If you’re experiencing unexplained pain and discomfort in your gut, it could be an early sign of a digestive issue. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms don’t go away or get worse.
The intestinal lining can become damaged and the tight junctions that stop things from entering your bloodstream start to break down. This leads to a condition known as leaky gut syndrome.
Inconsistent Bowel Movements
There are a number of symptoms that can be indicative of damaged gut health. These include irregular bowel movements, digestive discomfort, and food sensitivities.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to talk with your doctor and take the necessary steps to ensure that you aren’t suffering from any serious gastrointestinal issues. For example, if you notice that your stools are loose and watery, this could be an indication of IBS, while sudden changes in bowel habits or blood in the stool are red-flag symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
If you’re suffering from constipation, make sure to drink enough fluids throughout the day to keep your intestines soft and easy to pass. Also, be mindful of your stress level as it can affect your bowel movements and lead to pain and discomfort.
Irritation and Inflammation
Irritation and inflammation are often signs of a damaged gut. These include cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rashes.
These symptoms may improve when you begin a digestive healing protocol that helps repair your gut. For example, adding probiotics to your diet can help balance the good and bad bacteria in your gut.
Skin issues like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis may also resolve when you improve your gut health. This is because the protein that leaks out of your body when you have an inflammatory response is linked to skin irritation.
Inflammatory reactions and increased intestinal permeability are sometimes mistakenly called “leaky gut.” While they may not cause each other, people with leaky gut are more likely to have other disorders or diseases. That’s why it’s so important to test for leaky gut if you have these other symptoms. Having a healthy gut can also benefit your mood, sleep, and overall energy levels.
Read More
- What to know about Gut Health
- How To Know That Your Gut is Healthy
- What are the Common Signs of Bad Gut Health
- What are the Effective Ways to Improve Your Gut Health
- What are the Foods That Help in Healing Your Gut
- How to Maintain a Healthy Gut
- What Causes Stomach Pain
- How to Detox and Rest Your Gut
Autoimmune Diseases
A damaged gut can cause an autoimmune disease, which is when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body tissues. Symptoms vary depending on the type of autoimmune disease and can include pain, fatigue, weakness, itching, rash, swelling, difficulty breathing, jaundice, or accumulation of fluid in the kidneys (edema).
Some autoimmune diseases are genetically hereditary. Others may be due to environmental factors, such as a bacterial or viral infection.
Autoimmune disorders affect 5% to 9% of Americans. They can affect any part of the body, but most often affect the connective tissue, such as skin and joints.
Many people have a family history of autoimmune disorders, which makes them more likely to develop the disease. They also tend to occur more commonly in women than men.
Skin Inflammation
The skin is our body’s largest organ, and it can become inflamed when it becomes exposed to irritants. Symptoms include redness, pain, and itching.
Your doctor may be able to diagnose the cause of your inflammation by performing a physical exam and taking a medical history. They can also perform a biopsy to take a sample of the affected skin and test for bacteria.
Some of the most common causes of skin inflammation are allergies, infections, immune dysfunction, and sun damage. Other causes include exposure to chemicals, heat, and even toxins from drugs.