Medically reviewed by Ada Stewart, M.D.
Was it something you ate or a symptom of a gastrointestinal (GI) condition? Life in the military means you’re not always in control of your diet or sleep routine. Our quick reference guide will help you figure out if your symptoms are a sign you need to see your medical provider.
| Celiac Disease | |||
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Symptoms |
Risk Factors |
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Symptoms of celiac disease can be different for everyone. You might experience:
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Some factors that make your risk of getting celiac disease higher are:
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Treatment |
Good to Know |
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The way to treat celiac disease is to remove gluten — the protein found in wheat, barley and rye — from your diet, including from medications that may have it. |
Celiac disease can increase your chances of getting osteoporosis, a condition that makes your bones brittle and more likely to break, as well as iron deficiency anemia, mouth ulcers, joint pains and rashes. |
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Celiac Disease
Symptoms of celiac disease can be different for everyone. You might experience:
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Lactose or cow’s milk intolerance
- Loose, greasy, bulky and bad-smelling stools
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain in the abdomen or pelvic area
Some factors that make your risk of getting celiac disease higher are:
- Having certain genes that make it more likely for you to get the disease
- Having a lot of infections as a child or teenager
The way to treat celiac disease is to remove gluten — the protein found in wheat, barley and rye — from your diet, including from medications that may have it.
Celiac disease can increase your chances of getting osteoporosis, a condition that makes your bones brittle and more likely to break, as well as iron deficiency anemia, mouth ulcers, joint pains and rashes.
| Colon Polyps | |
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Symptoms |
Risk Factors |
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It’s common not to have any symptoms of colon polyps. If you do have symptoms, you might experience:
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Some factors that make your risk of getting colon polyps higher are:
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Treatment |
Good to Know |
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Treatment of colon polyps is to remove them with surgery. Most colon polyps are harmless but they can develop into cancer, so it’s important to have them removed. There are three types of surgery your medical provider may recommend:
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Because most people with colon polyps don’t have any symptoms, the best way to know if you have them is with recommended regular screening, which can be a colonoscopy or a stool test. |
Colon Polyps
It’s common not to have any symptoms of colon polyps. If you do have symptoms, you might experience:
- Constipation or diarrhea that lasts longer than a week
- Blood in your stool or stool that looks black
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Cramps or pain in your abdomen or pelvic area
Some factors that make your risk of getting colon polyps higher are:
- Being 50+ years old
- Having another GI condition that causes inflammation
- Having a family history of colon polyps or colon cancer
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Having overweight or obesity
- Eating a high-fat diet
Treatment of colon polyps is to remove them with surgery. Most colon polyps are harmless but they can develop into cancer, so it’s important to have them removed. There are three types of surgery your medical provider may recommend:
- Polypectomy, which removes polyps by putting a tube in the rectum and either scraping, heating or freezing the polyp
- Laparoscopy, which removes polyps by putting a camera through the abdomen and using small tools to cut away the polyps
- Proctocolectomy, which removes the entire colon and rectum (if you have a rare inherited disease where your colon is full of polyps)
Because most people with colon polyps don’t have any symptoms, the best way to know if you have them is with recommended regular screening, which can be a colonoscopy or a stool test.
| Colorectal/Colon Cancer | |
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Symptoms |
Risk Factors |
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In the early stages of colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer, you might not have any symptoms. The symptoms will depend on how advanced the cancer is. They might include:
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Some factors that make your risk of getting colorectal cancer higher are:
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Treatment |
Good to Know |
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Treatment for colorectal cancer depends on how far along the cancer is, where the cancer is and your health history. Your medical provider and your care team will likely recommend surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or a combination of these options. |
The recommended age to screen for colon cancer was recently lowered from age 50 to age 45. If you have a family history of colon cancer, recommended screening is different, and it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider. |
Colorectal/Colon Cancer
In the early stages of colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer, you might not have any symptoms. The symptoms will depend on how advanced the cancer is. They might include:
- A change in the consistency or texture of your stool
- A change in your bowel habits, such as increased diarrhea or constipation for long periods of time
- Blood in your stool or from your anal region
- Pain, cramping or gas in your abdomen or pelvic area
- Feeling like your bowels don’t completely empty after you poop
- Weakness or fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
Some factors that make your risk of getting colorectal cancer higher are:
- Being 50+
- Being African American
- Having a history of colon polyps or other GI conditions
- Family history of colorectal cancer
- Having an inherited syndrome, such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Having overweight or obesity
- Having Type 2 diabetes
- Eating a high-fat diet
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Not being physically active
Treatment for colorectal cancer depends on how far along the cancer is, where the cancer is and your health history. Your medical provider and your care team will likely recommend surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy or a combination of these options.
