Digestive Problems: Learn What Causes Them and Common Symptoms

In Singapore’s fast-paced lifestyle, digestive health issues such as heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation can often be overlooked until they become more serious. As we juggle our busy schedules, it's important to recognize when these symptoms might be more than just temporary discomforts. Understanding when to seek medical attention is crucial for maintaining optimal health and well-being. This guide aims to provide insights into common digestive health changes and when it's advisable to consult a healthcare professional.

Digestive health changes: When to seek medical care

If you’ve been experiencing bouts of heartburn, diarrhea, or constipation, it may be a good time to consider whether you’ve been experiencing temporary symptoms or signs of something more serious or chronic.

Identify your distress

The first step in understanding gastrointestinal distress is putting a name to the problem.

Heartburn. This fiery feeling in your chest is usually caused by stomach acid that leaks upward into the esophagus (the tube connecting your mouth and stomach). It occurs when the ring of muscles that normally stop leakage temporarily loosen or aren’t working well. Heartburn might also cause a sore throat, a cough, or a metallic taste after meals.

Constipation. If you’re not having a bowel movement at least three times a week, that’s considered constipation. Or if your stool is hard and lumpy and you strain to get it out or you have the feeling you aren’t evacuating completely, that’s also constipation.

Diarrhea. Diarrhea is watery, unformed stool. It usually doesn’t feel great as it’s brewing in your gut, and it’s often uncomfortable to pass it.

What’s causing your trouble?

The digestive tract is a sophisticated yet sensitive system that can be disrupted anywhere along its route from the mouth to the anus — and it doesn’t take much to cause temporary discomfort.

For example, stress can slow digestion and cause constipation, increase acid production and trigger heartburn, or speed digestion and send you running for the bathroom with diarrhea.

“We call the gastrointestinal tract the ‘second nervous system.’ There are many nerve endings going to all parts of it, including the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Stress might result in the brain telling the tract how to react, even when there might not be anything wrong structurally,” says Dr. Alexander Goldowsky, a gastroenterologist at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Other possible causes of occasional gastrointestinal problems include your diet, weight gain, an infection, or a medication side effect.

Coping with occasional bouts

If you’ve been experiencing new digestive issues, try making a few changes to see if symptoms go away in a few days or weeks.

For heartburn. Two approaches can help. One is using over-the-counter medications that target stomach acid.

The other approach is making lifestyle changes. Avoid foods and drinks that seem to trigger your heartburn, such as spicy, fatty, or tomato-based foods; citrus; garlic; onion; peppermint; and anything with caffeine, such as chocolate, tea, or coffee.

Also: eat smaller meals, stay upright for at least two hours after meals, avoid drinking alcohol or eating late at night, and sleep on a wedge pillow.

For constipation. To combat constipation, Dr. Goldowsky advises taking a powdered fiber supplement that you add to food or drinks. “Fiber is a miracle. It helps stool form a shape and get out, so you feel empty,” Dr. Goldowsky says.

He also recommends increasing fiber in your diet (great sources include beans, lentils, peas, whole grains, berries, nuts, seeds, artichokes, pumpkin, and brussels sprouts). “Your total goal should be around 30 grams of fiber per day,” he says, “but it’s hard to reach that goal with food. That’s why the supplement is important.”

Other ways to fight constipation include drinking more fluids to help stool move along and exercising every day (which keeps the muscles in your intestines strong).

For diarrhea. Dr. Goldowsky recommends using a fiber supplement for this problem, too, since fiber helps stool form properly. It’s also essential to stay hydrated to replace fluids you’re losing through diarrhea.

Additionally, it’s a good idea to keep track of foods that might be triggering diarrhea. Common culprits include dairy foods; foods that contain gluten, artificial sweeteners, or caffeine; fried, fatty, spicy, or sugary foods; and foods with natural sugars that are difficult for some people to digest, such as those in wheat, rye, onions, garlic, legumes (chickpeas, lentils, beans), honey, pistachios, cashews, asparagus, artichokes, and sun-dried tomatoes. It might also help to take an anti­diarrheal medication.

