Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

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.

Most IBD flares last weeks to a few months; mild often 1 to 4 weeks, moderate 4 to 12 weeks, and severe can persist for several months, especially without timely treatment. There are several factors to consider, including the type of IBD, inflammation severity, how quickly therapy starts, medication adherence, and triggers like infections or NSAIDs. See below for more details, including ways to shorten flares, extend remission, and when to seek urgent care, which can influence your next steps.

There are several factors to consider. Long-term bowel inflammation ranges from mild and manageable to serious, depending on the cause: IBS is common and does not damage the bowel, while true inflammatory diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis can lead to bowel injury, nutrient deficiencies, strictures, and a higher long-term colon cancer risk. Early assessment lowers complications and guides the right care; see below for key red flags, how doctors distinguish IBS from inflammation, and practical next steps for testing, treatment, and self-care.

You can’t flush IBS out; it’s a chronic gut-brain condition, but symptoms can often be eased with a structured low FODMAP approach, gradual soluble fiber, steady hydration, targeted probiotics, stress and sleep support, regular activity, and medications when appropriate. Avoid colon cleanses, detoxes, fasting, and extreme water intake, and seek care urgently for red flags like bleeding, weight loss, fever, or symptoms that wake you from sleep; there are several factors to consider, and key details that could affect your next steps are outlined below.

Relief for lower abdominal pain in men often starts with rest and observation, gentle heat, good hydration, light bland foods, and careful use of antacids, gas relief, fiber, or acetaminophen, while longer term prevention uses fiber rich eating, regular walking, and stress management; there are several factors to consider across digestive, urinary, reproductive, muscular, and inflammatory causes, and key details that can guide next steps are below. Seek urgent care for severe or worsening pain, fever, persistent vomiting, blood in stool or urine, pain with urination, sudden testicular pain, injury, unexplained weight loss, or pain lasting more than a few days, and see below for male specific red flags like prostate or hernia symptoms plus when to use a symptom checker or talk to a doctor.

To ease lower abdominal pain, start with heat therapy, gentle movement and stretching, hydration, and cautious use of OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen if appropriate. There are several factors to consider, including menstrual, digestive, urinary, ovulation, pregnancy, and postmenopausal causes, and red flags like sudden severe pain, fever, vomiting, heavy bleeding, or pain with a positive pregnancy test that require urgent care; see below for complete guidance on tailored relief, prevention tips, when to use a symptom checker, and when to speak to a doctor.

No, abdominal pain in older adults with IBD is not always severe; it can be mild, intermittent, or absent, and other signs like diarrhea, blood in the stool, fatigue, or weight loss may be more telling, while severe or worsening pain requires urgent care. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand how age, coexisting conditions, and medications can blunt pain, what warning signs need immediate attention, how IBD differs from IBS, and which tests and next steps to discuss with your clinician.

Yes, abdominal pain is a core and required symptom of IBS, typically recurring and tied to bowel movements or changes in stool frequency or form. There are several factors to consider, including how the pain behaves and key warning signs that suggest a different cause; see below for what IBS pain feels like, when to seek medical care, and practical next steps for diagnosis and relief.

Constant fatigue with stomach pain can be a sign of ulcerative colitis, but these symptoms are not specific and can also come from IBS, anemia, celiac disease, ulcers, thyroid problems, infections, or medication effects. UC is more likely if you also have diarrhea, blood or mucus in stool, urgency, night symptoms, weight loss, or a family history, and diagnosis needs medical evaluation and often colonoscopy; seek prompt care for severe pain, bleeding, fever, persistent diarrhea, or marked fatigue. There are several factors to consider; see below for key red flags, how UC pain typically behaves, and the most useful next steps.

No, they are different conditions: IBS is a functional gut disorder that does not cause inflammation or intestinal damage, while IBD (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) involves chronic inflammation that can injure the bowel and carries higher long-term risks. Symptoms can overlap, but red flags such as blood in the stool, weight loss, fever, nighttime diarrhea, or anemia suggest IBD and warrant prompt medical care. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more.

Yes, long-term diarrhea can be a sign of bowel inflammation, especially if it lasts more than 4 weeks or is accompanied by blood or mucus, weight loss, fever, ongoing abdominal pain, or nighttime symptoms. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including non-inflammatory causes like IBS, medications, hormonal issues, and malabsorption, plus when to seek care, what tests may be used, and treatment options based on the cause.

