Causes of Pain
Identify the underlying causes of abdominal discomfort, from dietary issues and stress to medical conditions requiring professional attention.
Acid Reflux Disease
Acid reflux happens when stomach acid damages your oesophagus, here's why it occurs and what triggers it.
All You Need To Know About Constipation
Constipation can signal anything from diet changes to serious conditions like bowel cancer, so persistent cases need a doctor's attention.
Antibiotics and Your Tummy
Antibiotics can wipe out your gut's good bacteria, sometimes taking months to recover without help from probiotics.
Appendicitis
Abdominal pain could signal appendicitis, a serious inflammation of the appendix that needs prompt medical attention.
Bowel Cancer
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer deaths, but early detection through screening can save lives.
Cholesterol and Your Digestive System
High cholesterol from fatty foods can damage your digestive system and increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Colitis
Colitis causes chronic inflammation of the large intestine, leading to ulcers and diarrhea, with genetics and immune system issues playing a key role.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease causes inflammation deep in the intestinal lining, leading to diarrhoea and abdominal pain that differ from other bowel conditions.
Diagnosing Abdominal Illness
Your doctor uses physical exams, tests and imaging to figure out what's causing your abdominal pain.
Digestive Disorders
Common digestive disorders like celiac disease, Crohn's, and Barrett's oesophagus explained in plain terms.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis happens when small pouches in your colon get infected or inflamed, usually from a low-fiber diet and constipation.
Endometritis
Endometritis is inflammation of the uterine lining caused by infection or other conditions, presenting with abdominal pain and abnormal bleeding.
Flatulence
Gas happens when you swallow air or your body digests certain foods, and here's what causes the bloating and discomfort.
Food Allergies
Food allergies trigger an immune system reaction to certain foods and can be serious or fatal, unlike food intolerances which cause mild digestive symptoms.
Gall Stones
Gallstones form when bile hardens due to too much cholesterol, bilirubin, or bile salt, often triggered by obesity, weight loss, or hormone changes.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis causes stomach inflammation and digestive tract irritation, with viral and bacterial types having different symptoms and recovery times.
Hernias
A hernia occurs when an internal organ pushes through a weak spot in the muscle wall, most often in the abdomen, and can affect anyone at any age.
How Your Job Can Hurt Your Tummy
Work stress can trigger digestive problems like IBS and stomach ulcers by flooding your body with stress hormones.
Infections and Bugs
Stomach bugs like viral infections and food poisoning cause cramping and nausea, but most clear up on their own within days.
Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites are still common today and can come from undercooked food or poor sanitation while travelling abroad.
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leaky gut syndrome happens when holes form in your intestine lining, letting toxins into your bloodstream and causing symptoms like bloating, fatigue and brain fog.
Menstrual Cramps
What causes menstrual cramps and how to tell if yours are normal or a sign of something else.
MMR Vaccine Scandal and Bowel Problems
A 1998 study claimed the MMR vaccine caused bowel disease and autism, but independent research has since debunked those findings.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer develops when cells in the ovaries grow abnormally, often without early symptoms, making it hard to catch in its initial stages.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis happens when your pancreas gets inflamed, usually from gallstones or alcohol, and can be either acute or chronic.
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is a serious abdominal infection that causes inflammation of the membrane lining your stomach and can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Polycistic Ovaries
Polycystic ovary syndrome affects 1 in 10 women and causes irregular periods, cysts, and hormone imbalances that can lead to infertility.
Prescription Medication and Your Stomach
Many common prescription medications can damage your stomach and digestive system, even when taken as directed by your doctor.
Reduce Your Alcohol Intake
Alcohol masks stress instead of relieving it, and drinking above recommended limits can harm your health and trigger addiction.
Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer starts when abnormal cells grow in the stomach's inner layer, affecting digestion and spreading through the digestive tract.
Stress and Your Digestive System
Stress can wreak havoc on your digestive system, causing heartburn, ulcers and acid reflux when you're eating poorly and breathing badly under pressure.
Tumours in the Stomach
Stomach tumours need rapid treatment tailored to the cancer stage, with surgery and chemotherapy being the main options depending on how far it's spread.
What are Peptic Ulcers?
Peptic ulcers are open sores in your digestive tract caused by excess stomach acid that can lead to severe abdominal pain without treatment.
What is Gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis is inflammation in your digestive tract that causes vomiting and diarrhea, and while often mild, it kills millions yearly and needs proper care.
What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
IBS affects one in five adults and causes abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhoea and constipation that can flare up after meals or stress.