When to call your doctor

Call your doctor immediately if your symptoms include bloody stools, fever, loss of bowel control, severe pain, or severe dehydration. If you don’t have those symptoms but you do have heartburn, diarrhea, or constipation that isn’t going away after a week or two of home remedies, it’s time to see your doctor. “We don’t want to miss colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease,” Dr. Goldowsky says. “These are unlikely causes of such symptoms, but we need to rule them out.”

Your physician will also rule out other disorders that can cause gastrointestinal problems (such as low thyroid function), gut changes that affect how fast food moves through the digestive tract, and medication side effects that might be causing trouble.

The encouraging news is that there’s usually a way to treat the problem, including specialized diets, physical therapy, or medications. “Don’t give up. We can get you feeling better,” Dr. Goldowsky says. “My goal is for you to be able to control or eliminate your symptoms so you can function well and have a better quality of life.”

A guide to symptoms of common digestive diseases and conditions

Like all complicated machinery, the digestive tract doesn’t always run smoothly. What people eat and how they eat can disrupt digestive health. In some people, their immune system mistakenly attacks the digestive system, causing various digestive problems. 

Here is a brief look at some common diseases and conditions that can affect digestive health:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can cause a burning and squeezing sensation in the chest, commonly known as heartburn. Other symptoms can include nausea, sour or bitter taste in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, or repeatedly needing to clear your throat. In GERD, acid and digestive enzymes from the stomach flow backward into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. This backward flow of stomach acid is called reflux. These acids inflame the lining of the esophagus. If GERD is not treated, it can cause permanent damage to the esophagus. 

Celiac disease. This condition occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, as “foreign.” As the immune system wages war against gluten, it damages the small, fingerlike projections in the small intestine called villi that help the body absorb nutrients from food. Symptoms of celiac disease include diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal bloating and pain, and weight loss. 

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis. In diverticulosis, small pouches develop and bulge out through weak spots in the walls of the colon. These small, balloon-like pouches are called diverticula. Most people with diverticulosis don’t have any symptoms, but some experience mild cramps, constipation, or bloating. 

If the diverticula become inflamed or infected, the condition is called diverticulitis. Diverticulitis can lead to severe complications. The most common symptoms of diverticulitis are abdominal pain and tenderness, pressure in the lower abdomen, fever, chills, cramping, and constipation. 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the intestines and triggers inflammation of the tissues. The two principal kinds are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). 

With Crohn’s disease, the inside lining and deeper layers of the intestinal wall become inflamed. These areas can thicken or wear away in spots, which creates ulcers, cracks, and fissures. Inflammation can allow an abscess (a pocket of pus) to develop. Once Crohn’s disease begins, it lasts a lifetime.

Common symptoms of Crohn’s disease include: 

• abdominal pain, usually at or below the navel, which is typically worse after meals 
• diarrhea that may contain blood 
• weight loss 
• weakness or fatigue 
• sores around the anus 
• pain during bowel movements 
• painful mouth sores 
• loss of appetite 
• other symptoms outside of the intestines, such as joint, back or eye pain or skin rashes. 

With ulcerative colitis, inflammation in the lining of the large intestine (the colon) causes ulcers. This can cause bleeding, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue. Other symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the inflammation and where it occurs in the large intestine. They include: 

• cramping abdominal pain, especially in the lower abdomen 
• a frequent sensation of needing to have a bowel movement 
• little advance warning before a bowel movement 
• loss of appetite 
• fever 
• dehydration 
• other symptoms outside of the intestines, such as joint, back or eye pain or skin rashes. 

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is characterized by recurrent bouts of constipation or diarrhea (or both), abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. The severity and duration of symptoms vary. Some are mild and come and go, while others are severe and last several weeks. Some people can go months or years between episodes. Most people are never cured of IBS, but dietary changes, medication, and stress management can help manage the condition. IBS does not raise the risk for UC, Crohn’s disease, or colon cancer. 

Various factors can affect digestive health. While many issues can be managed with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter solutions, chronic or severe symptoms may require professional evaluation. Staying informed and proactive helps maintain your digestive health and improve your quality of life. Remember, timely medical advice is key to effective health management.

This article is part of our collaboration with Harvard Health Publishing, a trusted source of medical expertise from Harvard Medical School. Content has been adapted for local audiences.

Copyright © 2025 by Harvard University. Original work prepared by Harvard Health Publishing. This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, and do not represent the views of Manulife (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.