Do You Suspect You Have A Digestive Disorder?

If you have a health condition in need of management or supervision, you should seek care from the appropriate healthcare professional. For instance if you have a toothache or cavity, you make an appointment with a dentist. If you are a woman who is having a baby, you and your pregnancy are taken care of by an obstetrician or a midwife. The same concept applies when it comes to digestive disorders. If you are experiencing symptoms of a suspected digestive disorder or if you are having a known flare-up of your disease, then of course it makes sense to seek an appointment with a naturopathic doctor. 

Did you know that there are many ailments, which fall into the category of digestive disorders? From Crohn’s disease, to IBS, and from Ulcerative Colitis to Heartburn and Acid Reflux, to Inflammatory Bowel Disease, also known as IBD, there are a lot of health conditions, which can affect a person. They are all separate health conditions but most of them share common symptoms.

For instance, gas, bloating, cramping and abdominal pain are common symptoms for Crohn’s disease, IBS, UC, and IBD. But each disorder also has unique identifying characteristics, which differentiate each ailment from another. These unique characteristics, along with a thorough panel of lab tests, help a naturopathic doctor to identify the correct disorder so they can assist the person with managing their chronic condition. 

Digestive disorders are chronic conditions. This means that they last for the rest of the person’s life. That can make the person feel a sense of frustration, disappointment, dismay, and even depression. It is very important that not only the physical aspects of digestive disorders are discussed with a naturopathic doctor, but also the emotional aspects. For a person with a chronic health condition, having emotional support is just as important as support and management of their physical symptoms. 

This is because emotional support can help to alleviate stress in a person’s life, and the presence of stress can actually make a chronic condition flare up. If the condition is already in flare, it can make the flare last longer or be more severe. So in truth, emotional support and stress relief can help a person with a chronic digestive disorder to potentially have fewer flares of their condition, or for those flares to have a shorter duration, or to be less severe. When it comes to the painful interruption of a chronic digestive disorder, fewer flares, which are of short duration and reduced severity, are a good thing indeed. 

As stated before, digestive disorders are similar. They affect the same areas of the body and people who have different digestive disorders may have the same symptoms even though they have two separate ailments. They may even have similar names, such as IBS and IBD. That can be confusing. Do you want to learn more about the different digestive disorders that can affect you? Do you have a friend or family member who already has a diagnosis and is looking for excellent, personalized care? Do you suspect that you might have a digestive disorder? If you have answered yes to any of those questions, pick up the phone and call a naturopathic doctor for an appointment.