Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Yes, it can be serious, though many cases are mild and brief from gas, constipation, muscle strain, or menstrual cramps; other times it can signal appendicitis, diverticulitis, UTIs, kidney stones, ovarian or testicular problems, or ectopic pregnancy. There are several factors to consider, especially red flags like severe or worsening pain, fever, persistent vomiting, blood in stool or urine, pregnancy, dizziness, or a hard swollen belly; see the complete guidance below for when to self care, use a symptom checker, talk to a doctor, or seek urgent care.

Pregnancy does not automatically worsen bowel inflammation; many people stay the same or improve, though flares can occur, especially if the disease is active at conception or treatment is stopped. There are several factors to consider, including medication safety, nutrition, infections, stress, and postpartum changes, so see the detailed guidance below for what increases risk and the key steps to take, including when to seek urgent care.

Yes, ulcerative colitis can cause abdominal or rectal pain even without diarrhea, due to inflammation, rectal-only involvement, or lingering gut sensitivity during remission. There are several factors to consider, including warning signs that need prompt care and other conditions that can mimic these symptoms; see below for key red flags, diagnostic steps, and practical next actions to discuss with your doctor.

Yes, ulcerative colitis can cause sudden bleeding during bowel movements; rectal bleeding is common during flares when inflamed ulcers in the colon and rectum bleed, often showing as bright red blood or blood mixed with stool or mucus. There are several factors to consider, including other possible causes, warning signs that need urgent care, and how doctors evaluate and treat bleeding; see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Yes, ulcerative colitis symptoms can worsen suddenly; flares may develop over hours to days with more frequent and urgent stools, blood or mucus, cramping, and fatigue. Triggers can include missed medications, infections, stress, diet changes, certain drugs like NSAIDs or antibiotics, and disease progression; seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, or signs of dehydration. There are several factors to consider, and key details on treatment, prevention, and when to call a doctor are explained below.

Yes, untreated inflammatory bowel disease can lead to progressive intestinal damage with strictures or blockages, fistulas or abscesses, bleeding and iron deficiency anemia, malnutrition and growth delays in children, a higher chance of surgery and colorectal cancer, and complications outside the gut involving the joints, eyes, skin, liver, and bones. There are several factors to consider, and early diagnosis and treatment lower these risks; see below for important details, including red flags that need urgent care and what to discuss with a gastroenterologist to guide your next steps.

Chronic diarrhea means loose or frequent stools lasting 4 weeks or more or recurring over months, and it can result from IBS, IBD, microscopic colitis, lingering infections, food intolerances like lactose or celiac disease, medications, malabsorption, or hormonal issues. There are several factors to consider; see below for red flags that need urgent care such as blood, weight loss, nighttime diarrhea, fever, severe pain, or dehydration. Evaluation and treatment vary by cause and may include history, blood and stool tests, breath tests or endoscopy, plus practical steps like hydration, diet adjustments, stress management, and medication changes under medical guidance, with full details and next-step guidance outlined below.

Persistent crampy abdominal pain can stem from IBS or IBD; IBS is a functional issue without inflammation that often eases after bowel movements or with diet changes, while IBD is inflammatory, may cause nighttime or more localized pain, and usually needs medical treatment. Red flags like blood in the stool, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, fever, anemia, or pain that wakes you should prompt urgent medical care. There are several factors to consider; see below for key details on symptoms, tests, and when to seek help, which could change your next steps.

Yes, many women with Crohn’s notice abdominal pain and bowel symptoms get worse just before and during their period due to hormonal shifts and prostaglandins that speed gut activity and heighten pain sensitivity. There are several factors to consider, and the key differences between period-related symptom spikes and a true Crohn’s flare are explained below. Important details below cover what patterns suggest hormones vs inflammation, warning signs that need urgent care, safer pain relief than NSAIDs, the roles of anemia, stress, sleep, hydration and diet, and why tracking cycles helps guide treatment with your gastroenterologist and gynecologist.

No, bleeding with Crohn’s is not constant; it usually happens during flares and is more likely when the colon or rectum is involved, while many people have long stretches with little or no bleeding. There are several factors to consider. See below for red flags that need urgent care, other possible causes of bleeding, and how evaluation and treatment can reduce risk and manage symptoms.