Late-onset inflammatory bowel disease refers to Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis first diagnosed after about age 60, making up roughly 10 to 20 percent of cases; symptoms may be less obvious, and a careful workup with labs, stool tests, colonoscopy, and imaging helps distinguish it from infection, ischemic colitis, cancer, or IBS. Treatment is effective but individualized in older adults, often starting with the lowest effective doses and close monitoring, and you should seek prompt care for persistent bleeding, weeks-long diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, severe abdominal pain, fever, or signs of dehydration or anemia. There are several factors to consider that can affect your next steps, including differences from younger-onset disease and medication risks, so see below for the complete answer.

Long-lasting digestive symptoms can disrupt work, social life, sleep, and mood, and any that persist more than a few weeks deserve attention. There are several factors to consider, including IBD as a key inflammatory cause that differs from IBS, as well as other possibilities like celiac disease, food intolerances, chronic infection, medications, and stress; red flags such as blood in stool, unexplained weight loss, fever, severe pain, symptoms that wake you from sleep, or diarrhea lasting weeks should prompt medical care. See below for a clear guide to distinguishing IBD from IBS, warning signs, what tests and treatments to expect, and practical steps for diet, monitoring, and mental health that could shape your next steps.

There are several factors to consider: ongoing belly pain with extreme fatigue can result from digestive disorders, infections, hormonal or metabolic issues, anemia, or problems with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. See below for specific red flags like weight loss, fever, bleeding, or jaundice that need urgent care, how doctors evaluate these symptoms, and practical steps you can take now; speak to a doctor if symptoms persist, worsen, or feel severe or unusual for you.

Pelvic discomfort with bowel symptoms can stem from common conditions like IBS or from inflammatory bowel disease that causes ongoing intestinal inflammation, with red flags such as persistent diarrhea, blood in the stool, nighttime bowel movements, weight loss, fever, or fatigue signaling the need for medical evaluation. There are several factors to consider, including other pelvic, digestive, and nerve or muscle causes, ways doctors test for them, and when to seek urgent care; see below for the complete details and next steps that could affect your care.

There are key differences in timing, location, triggers, and symptoms that help tell period-related uterine cramps from bowel pain: period pain clusters around your cycle with crampy lower pelvic aching that often eases after bleeding starts, while bowel pain can happen any time, shift around the abdomen, change with eating or bowel movements, and often comes with ongoing diarrhea or constipation. Because bowel pain may signal IBS or inflammatory bowel disease and red flags like blood in stool, weight loss, fever, night symptoms, or worsening pain should prompt medical care, there are several factors to consider. See the complete answer below for important details on overlap with conditions like endometriosis, how to track patterns, and what next steps to take.

Persistent crampy stomach pain with sudden urgency is often due to IBS, food intolerances, a lingering gut infection, constipation, or less commonly inflammatory bowel disease, and it happens when the intestines are overactive or irritated; there are several factors to consider, so see below for causes, why urgency occurs, and what doctors typically evaluate. Seek urgent care for red flags like blood in stool, persistent vomiting, fever, weight loss, nighttime pain, severe or worsening pain, dehydration, or a family history of IBD or bowel cancer, and review the practical steps below for diet, stress management, hydration, bathroom habits, symptom-check tools, and how to decide on next steps.

Rectal bleeding with bowel movements is common and often from hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or constipation, but the color and pattern can also point to inflammatory bowel disease, infections, or colorectal polyps and cancer; there are several factors to consider, and key details that could change your next steps are explained below. Seek urgent care for heavy or persistent bleeding, dizziness or weakness, black or maroon stools, severe abdominal pain, fever, or weight loss, and see below for how doctors evaluate, treat, and help prevent this.

Stomach pain lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks is often due to manageable issues like IBS, gastritis, reflux, ulcers, food intolerances, stress, or constipation, and less commonly gallbladder problems or inflammatory bowel disease; seek medical care if it persists, limits daily life, or if red flags like weight loss, ongoing vomiting, blood in stool or black stools, fever, pain that wakes you from sleep, or progressive worsening occur. There are several factors to consider, including what to track, which medicines may irritate the stomach, lifestyle steps that can help, and when to seek testing or urgent care; see the complete guidance below to understand causes, warning signs, and the right next steps for your care.

Five common causes of abdominal pain are digestive upset or indigestion, gastrointestinal infections, inflammatory bowel disease, constipation, and conditions affecting the gallbladder, kidneys, or pancreas. Yes, IBD is one of them; there are several factors to consider about red flags, symptom patterns, and when to seek care, so see the complete details below to understand more and choose the right next steps.