The recommended age to screen for colon cancer was recently lowered from age 50 to age 45. If you have a family history of colon cancer, recommended screening is different, and it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider.
| Crohn’s Disease — a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) | |
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Symptoms |
Risk Factors |
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Your symptoms can be mild or severe, and you might have times with no symptoms at all. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
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Some factors that make your risk of getting Crohn’s disease higher are:
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Treatment |
Good to Know |
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Certain medications can help lessen the inflammation in your body or lower your immune system’s response to help manage your symptoms. You might need a special diet that is liquid, low in fiber or bland to help your GI system rest. Surgery can also help you manage your symptoms, but it won’t cure your Crohn’s disease. |
Crohn’s is most often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30. |
Crohn’s Disease — a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Your symptoms can be mild or severe, and you might have times with no symptoms at all. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Fatigue or constant tiredness or weakness
- Pain or cramps in your abdomen or pelvic area
- Blood in your stool
- Mouth sores
- Less desire to eat and weight loss
- Pain or drainage near or around the anus
Severe Crohn’s symptoms can also include:
- Inflammation or swelling and redness of your skin, eyes and joints or of your liver
- Kidney stones
- Iron deficiency anemia
Some factors that make your risk of getting Crohn’s disease higher are:
- A family history of Crohn’s
- Smoking
- Eating a high-fat diet
- Being under 30
- Ethnicity (white people have higher risk, especially if they’re of Eastern European Jewish descent)
Certain medications can help lessen the inflammation in your body or lower your immune system’s response to help manage your symptoms.
You might need a special diet that is liquid, low in fiber or bland to help your GI system rest.
Surgery can also help you manage your symptoms, but it won’t cure your Crohn’s disease.
Crohn’s is most often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30.
| Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) | |
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Symptoms |
Risk Factors |
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Symptoms for GERD usually include:
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Some factors that make your risk of getting GERD higher are:
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Treatment |
Good to Know |
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GERD symptoms can often be managed with lifestyle changes that your medical provider can recommend, such as changing your diet or exercise routine. Medications that block, neutralize or lower the amount of acid in your stomach can help manage your symptoms. If lifestyle changes and medications don’t work, your medical provider might recommend surgery to help tighten your throat muscles. |
You can get GERD at any age, but your chances of getting it are higher if you’re over 40 years old. |
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Symptoms for GERD usually include:
- Heartburn, a burning pain in your chest, usually after eating
- Food or sour liquid coming back into your chest or throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Feeling like there is a lump in your throat
Some factors that make your risk of getting GERD higher are:
- Having overweight or obesity
- Being pregnant
- Having a hiatal hernia
- Drinking moderate to heavy amounts of alcohol
- Smoking
GERD symptoms can often be managed with lifestyle changes that your medical provider can recommend, such as changing your diet or exercise routine.
Medications that block, neutralize or lower the amount of acid in your stomach can help manage your symptoms.
If lifestyle changes and medications don’t work, your medical provider might recommend surgery to help tighten your throat muscles.
You can get GERD at any age, but your chances of getting it are higher if you’re over 40 years old.
| Hemorrhoids | |
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Symptoms |
Risk Factors |
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Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. You might not be able to see or feel internal hemorrhoids, but if you do have symptoms they will likely include:
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Some factors that make your risk of getting hemorrhoids higher are:
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Treatment |
Good to Know |
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Hemorrhoids can go away on their own or with at-home treatments such as:
You may be able to push a prolapsed hemorrhoid back inside of you. If your hemorrhoids don’t go away on their own or are extremely painful, your medical provider might recommend a procedure to remove them such as:
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Only a very small percentage of people need surgery to treat hemorrhoids. Internal and external hemorrhoids can prolapse or bulge and fall out of the anus. This can be very painful. |
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids can be internal or external.
You might not be able to see or feel internal hemorrhoids, but if you do have symptoms they will likely include:
- Blood in your stool without feeling pain
External hemorrhoids symptoms can include:
- Pain, itching or swelling around your anal area
- Bleeding from your anal area
- Hard bumps or lumps around your anus
Some factors that make your risk of getting hemorrhoids higher are:
- Being 50+
- Pregnancy
- Straining when you poop
- Straining when lifting heavy objects or weights
Hemorrhoids can go away on their own or with at-home treatments such as:
- Eating high-fiber foods
- Using an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream
- Soaking in a warm bath, called a sitz bath
You may be able to push a prolapsed hemorrhoid back inside of you.
