on the condition causing your cough. Usually, it involves a mix of medications and lifestyle changes to either cure or manage the condition causing issues. Your healthcare provider will recommend a customized treatment plan based on your needs.

Medicines

Lots of medications treat chronic cough. Your healthcare provider may prescribe or suggest:

Sometimes, the remedy is to stop taking medicines, like ACE inhibitors. But only do this if your healthcare provider says so. And never give over-the-counter medicines to children under 6 years old unless their pediatrician tells you it’s safe.

Lifestyle changes

To relieve symptoms of chronic cough, try soothing home remedies. Get enough sleep, eat balanced meals and make sure you’re drinking enough water. If you think reflux is part of your cough, you can raise the head of your bed. Work with your provider to identify food or substances that can trigger the cough. Then, make a plan to avoid them.

This advice may sound obvious. But it’s easy to let these kinds of things slide when you’re distracted by something annoying like a persistent cough. Tending to the basics can make a big difference when it comes to feeling better.

What happens if chronic cough goes untreated?

Chronic coughing can keep you up at night and rob you of precious sleep (insomnia). The effects can snowball into fatigue and stress that impact every part of your life. The frequent coughing can make you self-conscious — so much so that you avoid being around others.

In severe cases of chronic cough, you may have related medical issues like:

  • Bleeding in your eye
  • Broken ribs
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Hernia
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Muscle pain in your coughing muscles

Can chronic cough be prevented?

You can’t always prevent chronic cough. But you can do things to reduce your risk. You can:

  • Quit smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.
  • Protect yourself from germs that can make you sick. This may mean staying up-to-date on flu shots, masking or washing your hands often. There are lots of ways to protect yourself.
  • See your primary care provider and discuss the issue with them. They’ll help you decide if you need testing or treatment based on your symptoms.

When should chronic cough be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?

If your cough lasts 10 days or more, and you don’t know why, it’s time to see your provider. If you have more serious symptoms, let your provider know right away or seek urgent medical care. Reasons to seek urgent medical care include:

  • Coughing up blood
  • Drenching night sweats
  • Hoarseness that doesn’t go away
  • Shortness of breath
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Wheezing

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Chronic cough can make you anxious when you’re around others and things get quiet. As you feel the urge to cough coming on, it may seem as if all eyes are on you. But you don’t have to just accept the discomfort. There are treatments that can help. Most causes of chronic cough are conditions that you can manage with medicine. There are changes you can make to your routine that can help, too. Getting diagnosed is the first step to managing the condition and the cough.

COUGH

A cough is a forceful push of air that your body uses to clear irritants, mucus and germs out of your airways. Common causes include allergies, asthma, infections (like colds), chronic lung conditions and acid reflux. Over-the-counter treatments, honey and water might help until you can find the root cause.

What Is a Cough?

A cough is a reflex that forces bursts of air through your airways and out of your throat and mouth. You usually feel a tickly or scratchy feeling in your throat that makes you cough.

A cough is your body’s way of protecting you from foreign substances that find their way into your airways. It also clears mucus out of your lungs and airways, which also gets rid of germs and irritants.

You might have a dry, non-productive cough (without mucus) or a wet, productive cough (with mucus). A cough might be barky (a sign of croup) or end with a whoop (a sign of whooping cough). It might come on suddenly and go away within a few weeks. Or it might seem like it’s been going on forever and will never go away (chronic cough).

What are the most common causes of cough?

Some common causes of cough include:

Less common causes include cancers that affect your lungs, heart disease and vocal cord disorders. A healthcare provider might use a chest X-ray or lung function tests to help diagnose the cause of a cough.

Complications

Too much coughing or forceful coughing can lead to:

  • Asthma attacks
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Choking
  • Fainting
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain and strains
  • Rib fractures
  • Vomiting

What is the best medicine for a cough?

Some over-the-counter treatments might help with a cough. These include:

  • Cough drops, throat lozenges and throat sprays. These might numb or soothe your throat for temporary relief from the tickly cough feeling.
  • Cough suppressants. Cough suppressants like dextromethorphan help calm the part of your brain that tells you to cough.
  • Decongestants. Decongestants might help if postnasal drip is causing a cough or making it worse.
  • Expectorants. Expectorants like guaifenesin help thin out mucus. This makes it easier for you to cough out what’s irritating your airways.
  • Honey. Some studies suggest that a spoonful of honey works as well as medications to calm a cough. But you shouldn’t give honey to kids under a year old.

Don’t give cough medications to children unless their provider (like a pediatrician or family doctor) says it’s OK.

Treating health conditions that cause cough

If an ongoing health condition is causing a cough, your provider might prescribe:

When should I worry about a cough?

Talk to a healthcare provider if you or your child has:

  • A cough that lasts longer than a few weeks or gets worse over time
  • A cough that makes a barking or whooping sound
  • Vomiting from a cough
  • A fever that lasts more than a day or two
  • Yellow, green or bloody mucus

Go to an emergency room or call 911 (or your local emergency service number) if you have a cough and you:

  • Feel like you’re choking
  • Can’t breathe well
  • See a lot of blood when you cough
  • Wheeze (make a noise when you breathe out)
  • Have severe chest pain

How do I stop uncontrollable coughing?

Taking a sip of water, sucking on a cough drop (carefully to avoid choking) or sitting in a steamy shower might help stop a coughing fit. But uncontrollable coughing can be scary and hard to manage. It can make it hard to breathe and cause you to throw up or choke.

If you have frequent coughing fits, see a healthcare provider or go to the emergency room. They may be able to treat you with a steroid or other medications to calm your cough.

What does it mean if I cough after eating?

Coughing soon after eating could be a sign of acid reflux. Or if you cough while eating, food may have gone “down the wrong way” (aspiration). This means it went towards your lungs instead of your stomach. You cough to try to force the food out, so it doesn’t get into your lungs.

A note from QBan Health Care Services

Coughing is your body’s way of protecting you from germs and irritants. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also be really annoying — and sometimes scary. Most causes of cough aren’t serious. But if you’ve had a cough for a long time, or if you’re coughing so much you can’t catch your breath, see a healthcare provider.