Gastroenterology

Bad-smelling stool after certain meals is usually from how gut bacteria ferment specific foods, with common culprits including sulfur-rich vegetables and eggs, high-protein meats, beans and legumes, dairy if lactose intolerant, high-fat or fried foods, and sometimes spicy seasonings. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Odors can also signal issues like malabsorption, infections such as C. diff or Giardia, medication effects, or bile duct and inflammatory conditions; seek care if smells persist with greasy stools, weight loss, blood, severe pain, or jaundice. For practical fixes and next steps, the complete guidance below covers food diaries, gradual diet changes, hydration, probiotics or enzymes, and when to talk with a clinician.

Bad-smelling poop most often comes from common issues like diet high in sulfur foods or dehydration, but it can also signal infections, medication effects, malabsorption, pancreatic enzyme problems, SIBO, IBS, or liver and bile duct disease. There are several factors to consider; see below for the full list, odor-reduction tips, and the key warning signs plus tests like breath testing for SIBO, fecal elastase for pancreatic insufficiency, and liver-function or imaging that can guide your next steps and when to seek care.

Sudden foul-smelling stool is most often from diet shifts, sweeteners, or a short-lived gut infection, but it can also point to malabsorption (lactose intolerance, celiac, pancreatic insufficiency), SIBO, infections, liver or gallbladder issues, or medication effects. There are several factors to consider. Red flags like symptoms lasting more than 2 weeks, severe pain, blood or black stool, fever, dehydration, or weight loss need prompt care; see below for practical steps you can take now, the tests doctors may recommend, and treatments that depend on the cause.

The immediate causes of death in stage 3 cirrhosis include variceal bleeding, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis with sepsis, hepatorenal syndrome, severe hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatocellular carcinoma, often triggering a cascade into multi organ failure. There are several factors to consider. See below for early warning signs to act on and key steps that reduce risk, guide monitoring, and inform when to seek urgent care or transplant evaluation.

Bad-smelling poop is usually from diet or a brief infection, but if the odor persists more than 1 to 2 weeks or comes with red flags like chronic diarrhea, weight loss, blood or black stools, severe abdominal pain, jaundice, or pale clay-colored stools, it can signal malabsorption (celiac, pancreatic insufficiency, SIBO), liver or bile duct disease, infections like C. diff or giardia, inflammatory bowel disease, or rare causes. There are several factors to consider. See complete guidance below for key details on home steps versus when to seek urgent care, plus which tests and specialists may be needed.

A very foul stool smell when you otherwise feel fine is usually harmless and tied to diet, hydration, or shifts in gut bacteria, but it can also reflect malabsorption, mild infections, transit time changes, or bile and liver issues. There are several factors to consider, including red flags that mean you should seek care and simple home steps like diet adjustments, probiotics, and hydration that often help. For warning signs, specific causes like SIBO or celiac, and which tests or next steps may apply to you, see the complete answer below.

Mild nausea after eating in early pregnancy is common and often normal, but persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms especially with dehydration or weight loss may signal hyperemesis gravidarum or another condition that needs prompt care. There are several factors to consider; see below for red flags to watch for, other causes like GERD or gallbladder problems, practical diet and hydration tips, and safe treatments such as vitamin B6 and doxylamine that can guide your next steps with your clinician.

Quick fixes that actually help include ginger (tea, chews, or capsules), frequent small sips of fluids, smaller slower meals, staying upright or taking a short walk, acupressure at P-6, relaxation breathing, and when needed antacids or H2 blockers. There are several factors to consider, from common causes like dyspepsia, delayed stomach emptying, GERD, food intolerance, stress, and medications to red flags such as persistent vomiting, dehydration, blood, weight loss, jaundice, or severe pain that warrant medical care. See below for step by step tips, what to avoid, when to call a doctor, and the tests your clinician may use so you can choose the right next step.

Feeling nauseated after meals can have many causes, including motility disorders like gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia, reflux or ulcers, gallbladder or pancreatic problems, food intolerance or poisoning, medication effects, metabolic issues with the liver, kidneys, or electrolytes, pregnancy or migraines, and anxiety. There are several factors to consider, and some red flags need urgent care such as persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, blood in vomit or stool, jaundice, dizziness, or unexplained weight loss; see below for specific self-care steps, when to get tests or a specialist, and treatments that could change your next healthcare decisions.

There are several factors to consider when nausea hits right after eating. Food poisoning usually starts within hours and is more likely if others who ate the same food get sick, with sudden vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and possibly fever; nausea that recurs, is tied to larger or fatty meals, or lacks diarrhea points more toward gastroparesis, GERD, ulcers, or gallbladder disease. See below for timing clues, home remedies and prevention, plus the red flags that mean seek urgent care such as dehydration, high fever, bloody or black stools, chest pain, jaundice, or symptoms lasting more than a few days, so you can choose the right next steps.

