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- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
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- How to Lower Cholesterol
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Stomach Disorders
Summary
Your stomach is an organ between your esophagus and small intestine. It is where digestion of protein begins. The stomach has three tasks. It stores swallowed food. It mixes the food with stomach acids. Then it sends the mixture on to the small intestine.
Most people have a problem with their stomach at one time or another. Indigestion and heartburn are common problems. You can relieve some stomach problems with over-the-counter medicines and lifestyle changes, such as avoiding fatty foods or eating more slowly. Other problems like peptic ulcers or GERD require medical attention.
You should see a doctor if you have any of the following:
- Blood when you have a bowel movement
- Severe abdominal pain
- Heartburn not relieved by antacids
- Unintended weight loss
- Ongoing vomiting or diarrhea
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Health Check Tools
- Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Long-Term American Academy of Family Physicians
- Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Short-Term American Academy of Family Physicians
Find an Expert
- American College of Gastroenterology American College of Gastroenterology
- ASGE: Find a Doctor American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- Find a Gastroenterologist American College of Gastroenterology
- Find a SAGES Surgeon Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Encyclopedia
- Antiparietal cell antibody test Medical Encyclopedia
- Flushable reagent stool blood test Medical Encyclopedia
- Gastric suction Medical Encyclopedia
- Gastric tissue biopsy and culture Medical Encyclopedia
- Gastrin blood test Medical Encyclopedia
- Pyloroplasty Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Barium Swallow National Library of Medicine
- Gastric Emptying Tests National Library of Medicine
- Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Series National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Upper GI Endoscopy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Patient Handouts
- Bezoar Medical Encyclopedia
- Dumping Syndrome National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- EGD discharge Medical Encyclopedia
- Gastrectomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Gastritis Medical Encyclopedia
- Gastroparesis Medical Encyclopedia
- Pyloric stenosis in infants Medical Encyclopedia
- Upper GI and small bowel series Medical Encyclopedia
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Gastritis National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Gastroparesis National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Stomach Diseases National Institutes of Health
Reference Desk
- Definitions of Digestive Terms International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Your Digestive System and How It Works National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Teenagers
- Digestive System (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
- Stomachaches (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
Specifics
- Disorders of the Stomach International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Dumping Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Gas in the Digestive Tract National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Gastritis and Gastropathy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Gastroparesis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Gastroparesis American College of Gastroenterology
- Stomach Polyps Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Children
- First Aid: Stomachaches (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Infantile pyloric stenosis – Series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Pyloric Stenosis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Talking about GI Disorders International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
- What’s Puke? (For Kids) Nemours Foundation
- Why Do I Burp? Nemours Foundation
- Your Digestive System (For Kids) Nemours Foundation
Treatments and Therapies
- Gastrectomy – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
Related Issues
- Gut Troubles: Pain, Gassiness, Bloating, and More National Institutes of Health