Digestive symptoms

• Dental caries or tooth decay


  Sharp, throbbing pain around a tooth
• Dental caries or tooth decay


  • Caused by bacterial infection
  • Prevented by frequent brushing, visiting dentist every 6 months
• Gingivitis


  Inflammation of gums
• Gingivitis


  • Caused by bacteria
  • Caused by poor dental hygiene, smoking, puberty, poor nutrition
  • Prevented by observing proper oral hygiene and proper nutrition
• Constipation


  Not enough water in the large intestine
• Constipation


  • Prevented by eating plenty of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily
• Dyspepsia or indigestion


  Pain in the upper abdomen when too much food is taken
• Dyspepsia or indigestion


  • Causes include bloating feeling, heartburn, nausea
  • Some are attributed to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Requires seeing a doctor
• Hemorrhoids


  Cluster of swollen and inflamed veins
• Hemorrhoids


  • Thought to result from increased pressure in the veins of the rectum or anus manifested by rectal bleeding or presence of blood during defecation
  • Prevented by eating fibre-rich foods, exercise and maintaining right weight
• Liver cancer


  Cancer that starts in the liver
• Liver cancer


  • Symptoms include discomfort in upper abdomen, swollen abdomen, hard lump below rib cage, pain near shoulder blade or back, jaundice, easy bruising/bleeding, unusual tiredness, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss
  • Risk factors include being overweight/obese, long-term hepatitis B/C, smoking, drinking alcohol, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Peptic ulcer disease


  Open sores that develop on the inside lining of stomach and upper small intestine
• Peptic ulcer disease


  • Symptoms include burning stomach pain, feeling of fullness/bloating/belching, intolerance to fatty foods, heartburn, nausea
• Colon cancer


  Cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon)
• Colon cancer


  • Usually begins as small, noncancerous clumps of cells called polyps that form on the inside of the colon
  • Symptoms include persistent change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, persistent abdominal discomfort, feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, weakness/fatigue, unexplained weight loss
• Food intolerance


  When your body is not able to digest a certain food or ingredient
• Food intolerance


  • Most common is lactose intolerance, when body cannot digest lactose (sugar in milk and dairy)