Persistent or severe nausea after eating, especially with red flags like strong abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, blood in vomit or black, tarry stools, high fever, jaundice, swelling of the belly or legs, confusion, or unexplained weight loss, should prompt urgent medical attention. There are several factors to consider, including serious causes and specific tests that can guide next steps; see below for details on ulcers and gastritis, gallbladder and biliary disease, pancreatitis, gastroparesis or blockage, liver disease and cirrhosis, and cancer, plus when to try home care and when to see a doctor.

There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Common causes include gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia, acid reflux, food intolerances, peptic ulcers, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, liver disease, medication side effects, and stress. Seek care urgently for severe or persistent pain, vomiting blood, unexplained weight loss, high fever, jaundice, or dehydration, and use the complete guidance below for practical diet changes, trigger tracking, medication tips, and when to see a clinician.

Eating with Crohn’s is highly individualized: during flares, focus on low-residue, easily digested foods, small frequent meals, adequate protein, and hydration; in remission, gradually reintroduce fiber, whole foods, and fermented/probiotic options as tolerated. There are several factors to consider—macronutrient balance, fat and lactose tolerance, key vitamins/minerals (iron, B12, vitamin D/calcium), options like enteral nutrition, and lifestyle steps (stress, smoking, exercise, sleep); see below for specifics, red-flag symptoms, and how to work with your care team.

Fatal outcomes from Crohn’s are rare today, but possible—usually from complications like perforation, toxic megacolon, severe infections, or major bleeding if not recognized and treated promptly. Most people live a normal lifespan with modern therapies and close follow-up; there are several factors and warning signs to consider—see below for the details that could guide your next steps.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the GI tract, causing diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue, and sometimes complications like strictures, fistulas, and abscesses. Diagnosis typically uses blood and stool tests, imaging, and endoscopy, and treatment ranges from nutrition strategies and short-term steroids to immunomodulators and biologics, with surgery for complications. There are several factors to consider for diet, monitoring, vaccines, pregnancy, and when to seek urgent care—see the complete guidance below to inform your next steps.

Crohn’s disease is diagnosed with a stepwise evaluation that combines your medical history and exam, blood and stool markers (e.g., fecal calprotectin), colonoscopy with ileoscopy and biopsies (gold standard), and imaging such as MR/CT enterography, with capsule or advanced endoscopy when needed—because no single test confirms it and look‑alike conditions must be ruled out. There are several factors to consider that can change which tests are prioritized and what to do next; see the complete details below.

Testing for Crohn’s disease uses a stepwise approach: symptom and history review; blood tests (CBC, CRP/ESR); stool tests to rule out infection and detect inflammation (calprotectin/lactoferrin); the gold standard is colonoscopy with ileoscopy and biopsies, with imaging (MRE/CTE, ultrasound, capsule) to map extent and complications. No single test confirms it—clinicians integrate all results to distinguish Crohn’s from mimics; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete details below for what each test shows, when to seek urgent care, and how results guide your next steps.

Crohn’s disease itself is rarely directly fatal, and with modern treatments most people live full lives—but there are several factors to consider. Serious complications (like bowel perforation or obstruction, severe bleeding, sepsis, malnutrition, infections from immunosuppressive therapy, and associated liver disease or colorectal cancer) drive most risk, while early diagnosis, tight disease control, and regular surveillance reduce it; see the complete details below to understand what to watch for and which next steps to take.

Crohn’s has a strong genetic component: first-degree relatives face a 10–30× higher risk and identical twins show 30–50% concordance, but genes account for only about half the risk—environment, gut microbes, diet, and smoking also play major roles. Researchers have identified over 70 risk regions (e.g., NOD2, ATG16L1), but there’s no single “Crohn’s gene,” so routine genetic testing has limited predictive value. There are several factors and next steps to consider; see below for important details that could impact your care.

Diet changes won’t cure Crohn’s, but evidence-based strategies—like the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet combined with partial enteral nutrition—plus ensuring adequate calories and protein can reduce flares, aid remission, and prevent malnutrition; reintroduce foods slowly and work with a gastroenterologist or IBD dietitian. Emphasize lean proteins, cooked low-fiber produce, refined grains, and healthy fats; limit processed and high-fat foods, emulsifiers, alcohol, and high-fiber items during flares, and use nutrition formulas if intake is low. There are several important factors to consider—see below for the phased CDED plan, exact nutrition targets, micronutrient guidance, specific foods to include/avoid, when to use enteral nutrition, and red flags that need medical care.