Common GI Symptoms

Overview

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion/dyspepsia, bloating and constipation are common in the community. However, these symptoms may be misinterpreted and their impact and significance misunderstood both by health care providers and patients.

The ACG has created this special resource section that features the College’s wealth of scientifically-based education material and information, the latest related research from The American Journal of Gastroenterology and expert insight to help patients understand common GI symptoms and how these symptoms should be appropriately and effectively managed.

• Gas, bloating, constipation?
• Information on Common GI Conditions
• Physician Resources
• Latest Related Clinical Science from the AJG

Do You Have IBS?

In the United States, it is estimated that 10-15 percent of the adult population suffers from IBS symptoms, yet only 5 to 7 percent of adults have been diagnosed with the disease. IBS is the most common disease diagnosed by gastroenterologists and one of the most common disorders seen by primary care physicians.

• Visit the IBS Health Center
• Take the IBS Test

Information on Common GI Conditions

• Acid Reflux, Heartburn, GERD
• Dyspepsia/Indigestion
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Peptic Ulcer Disease
• Abdominal Pain Syndrome
• Belching, Bloating, Flatulence
• Biliary Tract Disorders, Gallbladder Disorders and Gallstone Pancreatitis
• Gallstone Pancreatitis
• Gallstones in Women
• Constipation and Defecation Problems
• Diarrhea (acute)
• Diarrhea (chronic)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Hemorrhoids and Other Anal Disorders
• Rectal Problems in Women

Physician Resources

ACG Clinical Guidelines

Developed by a talented group of GI experts, the College is devoted to the development of new ACG guidelines on gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Our guidelines reflect the current state-of-the-art scientific work and are based on the principles of evidence-based medicine.

Clinical Guidelines (Sortable List)

Related CME Presentations on ACG's Education Universe

• Practical Guide to Safety of PPIs and What to Tell Your Patients, presented by Joel Richter, MD critically appraises the short and long term side effects of PPIs and how to counsel patients.
• Negative Endoscopy, PPI Refractory Reflux: What’s the Diagnosis? What’s the Treatment?, by Michael Vaezi, MD, PhD, MSc, discusses how to identify a diagnostic and treatment algorithm for the patient with reflux symptoms and negative endoscopy and lack of response to PPIs.
• Practical Approach to Unexplained Diarrhea, presented by Christina Surawicz, MD discusses how to develop a practical approach to the patient with chronic diarrhea.
  
  Access CME Presentations

Latest Related Clinical Science from The American Journal of Gastroenterology

Food Choice as a Key Management Strategy for Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Professor Peter Gibson of Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia on dietary therapy of IBS and the role of poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates, known as FODMAPs, in functional gut symptoms. Professor Gibson delivered the AJG Lecture on this topic last fall at the ACG 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Read the Article | Listen to the Podcast

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

AJG Web Focus: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
These selected articles represent the top publications on GERD in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (AJG) over the last two years. They cover a wide range of clinical issues from the contributions of the obesity epidemic to GERD to the ACG guidelines for esophageal reflux testing. Read the Articles

Mechanisms of Reflux Perception in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Review
Read the Article

Positive Effect of Abdominal Breathing Exercise on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:
A Randomized, Controlled Study
Read the Article

Biliary Tract/Gallbladder

Rome Foundation Diagnostic Algorithms: Gallbladder and Sphincter of Oddi Disorders
Read the Article

Dyspepsia

Effect of Dyspepsia on Survival: A Longitudinal 10-Year Follow-Up Study
Read the Article

IBS

AJG Supplement: An Evidence-Based Position Statement on the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome from the ACG
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by abdominal discomfort associated with altered bowel function; structural and biochemical abnormalities are absent. The pathophysiology of IBS is multifactorial and of intense recent interest, largely because of the possibility of developing targeted therapies. Because IBS is one of the most common disorders managed by gastroenterologists and primary care physicians, this monograph, originally written in 2002, was updated to educate physicians about the burden of illness of IBS and current recommendations for diagnosis and treatment.
Read the Article

Acupuncture for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Read the Article

Long-Term Follow-Up of Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy vs. Standard Care in Children With Functional Abdominal Pain or Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Read the Article

Effects of Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy on IBS in Different Clinical Settings—Results From Two Randomized, Controlled Trials
Read the Article

Severity in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Rome Foundation Working Team Report
Read the Article

Constipation

Chronic Constipation in the Elderly
Read the Article

Prevalence of, and Risk Factors for, Chronic Idiopathic Constipation in the Community: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Read the Article

Diarrhea

Chronic Gastrointestinal Consequences of Acute Infectious Diarrhea: Evolving Concepts in Epidemiology and Pathogenesis
Read the Article

ACG Expert Podcasts on Common GI Conditions

The American Journal of Gastroenterology Author Podcast:
Food Choice as a Key Management Strategy for Functional Gut Symptoms

Professor Peter Gibson reviews the quality of the evidence on diets high or low in poorly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates, known as FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-, Di- and Mono-saccharides and Polyols) and their impact on functional gastrointestinal symptoms. In a discussion with Co-Editor Dr. Bill Chey, Professor Gibson provides insights on implementing dietary approaches in the office and discusses the challenges of recognizing patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Listen to the Podcast | Read the Article

Abdominal Pain – Lin Chang, MD

Abdominal Pain Syndrome – Full Podcast How common is chronic abdominal pain? What are the different types of abdominal pain? What are the most common conditions associated with functional abdominal pain?

Belching, Bloating and Flatulence – G. Richard Locke III, MD, FACG

Belching, Bloating and Flatulence – Full Podcast How are constipation, gas and bloating related? I’m embarrassed. How do I talk to my doctor about these conditions? What are the natural ways to reduce symptoms? What are the treatment options? When should patients be concerned?

Biliary Tract Disorders, Gallbladder Disorders, and Gallstone Pancreatitis – William B. Silverman, MD

Biliary Tract Disorders, Gallbladder Disorders, and Gallstone Pancreatitis – Full Podcast How common are biliary disorders? What are the different types of biliary disorders? What is the biliary tract?

Nausea, Vomiting and Dyspepsia – Brian E. Lacy, MD, PhD, FACG

Dyspepsia – Full Podcast Nausea & Vomiting – Full Podcast