Gastrointestinal Ailments 

Gastrointestinal ailments, like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, or conditions like Crohn’s can drain your energy and keep you from activities you love. At Dovecare  serving patients throughout the state of Virginia via telehealth, board-certified internal medicine physician Abisoye Fakayode, MD, and the team specialize in treating various gastrointestinal ailments. The team uses a holistic, patient-centered treatment approach that emphasizes healthy lifestyle changes and medication when needed. Book your visit online today. 

What are gastrointestinal ailments?

Gastrointestinal ailments are a group of medical conditions that affect one or more parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract includes the esophagus, stomach, intestines, and anal canal. 

Most people experience gastrointestinal problems at one time or another, often because of food poisoning. But if your symptoms continue for days or weeks and affect your quality of life, identifying the cause is crucial. 

What are some common gastrointestinal conditions?

The Dovecare team treats various gastrointestinal conditions, including:

Diarrhea

Diarrhea refers to loose, watery bowel movements. Most instances of diarrhea last for a day or two and improve with rest and hydration. However, persistent diarrhea might indicate an underlying medical condition, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis. 

Nausea

Nausea causes your stomach to feel woozy and unsettled. Most people with nausea experience relief after throwing up, but not always. Nausea occurs for various reasons, including motion sickness, pregnancy, and food allergies. 

Vomiting

Vomiting causes you to throw up the food, acid, and bile in your stomach. In most cases, it’s caused by viral infections, like the stomach flu, but it can also indicate underlying medical conditions, like food allergies, food poisoning, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 

Heartburn

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid flows back into your esophagus, causing a burning sensation in your chest. Everyone gets heartburn occasionally, but if it occurs several times a week, it could mean there’s a problem with your lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a ring of muscle at the base of your esophagus that prevents acid from leaving your stomach.

Constipation

Constipation makes it difficult to have bowel movements. Most constipation improves with a high-fiber diet and hydration, but if the problem persists, it can cause other health problems, like hemorrhoids. 

How are gastrointestinal ailments diagnosed?

Your Dovecare provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a telehealth exam.

How are gastrointestinal ailments treated?

The Dovecare Medical Group team treats gastrointestinal ailments using a conservative, integrative approach. They could suggest:

• Healthy lifestyle changes, such as avoiding caffeine and alcohol
• Drinking plenty of fluids and getting rest
• Eating food that is easy on your stomach
• Avoiding spices, greasy food, and dairy products
• Nutritional supplements
• Prescription medication
• Improving bowel habits (for example, not straining during bowel movements)
• Taking anti-nausea medication

Book your telehealth appointment online today to be seen.