Tame tummy troubles

Burping, farting, bloating -- embarrassing, yes, but on the whole, it's no big deal. Whether suffering from late-night heartburn after one too many slices of pizza or sitting through a meeting with unbearably loud stomach rumblings, tummy trouble happens to us all.

A typical case of stomach upset isn't anything to worry about -- but if symptoms become more frequent and are disruptive to your daily life you may want to seek help. Serious stomach problems can cause both physical and emotional pain, and getting treatment is key to easing discomfort.

To help figure out if what's going on inside you, we turned to Dr. Desmond Leddin, head of Dalhousie University's gastroenterology division. Here are five of the most common causes of stomach pain and how to get relief.

1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
If you suffer from IBS, you're not alone. More than 6 million Canadians have it, and women make up more than 70 per cent of sufferers. People with IBS experience chronic symptoms including constipation, bloating, gas and diarrhea, and these symptoms are not being caused by a known gastrointestinal condition or disease. The key here is chronic, meaning your symptoms keep coming back. There are different levels of severity of IBS, but if your pain and discomfort are persistent, see your family doctor.

"There's no specific test for IBS, no X-ray you can take," says Leddin. Instead, your doctor should make a diagnosis by ruling out other conditions. "Other conditions, such as lactose intolerance and Crohn's disease can closely mimic IBS, and a doctor should first exclude these possibilities." Depending on the severity of your IBS, your doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist. Dietary changes, medication, stress reduction, and alternative therapy can ease IBS symptoms.

2. Acid reflux disease/heartburn
It's the sour bile taste and the burning sensation in your throat and chest -- the feeling you get after eating too much spicy pepperoni. Acid reflux happens when stomach acid backflows into your swallowing tube (also known as your esophagus). "It's actually very common," says Leddin. "A lot of people have minor cases of reflux. Having occasional symptoms -- once a week, a few times a month -- isn't serious." It's when your heartburn becomes more frequent than once a week, or if food gets stuck in your swallowing tube, that acid reflux becomes serious.

"Avoiding alcohol and fatty foods can ease symptoms," says Leddin. If dietary changes don't work, there are medications your doctor can prescribe to minimize your stomach's acid production.