Drinking enough water can help many people with IBS, especially by easing constipation through softer stools and by preventing dehydration during diarrhea, but it is not a cure. There are several factors to consider, including your IBS subtype and how and when you drink, which can change your next steps. The complete answer below covers hydration targets, practical tips, how water fits with other treatments, and red flag symptoms that mean you should see a doctor.

No. IBD does not always cause rectal bleeding. It is more common in ulcerative colitis than in Crohn's, tends to appear during flares, and may be absent in remission or when disease is mild or not involving the rectum. There are several factors to consider, including other non-IBD causes of bleeding and red flags that warrant urgent evaluation; see below for important details that could affect your next steps in care.

Yes, IBD can cause inflammation beyond the gut, most often involving the joints, skin, eyes, liver, and bones, and less commonly the lungs, kidneys, or blood vessels; not everyone is affected, and controlling gut inflammation lowers the risk. There are several factors to consider. See below for key details on red flag symptoms, who is at higher risk, how doctors diagnose and treat these issues, and when to seek urgent versus routine care, which could influence your next steps.

Yes, ulcerative colitis often causes pain on the left side of the abdomen, because inflammation commonly involves the descending and sigmoid colon. The pain is usually crampy, tied to bowel movements, and tends to worsen during flares and improve when inflammation is treated. There are several factors to consider. See below for details on other conditions that can mimic this pain, red flags that need urgent care such as severe or sudden pain with fever or heavy bleeding, and how doctors diagnose and manage left-sided symptoms so you can plan next steps.

Fatigue and gut issues in women are closely linked through nutrient deficiencies like iron and B12, IBS, microbiome imbalance, food intolerances, hormonal shifts, and stress. There are several factors to consider. See below for red flags that need prompt care, practical habits that help, and the tests your clinician may recommend so you can choose the right next steps.

Fatigue is a very common, often overlooked symptom of Crohn’s that can persist even when bowel symptoms seem controlled, and it usually stems from overlapping causes like ongoing inflammation, anemia, nutrient deficiencies, sleep disruption, medication effects, and emotional stress. There are several factors to consider. Watch for urgent signs like sudden or worsening fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, fever, or unexplained weight loss and speak to a doctor, as evaluation and targeted treatment can help; see the complete guidance below for next steps.

Persistent fatigue with gut problems is common and often linked to poor nutrient absorption, low grade inflammation, the gut brain connection, sleep disruption, stress or overwork, and conditions like anemia or thyroid issues. There are several factors to consider, including red flag symptoms that need prompt care and practical steps plus when to see a doctor. See below for specifics that can clarify causes and guide the right next steps in your healthcare journey.

Hormonal changes can affect bowel symptoms, causing shifts in constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and cramping as estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and thyroid hormones alter gut motility and sensitivity during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause, and with hormonal medications. There are several factors to consider, including how this differs in IBS versus IBD where hormones can worsen symptoms but do not cause IBD, and when red flag signs mean you should see a doctor, so review the complete guidance below for key details and next steps.

IBS-related abdominal pain is usually recurring and crampy, often linked to bowel habit changes like diarrhea or constipation, and may improve or worsen after a bowel movement; it rarely wakes you from sleep and often fluctuates with stress or certain foods. There are several factors to consider, and red flags such as weight loss, blood in stool, fever, persistent vomiting, or steadily worsening pain suggest something other than IBS and warrant prompt medical care. See below for complete details on patterns, look-alike conditions, what to ask your doctor, and the next steps that could affect your care.

There are several factors to consider: a flare is when your usual IBS symptoms become more intense or frequent than your baseline, often with stronger abdominal cramps, noticeable bloating, and a clear shift in bowel habits like more diarrhea, constipation, urgency, or feeling incompletely emptied, sometimes worse after meals or during stress. See below for a fuller checklist of signs, common triggers, when symptoms may not be just a flare and warrant urgent medical care such as bleeding, weight loss, fever, or severe nighttime pain, plus practical steps to manage a flare and tools to guide your next steps.

There are several factors to consider. Pain is more likely serious if it is sudden, severe, worsening, wakes you from sleep, limits movement, or comes with red flags like fever, persistent vomiting, blood in vomit or stool, black stools, yellowing skin or eyes, a hard or swollen abdomen, inability to pass gas or stool, chest, back, or shoulder pain, or pain after an injury; mild pain that improves within 24 to 48 hours is usually less concerning. Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening pain, high fever, fainting, or shortness of breath, and use extra caution for children, older adults, and during pregnancy; location and duration also matter, and persistent pain should be checked by a doctor. See below for complete guidance and important details that could change your next steps.

