As a woman, you become acutely aware over time that your body operates in a manner far different than that of your male counterparts. This is particularly true when you consider your gastrointestinal health and your related symptoms. Women experience issues such as acid reflux, colon problems, and stomach ulcers in ways that are far different than those of men. Additionally, many women tend to ignore their "stomach" problems without realizing they could be ignoring the telltale signs of serious health problems that if left untreated could become severe in a short period of time. So, learn the signs and symptoms you need to watch out for to ensure that you are not putting your health in serious jeopardy.
Excessive or Continued Bloating
While most women are all too familiar with the monthly occurrence of bloating and abdominal discomfort as a part of their monthly cycle, bloating is not always normal in a woman's body. If you experience bloating outside of the few days prior to and during your monthly period, you may have bigger worries than just PMS.
Prolonged bloating or overly frequent periods of bloating are possible signs of ovarian cancer. When your bloating is also painful or affects your eating habits and appetite, you may want to find a gastroenterologist to determine whether or not your issue is digestive. If it is not a digestive issue, you will want to also consult with your ob/gyn to determine a reproductive cause.
Indigestion
Once again, there is normal indigestion and then there is problematic indigestion. If you have just eaten a large or rich meal, or if you are pregnant, indigestion is entirely justifiable and understandable.
However, if you have indigestion for no reason or on a daily basis, you may have other problems to worry about. Perpetual indigestion could be a sign of acid reflux (also known as GERD). Women experience acid reflux differently than men, and usually feel relatively minor discomfort that can be confused with simple indigestion. Alternatively, indigestion could be the sign of a heart attack, or various forms of cancer including stomach cancer. Acid indigestion or heartburn can also cause throat cancer, and should be checked out if you suffer from frequent bouts.
Prolonged Nausea
Nausea happens from time to time. And if you are pregnant, morning sickness is a common affliction that can affect you daily. However, if you are not pregnant or ill, you should not be experiencing regular or frequent nausea.
First, you will want to take a pregnancy test to ensure that this is not the cause of your nausea. If it is not, you should head to the doctor and find a gastroenterologist. You may have a hormone imbalance, nutritional deficiency, or more serious problems such as a kidney infection or gallstones.
While most women tend to disregard their abdominal discomfort as nothing serious, there are instances in which it can be very serious. Know what to look out for, and you will be able to seek out medical attention before your health is seriously compromised.
Share27 January 2015
Having a daughter comes with a number of challenges. One challenge that you will one day need to tackle is determining when to introduce your daughter to the gynecologist. Do you take your daughter to the same gynecologist that you see or take her somewhere else? Do you wait until she gets her first period or do you take her in to learn about the menstrual cycle from the doctor? There is a long list of questions you likely have about introducing your daughter to the world of gynecology. Having gone through this twice myself, I have learned quite a bit and have included a lot of helpful information in my site to help other parents get through this complicated time a little easier.
