They can signal cancer, COVID-19, or another serious disease
Published by: AARP
Everyone has stomach issues from time to time, and occasional digestive discomfort is not usually something to worry about. That said, doctors note that there are a few gastrointestinal symptoms you shouldn’t write off, because they could signal something serious.
1. Prolonged diarrhea
Diarrhea can be a symptom of a number of things — from a food allergy to a bacterial infection. It can also be a warning sign of COVID-19, appearing before more well-known symptoms such as cough or fever.
2. Blood in your stool
The most common causes are hemorrhoids and anal fissures (tears in the lining of the anus). But blood in your stool can also be one of the first symptoms of colon cancer, especially if accompanied by a change in your bowel habits or the shape of your stool. Since colon cancer is more common among those over age 50, it’s especially important for older adults to see a doctor without delay. Other possible causes of bleeding are colon polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, and diverticulosis.
3. Severe cramps after eating
Severe cramping is a warning sign of bowel obstruction — a serious condition that requires immediate medical treatment. It’s also a classic symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic digestive disorder that has been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Difficulty swallowing
Esophageal cancer is more common in adults over 55 and three or four times more likely to occur in men than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
5. Unexplained weight loss (especially if accompanied by abdominal pain)
Weight loss when you haven’t changed your diet or exercise habits is a common symptom of many serious illnesses, including cancer.
Although such weight loss is a symptom of some types of cancer, a 2014 study published in the journal American Family Physician found that in patients over 65, it is often due to other causes, like peptic ulcers, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or an overactive thyroid.
6. Chronic or prolonged constipation (especially if you’re having pain)
Constipation can be caused by a wide variety of issues, including certain medicines, a diet low in fiber, and medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, thyroid issues, diabetes, or, in rare cases, colorectal cancer.
7. Sudden, intense abdominal pain
A sharp pain that doesn’t let up can indicate acute appendicitis (if it’s on your lower right side), diverticulitis, or a serious infection. The context is important because muscle cramps and other issues can also manifest as sharp pain.
8. Frequent, severe, or worsening heartburn
Occasional heartburn — a burning, uncomfortable sensation in your chest — is common among older adults and can usually be treated with over-the-counter medications. But if your heartburn is frequent and worsening, or if it’s not responding to medication, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a disorder in which the valve between your stomach and esophagus doesn’t close properly. Left untreated, GERD can lead to complications including erosion or narrowing of the esophagus, or a precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus. In rare cases, severe heartburn can also indicate a more serious condition such as esophageal cancer or a hiatal hernia.
9. Swollen abdomen
It’s not unusual to feel bloated after you eat a big meal. But there’s a difference between bloating and distension, an actual increase in measured abdominal size.
If the symptom persists after you’ve had plenty of time to digest a meal, it can be a sign that excess fluid or gas is forming in your small intestine as the result of an obstruction, inflammation, bacterial overgrowth, or gastrointestinal disease.
10. Feeling full after eating very little
If you feel stuffed even though you didn’t eat much, the most common cause is gastroparesis, a condition in which food stays in the stomach longer than it should.