Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders cause difficult symptoms like acid reflux, bloating, diarrhea, gas, stomach pain and more. It’s critical to get the right diagnosis, expert treatment and support to help you manage your condition.

Types of Diseases

As many as one in five Americans suffer with some sort of digestive disorder, causing uncomfortable and serious symptoms.

Digestive disorders affect about 60 to 70 million Americans and cost nearly $98 billion in direct medical expenses.
Women are more likely than men to have certain digestive disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome and gallstones. Other digestive problems affect men and women equally but can cause unique problems in women, such as irregular menstruation, miscarriage or infertility.
Chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, affects about 20 percent of adults. Left untreated, GERD can raise your risk of esophageal cancer.
Much rarer ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease affect just 1.4 million Americans, but these conditions are particularly serious and may eventually require surgery.

Patient Information

Couple sitting on floor in apartment looking at digital tablet

Interested in becoming a Sutter patient? Here’s what you need to know about health plans, choosing a doctor and how to get started today.

Getting Answers to Digestive Problems

When to Call the Doctor

Everyone suffers from indigestion at some point, but it's important to understand when it’s time to call the doctor.

Pinpoint Your Gastrointestinal Problems

Receive an accurate diagnosis from highly trained gastroenterologists using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools.

Treating Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Sutter Health network gastroenterologists offer a variety of treatments for diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Ask an Expert

Sanjeev Tummala, M.D.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

I have been diagnosed with a fatty liver. What causes this and can this condition be reversed?

A functioning liver is vital to human life. Your liver filters harmful substances out of your blood and converts the food you eat into nutrients your body uses. A liver with too much fat - over 5 to 10 percent ... continue reading about I have been diagnosed with a fatty liver. What causes this and can this condition be reversed?

Francine A. Yep, M.D.

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus

I have been diagnosed with "silent GERD". I don't want to take medication the rest of my life. Any suggestions? I have phlegm in my throat that I cannot associate with any specific foods.

Taking care of your GERD is like calming your inner volcano. Let's get that stomach acid eruption under better control! Even though you can't link your symptoms with specific foods, it may be time to take a loo... continue reading about I have been diagnosed with "silent GERD". I don't want to take medication the rest of my life. Any suggestions? I have phlegm in my throat that I cannot associate with any specific foods.

Modern Weng, DO

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

What type of treatments options are there for a hiatal hernia? Also, what type of diet should I follow with this condition?

First, let's define what a hiatal hernia is. A hiatal hernia is when part of the stomach pushes itself past the diaphragm into the chest cavity. The diaphragm is the muscular border that separates the chest cav... continue reading about What type of treatments options are there for a hiatal hernia? Also, what type of diet should I follow with this condition?

Frank L. Anderson, M.D.

Sutter Medical Group of the Redwoods

What does stool color tell me? Aside from bloody or black, are there other colors I should be concerned about?

That's a great question and one everyone has thought about at some point. Stool color is determined by a combination of bile, what you eat that isn't absorbed, and how fast or slowly the intestinal stream moves... continue reading about What does stool color tell me? Aside from bloody or black, are there other colors I should be concerned about?

Karen Pantazis, M.D.

Sutter Amador Hospital

I have severe bloating from taking pain medication. Is this normal?

I would need to know more about what symptoms are being described as "bloating". If it is referring to constipation or an expanding abdomen, yes - many pain medications, especially opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodo... continue reading about I have severe bloating from taking pain medication. Is this normal?

Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

I've been diagnosed with diverticulitis (no longer acute) and have been told to avoid nuts and seeds. Do things like peas, beans, corn count as seeds? What is a good diet to avoid another bout of diverticulitis? (I'm also lactose intolerant.)

In the past, many doctors recommended that people with diverticulitis avoid nuts and seeds. It was thought that these small particles could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation (which is diverticulit... continue reading about I've been diagnosed with diverticulitis (no longer acute) and have been told to avoid nuts and seeds. Do things like peas, beans, corn count as seeds? What is a good diet to avoid another bout of diverticulitis? (I'm also lactose intolerant.)

Vinod K. Kurupath, M.D.

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus

I have been diagnosed with a digestive disorder and I may be a candidate for an endoscopic ultrasound. What are the benefits of this procedure?

In conventional endoscopy, the gastroenterologist can only view the innermost lining of the digestive tract. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows a doctor to look at more than the inner layers of the gastrointest... continue reading about I have been diagnosed with a digestive disorder and I may be a candidate for an endoscopic ultrasound. What are the benefits of this procedure?

Sue Hazeghazam, R.D.

Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento

I'm 56 and in very good health. My eating habits are normal, but I get bloated frequently. Can you give me some information on what may cause this and how to prevent it?

My first thought goes to the possibility of lactose intolerance (the diminished ability to properly breakdown lactose in the intestinal tract). Lactose intolerance can occur when people age and may also occur i... continue reading about I'm 56 and in very good health. My eating habits are normal, but I get bloated frequently. Can you give me some information on what may cause this and how to prevent it?

Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

I have bleeding stomach ulcers. What foods do I need to avoid? What foods are beneficial?

It is a myth that spicy foods or a stressful job can cause peptic ulcers. Doctors now know that a bacterial infection or some medications - not stress or diet - cause most peptic ulcers.Your doctor will help in... continue reading about I have bleeding stomach ulcers. What foods do I need to avoid? What foods are beneficial?

Liver Diseases and Transplant Research

Hepatology researchers are investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying hepatitis B, C and other liver diseases. Identifying early molecular or genetic changes - which may be detected before the disease manifests any clinical symptoms - could lead to interventions that reduce the severity of liver disease, or even prevent it from developing. Clinical researchers in the Liver Disease Management and Transplant Program are leading new investigations into hepatitis B and C disease management, hepatoma, hepatitis and HIV co-infection, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatorenal syndrome, and the care of liver transplant patients.

Sutter Health Liver Diseases and Transplant Research Sutter Health Liver Diseases and Transplant Research

Health and Wellness

Better Digestive Health

See our full library of articles and tips on how to live well with a digestive disorder.

Better Digestive Health

Experts Who Partner With You

Gastroenterology

The Sutter Health network provides gastrointestinal experts close to home who can help you successfully manage your symptoms. Learn about today’s treatment options for digestive disorders.