If your hemorrhoids don’t go away on their own or are extremely painful, your medical provider might recommend a procedure to remove them such as:
- Rubber band ligation, where two small rubber bands cut off circulation to the hemorrhoid
- An injection of a solution to shrink the hemorrhoid
- Using a laser or infrared light or heat to dry out the hemorrhoid
Only a very small percentage of people need surgery to treat hemorrhoids.
Internal and external hemorrhoids can prolapse or bulge and fall out of the anus. This can be very painful.
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | |
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Symptoms |
Risk Factors |
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IBS symptoms may not be severe, and you may have had them for a long time. Symptoms might be worse during your period. They can include:
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Some factors that make your risk of getting IBS higher are:
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Treatment |
Good to Know |
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Lifestyle changes can help you manage your symptoms such as:
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Stress, anxiety and certain foods can make your symptoms worse. |
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS symptoms may not be severe, and you may have had them for a long time. Symptoms might be worse during your period. They can include:
- Pain in the abdomen
- Cramping or bloating
- Harder or looser stool than usual
- Changes in how often you have to poop
Some factors that make your risk of getting IBS higher are:
- A family history of IBS
- A history of trauma or sexual or physical abuse
- Having stress or anxiety
- Eating a food you have an intolerance to
- Having a digestive tract infection
Lifestyle changes can help you manage your symptoms such as:
- Eating more fiber and trying a low-FODMAP diet
- Drinking more water
- Exercising regularly
- Avoiding caffeinated beverages
- Practicing mindfulness activities that can reduce stress
Medications that might include antidepressants, probiotics, laxatives or anti-diarrheals
Stress, anxiety and certain foods can make your symptoms worse.
| Peptic Ulcer Disease | |
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Symptoms |
Risk Factors |
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Symptoms for peptic ulcer disease can include:
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Some factors that make your risk of getting peptic ulcer disease higher are:
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Treatment |
Good to Know |
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You might be prescribed medications that lower the amount of acid in your stomach or strengthen the lining of your stomach. Antibiotics might also be needed if your ulcers are caused by a bacteria. In extreme cases when your ulcers don’t heal, surgery may be needed, but this is less common. |
Stress doesn’t cause peptic ulcer disease, but it can make symptoms worse. If it’s not treated, you can have internal bleeding, so look out for dark red blood in your stool or black/dark vomit. |
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Symptoms for peptic ulcer disease can include:
- Burning stomach pain, especially when your stomach is empty
- Feeling full, bloating or burping often
- Difficulty eating fatty foods
- Heartburn, a burning pain in your chest
- Nausea
Some factors that make your risk of getting peptic ulcer disease higher are:
- Being infected with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori
- If you often use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), an over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen
You might be prescribed medications that lower the amount of acid in your stomach or strengthen the lining of your stomach. Antibiotics might also be needed if your ulcers are caused by a bacteria.
In extreme cases when your ulcers don’t heal, surgery may be needed, but this is less common.
Stress doesn’t cause peptic ulcer disease, but it can make symptoms worse.
If it’s not treated, you can have internal bleeding, so look out for dark red blood in your stool or black/dark vomit.
| Ulcerative Colitis — a type of IBD | |
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Symptoms |
Risk Factors |
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Symptoms of ulcerative colitis can be different for everyone. Most people have mild to moderate symptoms than can include:
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Some factors that make your risk of getting ulcerative colitis higher are:
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Treatment |
Good to Know |
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Certain medications can help lessen the inflammation in your body or lower your immune system’s response to help manage your symptoms. If your symptoms are severe or other treatments aren’t working, your medical provider might recommend a colectomy, a surgery that removes your colon. New surgery techniques may allow an internal pouch or bag to replace your colon so you can continue passing stool as you did before without the need of an external collection bag. |
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are both types of IBD, but they are not the same condition. |
Ulcerative Colitis — a type of IBD
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis can be different for everyone. Most people have mild to moderate symptoms than can include:
- Diarrhea that might have blood or pus in it
- Blood in your stool
- Pain or cramps in your abdomen or pelvic area
- Rectal pain
- Feeling an urgent need to poop and not being able to poop when you have the urge
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever
Some factors that make your risk of getting ulcerative colitis higher are:
- A family history of colitis
- Smoking
- Eating a high-fat and high-sugar diet
Certain medications can help lessen the inflammation in your body or lower your immune system’s response to help manage your symptoms.
If your symptoms are severe or other treatments aren’t working, your medical provider might recommend a colectomy, a surgery that removes your colon. New surgery techniques may allow an internal pouch or bag to replace your colon so you can continue passing stool as you did before without the need of an external collection bag.
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are both types of IBD, but they are not the same condition.
