Did you know that 60 to 70 million Americans are affected by digestive diseases? Digestive issues can make your life miserable and stop you from living life to its absolute fullest. Knowing the causes of poor gut health is the first step in fixing your digestion.
So, keep reading for five common causes of poor gut health to help you get your life back on track.
1. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
While heartburn happens from time to time, if you are constantly suffering from it, you might need to be evaluated for GERD. GERD can usually be diagnosed on a description of symptoms alone, but it is possible that your medical provider might require some diagnostic testing to see if GERD has caused damage to the esophagus.
While GERD mostly presents as heartburn, uncontrolled GERD can cause the lining of the esophagus to erode and can cause digestive problems.
2. Chronic Diarrhea
While diarrhea might be something you don’t talk about in polite conversation, it is something that happens. Something can be classified as diarrhea if you experience loose stool a few times a day and generally lasts a few days. Chronic diarrhea, however, lasts for at least four weeks.
Diarrhea is tricky to treat since there are a variety of possible causes. It could be due to your body struggling to absorb nutrients; celiacs are a good example of this or a disease like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease. Infections and parasites can also be to blame.
Besides causing digestive issues, chronic diarrhea can be an indicator that there is a more serious problem that you need to address.
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3. Poor Diet
Diet is crucial when trying to improve your gut health. A diet consisting of fatty, fried, and sugary foods can all lead to digestive issues. If you don’t consume enough fiber each day, it can cause your stool to move more slowly through your colon, which also contributes to many other digestive disorders.
4. Lifestyle Choices
While diet plays a role in your gut health, your general lifestyle choices also play a part. High-stress levels, smoking, drinking, and a lack of exercise all affect your digestive system. While it might be difficult to make lifestyle changes to improve your digestion, choosing to better yourself will always pay off.
Fix Your Poor Gut Health
Identifying poor gut health is the first step in fixing your digestion. If you know the causes and what to look out for, you’ll be able to improve your gut health for the better. While there is an abundance of possible causes that could be causing you pain, knowing what to start looking at will speed up the process.
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