In seniors, IBD tends to show up with subtler gut symptoms like mild, intermittent diarrhea and less obvious pain, rectal bleeding is noticed more often, and weight loss and fatigue have bigger health impacts; the disease can be milder overall, but not always. Medications and other conditions affect older adults differently, raising risks of side effects and misdiagnosis with issues like IBS or diverticular disease, so there are several factors to consider; see the complete details below to guide safer, personalized next steps.

To calm a flare, focus on gut rest and nervous system calming: eat smaller, simpler meals, sip water, apply gentle heat, and choose low stress foods; many people benefit from a short low FODMAP phase with professional guidance. Add relaxation breathing and gentle walking, and use targeted remedies as needed such as antispasmodics for cramping, soluble fiber for constipation, antidiarrheals for diarrhea, or enteric coated peppermint oil. There are several factors to consider, including tracking patterns, long term prevention, and red flag symptoms that need prompt medical care like blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, fever with abdominal pain, or symptoms that wake you at night; see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Chronic diarrhea can affect your whole body by causing dehydration, electrolyte loss, and poor nutrient absorption, leading to fatigue, unintended weight loss, anemia, and rectal or skin irritation; in inflammatory bowel disease it may reflect ongoing inflammation with wider immune effects. There are several factors to consider, including red flags like blood or black stools, fever, nighttime symptoms, and signs of dehydration that warrant prompt care. See the complete details below to understand IBS vs IBD, higher risks in children and older adults, and practical steps for hydration, nutrition, and when to seek medical evaluation.

Gut inflammation can cause fatigue by impairing nutrient absorption needed for energy, keeping the immune system chronically activated, and sending inflammatory signals that disrupt brain function and sleep, leaving you drained even after rest. There are several factors to consider. See below for how microbiome shifts and the gut brain axis play a role, how stress and overwork worsen the cycle, which symptoms should prompt medical care, and practical steps that can help restore energy.

Inflammation harms the gut lining by releasing cytokines that injure epithelial cells, loosen tight junctions, and thin the protective mucus, increasing intestinal permeability. This allows bacteria and toxins to leak in, disrupts the microbiome, and creates a cycle of ongoing damage that is most severe in IBD, leading to ulcers, scarring, and malabsorption. There are several factors to consider, including red flag symptoms and how IBD differs from IBS; see below for the complete explanation and practical next steps for care and healing.

Ulcerative colitis usually starts gradually with subtle bowel changes that worsen over weeks, most often persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding or mucus, urgency, and tenesmus, as inflammation begins in the rectum and may extend continuously into the colon. There are several factors to consider. See below for key differences from IBS or hemorrhoids, early extraintestinal signs, red flags that require prompt care, and how diagnosis and early treatment can guide your next steps.

Untreated bowel disease can progress differently by type: IBS usually does not cause inflammation or permanent damage but can significantly affect quality of life, while IBD tends to worsen without care, leading to ongoing inflammation, ulcers, scarring and strictures, malnutrition and anemia, extraintestinal issues, infections and hospitalization, and a higher long term colorectal cancer risk. There are several factors to consider, including duration of symptoms, bleeding, weight loss, fever, and night symptoms that warrant prompt care. See below for fuller details, red flags, and guidance on early diagnosis, treatment options, and monitoring that can change your next steps.

IBD is a chronic, immune-driven inflammation of the digestive tract that can damage tissue, flare and remit, and usually needs medical treatment, while food intolerance is a non-immune digestion issue where symptoms follow specific foods, do not cause inflammation, and typically improve with avoidance. There are several factors to consider. Diagnosis, risks, and next steps differ, and red flags like persistent diarrhea, blood or mucus in stool, fever, or weight loss warrant prompt medical care; see the complete details below to understand testing, diet roles, and when to seek help.

Crohn’s symptoms can go unnoticed for several months to many years, and diagnostic delays of 1 to 5 years are not uncommon because early signs are often mild, come and go, or are mistaken for other issues. There are several factors to consider; see below for important details on subtle symptoms, who is most affected at different ages, when to seek care, and how diagnosis is made, which could influence your next steps.