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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
- Abdominal Pain, Long-Term (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Abdominal Pain, Short-Term (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
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Upper GI Endoscopy
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Also in Spanish
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Upper GI Series (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Gastrectomy - slideshow Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Abdominal Migraine (National Headache Foundation)
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Gas in the Digestive Tract (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Gastritis (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Gastroparesis (American College of Gastroenterology) Also in Spanish
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Gastroparesis (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Gut Feelings About Gastritis: When Your Stomach's Sick (National Institutes of Health)
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Menetrier's Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Motility Disorders of the Stomach (International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)
- Stomach Polyps (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Health Check Tools
- Abdominal Pain (DSHI Systems)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Gastritis (National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Gastroparesis (National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Stomach Diseases (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
- Definitions of Digestive Terms (International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)
-
Your Digestive System and How It Works (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Also in Spanish
Find an Expert
- American College of Gastroenterology
- ASGE: Find a Doctor (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
- Find a Gastroenterologist (American College of Gastroenterology)
-
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Children
- "Stomach Flu" (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Infantile pyloric stenosis - slideshow Also in Spanish
- Pyloric Stenosis (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Stomachaches (Nemours Foundation)
- Talking about GI Disorders (International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)
- What's Puke? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Why Do I Burp? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Your Digestive System (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Digestive System (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Stomachaches (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation)
Patient Handouts
- Bezoar Also in Spanish
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Dumping Syndrome (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- PDF
- EGD discharge Also in Spanish
- Gastrectomy Also in Spanish
- Gastritis Also in Spanish
- Gastroparesis Also in Spanish
- Pyloric stenosis Also in Spanish
- Stomach acid test Also in Spanish
- Upper GI and small bowel series Also in Spanish
