National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Digestive Diseases is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Digestive Diseases
Also called: Gastrointestinal diseases
When you eat, your body breaks food down to a form it can use to build and nourish cells and provide energy. This process is called digestion.
Your digestive system is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube. It runs from your mouth to your anus and includes your esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. Your liver, gallbladder and pancreas are also involved. They produce juices to help digestion.
There are many types of digestive disorders. The symptoms vary widely depending on the problem. In general, you should see your doctor if you have
- Blood in your stool
- Changes in bowel habits
- Severe abdominal pain
- Unintentional weight loss
- Heartburn not relieved by antacids
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Start Here
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Your Digestive System and How It Works(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Your Digestive System and How It Works
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
- About GI Motility(International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Abdominal Pain, Long-Term(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Abdominal Pain, Short-Term(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Abdominal Ultrasound(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- CT Enterography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
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Fecal Fat: The Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- GI Radiographic Tests(American College of Gastroenterology)
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Lower GI Series (Barium Enema)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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MedlinePlus: Colonoscopy(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
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MedlinePlus: Gastrointestinal Bleeding(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
- MR Enterography(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- Stool Color: When to Worry(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Stool Tests(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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Upper GI Endoscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Upper GI Endoscopy
(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
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Upper GI Series(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Prevention/Screening
- Digestive Health Tips(American College of Gastroenterology)
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Coping
- Personal Relationships and Digestive Disorders(International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)
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Specific Conditions
- Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction(International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)
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Related Issues
- Gastrointestinal Disorders (and Oral Health)(Columbia University, College of Dental Medicine)
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Smoking and Your Digestive System(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- What Is a Gastroenterologist?(American College of Gastroenterology) - PDF
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Pictures & Photographs
- Atlas of Human Body: Digestive System(American Medical Association)
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Health Check Tools
- Abdominal Pain(DSHI Systems)
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Tutorials
- Digestive System: The Inside Story(Johns Hopkins Medicine)
- Upper GI Endoscopy(Patient Education Institute)
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Videos
- Peristalsis - Encyclopedia
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Digestive System(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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Your Digestive System and How It Works(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Digestive System Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Gastrointestinal Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Intestinal Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Digestive System Diseases
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Glucose-galactose malabsorption(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy disease(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Glucose-galactose malabsorption
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Research
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Protein Creates Partition between Bacteria and the Gut(National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse)
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Protein Creates Partition between Bacteria and the Gut
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
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Digestive Diseases Dictionary
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
- GI Disorders: Glossary of Terms(International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)
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Digestive Diseases Dictionary
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Directories
- ASGE: Find a Doctor(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
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Directory of Digestive Diseases Organizations(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Find a Gastroenterologist(American College of Gastroenterology)
- GI Locator Service(American Gastroenterological Association)
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Organizations
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Statistics
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Digestive Diseases Statistics(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- FastStats: Digestive Disorders(National Center for Health Statistics)
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Digestive Diseases Statistics
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Children
- Childhood Functional GI Disorders(International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)
- Digestive Tract Defects(Merck & Co., Inc.)
- What Causes Hiccups?(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- What Is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist?(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Your Digestive System(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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Teenagers
- Digestive System(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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Women
- Problems of the Digestive System(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF
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Seniors
- Effects of Aging on the Digestive System(Merck & Co., Inc.)
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Patient Handouts
- Barium enema
- Also available in Spanish
- Digestive diseases
- Also available in Spanish
- Gastrointestinal fistula
- Also available in Spanish
- Gastrointestinal perforation
- Also available in Spanish
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Lower GI Series(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Mesenteric angiography
- Also available in Spanish
- Stools - floating
- Also available in Spanish
- Upper GI and small bowel series
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Languages
Digestive Diseases - Multiple Languages
