Grumbling stomach, bloating, heartburn, abdominal pains, and problems going to the bathroom?
Sure, we all suffer from these issues from time to time, but if you find yourself constantly dealing with ’em, it could be what is called a digestive disorder. From conditions like Crohn’s Disease to ulcerative colitis, gastritis, and hemorrhoids, digestive diseases can vary far and wide. In fact, they can affect all parts of your digestive tract, even impacting remote areas of your body that you wouldn’t think are related.
Digestive Disorders & The Black Community
Did you know the Black community may be particularly at risk of certain digestive disorders?
According to The Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists, many Black folks are not getting the medical attention and treatment they deserve.
There is a lack of Black physicians in the field of gastroenterology, accounting for just around four percent of all practicing gastroenterologists and hepatologists (digestive doctors) in the U.S. This is bad news, especially when considering that Black Americans have a 20 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer diagnosis and a 40 percent greater chance of dying from colorectal cancer compared to white Americans!
Clearly, these numbers from the American Cancer Society paint a bleak picture.
That’s why you must know what to look for. While gastrointestinal disorders share many common symptoms, some symptoms may slip through the cracks (pun not intended).
Here are five signs you could be missing that you have a digestive disorder.
1. Difficulty Swallowing
Called dysphagia, difficulty swallowing can be a rather scary occurrence. You may feel like you have something stuck in your throat, like your tongue and saliva aren’t working properly. Sometimes, it may lead to coughing and even a feeling of choking.
Well, it turns out Black Americans and individuals with Mediterranean ancestry may be more prone to this condition. Caused by many digestive disorders, dysphagia can occur when nerves and muscles are damaged. Oftentimes, stomach acid may cause scarring of the esophagus, which can lead to hardening and narrowing. This, in turn, makes it harder to swallow.
2. Irregular Heart Rate
You probably wouldn’t equate a high pulse with a disorder affecting your digestion, but turns out, it’s very related! This can be especially problematic for Black folks, as they are already more prone to heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.
How does it happen, you ask?
Simple. Just consider the fact that many digestive disorders cause bloating. Sometimes, this bloating of the stomach pushes against your diaphragm (the muscle below your lungs) and will very slightly move the position of your heart. As a result, your heart may react by palpitating or going through irregular beats.
3. Depression
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Black community has a higher rate of chronic, and sometimes debilitating, depression than any other racial group. But did you know that digestive disorders of all things may be contributing to this?
This is because of what is called ‘the gut-brain connection.’ As Harvard researchers have found, many chemicals and nerves work between your brain and your digestive system. This is why feelings of anxiety and fear are often felt in your gut. Or why you lose your appetite with certain emotions. Or why the mere thought of food gets your stomach going.
The same goes for depression. If your digestive tract is out of whack due to a digestive disorder, these chemical signals may be abnormal, which can lead to all kinds of changes in your thoughts and feelings.
4. Highly Elastic Skin
This one’s pretty rare but does occur in people with Ehlers-Danlos (EDS), a condition impacting your connective tissues. Many people with EDS also have gastrointestinal disorders, commonly reporting symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Because EDS weakens your connective tissue, it causes your skin to stretch waaay more. The skin can also feel very soft, almost like velvet. While this may make for a cool party trick, it could be a sign of something more serious.
5. Sudden, Repeated Vomiting
Sometimes caused by cyclic vomiting syndrome, these episodes of severe nausea and vomiting can appear from nowhere. They can last for hours or even days, and may disappear as quickly and randomly as they appear.
It’s important to note, when it comes to digestive disorders, many conditions overlap. So if the thought of all these symptoms turns your stomach, take a breather. If you have recurring symptoms, write them down. Try to see if certain foods, settings, times of day, or emotions coincide with them.
This will be useful for your doctor and can help you meet with a gastroenterologist or hepatologist who can help. With the right treatment course and lifestyle changes, you can get back to feeling like yourself!
