Common digestive problems - and how to treat them

Digestive complaints such as constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn and bloating are incredibly common but usually treatable.

Medicines that can upset your tummy

When to see a doctor



Around 40% of people have at least one digestive symptom at any one time, according to Dr Anton Emmanuel, consultant gastroenterologist at University College Hospital in London.

The most common are:

-   abdominal pain
-   changes in bowel habit (usually [constipation](/health-library/conditions/constipation) or [diarrhoea](/health-library/symptoms/diarrhoea) )
-   [indigestion](/health-library/conditions/indigestion)
-   [heartburn](/health-library/conditions/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease)

"Most digestive problems are to do with lifestyle, the foods we've eaten, or stress. Which means that taking steps to change your lifestyle can help, and often prevent, many of these problems," said Dr Emmanuel.

"There's a wide choice of pharmacy remedies for heartburn, indigestion and similar problems that are very good for the short-term relief of symptoms", he added.

## Medicines that can upset your tummy

Certain medicines that your doctor may have prescribed for you for other health conditions can lead to side effects that may upset your tummy and cause indigestion, diarrhoea or constipation.

Avoid aspirin and medicines used to treat [arthritis](/health-library/conditions/arthritis) , known as [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)](/health-library/drugs/anti-inflammatories-non-steroidal) , if you have an ulcer or you get indigestion. Consult your doctor if you rely on these medicines and are also prone to indigestion or ulcers. [Paracetamol](/health-library/drugs/painkillers-paracetamol) is a useful alternative.

Certain tranquillisers, painkillers, iron tablets and cough medicines can cause constipation and some people get diarrhoea while taking [antibiotics](/health-library/drugs/antibiotics-penicillins) or blood pressure pills.

Always tell your doctor if your prescribed medicines are upsetting your tummy.


::: body-ad-desktop
zones:: 232632,232445,232640
types:: 163
disclaimer:: AD
typeFilter:: native_ad
adCount:: 1

:::


::: body-ad-mobile
zones:: 232632,232445,232642
types:: 5,163
disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT
typeFilter:: display/native_ad
adCount:: 1

:::

## When to see a doctor

Digestive symptoms are usually harmless and often settle down by themselves but sometimes they don't go away and can be a signal of serious illness.

Dr Emmanuel advised anyone who has taken a pharmacy remedy for a digestive problem for two weeks with no improvement to see their doctor.

He also highlighted five symptoms, which mean you should see a doctor straight away. These symptoms may be an alarm warning of a serious digestive illness:

-   a sudden, persistent change in the pattern of how your bowels work
-   [bleeding from the bottom](/health-library/symptoms/rectal-bleeding)
-   worsening heartburn, indigestion or stomach pain
-   losing weight unexpectedly
-   [difficulty swallowing](/health-library/conditions/dysphagia/#definition)


error

 There was an error when submitting your feedback – have a screen break then try again in a few minutes.

Oh no, something’s gone wrong

ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS?

initial

This isn’t helpful

This isn’t relevant

Something is wrong

This isn’t accurate

Please select one.

loading

success

We're listening – we use your feedback to improve your experience, and make our content more helpful.

Thank you for your feedback

References

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

Article information

Digestive complaints such as constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn and bloating are very common and usually treatable with lifestyle measures and over-the-counter remedies.