Digestion and gut health

Acute pancreatitis — sudden severe upper abdominal pain, causes including gallstones and alcohol, and emergency hospital treatment.

Appendicitis — appendix pain location, symptoms, when to go to A&E, and NHS surgical treatment.

Bowel cancer is very treatable caught early. Know the symptoms, use the free NHS home test kit, and see a GP about any bleeding. Reviewed by UK doctors.

A plain-English guide to coeliac disease — symptoms, diagnosis, and living gluten-free on the NHS in the UK.

A plain-English guide to constipation — causes, self-help, treatments and when to see a GP.

Crohn's disease explained — symptoms, flare-ups, diagnosis, NHS treatments including medicines and surgery, and living with inflammatory bowel disease.

Diverticulitis — inflamed pouches in the colon causing abdominal pain, fever, and treatment with antibiotics or surgery.

Non-alcohol related fatty liver disease (NAFLD) — causes, links to obesity and diabetes, diagnosis, and preventing progression to cirrhosis.

A plain-English guide to food poisoning — symptoms, how long it lasts, home treatment, and when to seek help.

A plain-English guide to gallstones — symptoms, causes, treatment and when to get urgent help.

A plain-English guide to gastroenteritis (tummy bug) — symptoms, self-care, and when to seek help.

A plain-English guide to haemorrhoids — symptoms, causes, treatment and when to see a GP.

A plain-English guide to heartburn and acid reflux — causes, treatments and when to see a GP.

Viral hepatitis A, B, and C — transmission, symptoms, vaccination, NHS testing, and modern curative treatments for hepatitis C.

A plain-English guide to hiatus hernia — what it is, its link to heartburn, and how it is managed.

A plain-English guide to indigestion (dyspepsia) — symptoms, causes, treatment and when to see a GP.

Inguinal hernia — groin lump, symptoms, when surgery is needed on the NHS, and red flags for strangulated hernia emergency.

A plain-English guide to IBS — symptoms, common triggers, management and when to see a GP.

Lactose intolerance — difficulty digesting milk sugar, symptoms after dairy, diagnosis, and managing diet without missing calcium.

Liver cirrhosis — scarring from alcohol, fatty liver and hepatitis, symptoms, complications, and NHS treatment to slow progression.

A plain-English guide to norovirus (the winter vomiting bug) — symptoms, how to recover, and when to seek help.

A plain-English guide to threadworms — a very common childhood infection — and how to treat the whole household.

Ulcerative colitis — symptoms of bloody diarrhoea, flare-ups, colonoscopy diagnosis, NHS treatments, and when to seek urgent help for severe colitis.

Bloating is a swollen, tight feeling in the tummy, usually caused by swallowed air, certain foods, constipation or IBS, and often eases with diet changes.

Blood in poo is often caused by piles or anal fissures, but it can be a sign of bowel cancer — any unexplained rectal bleeding needs GP assessment.

Constipation is usually caused by low fibre, inactivity or medicines and often improves with diet changes; a new change in bowel habit over 50 needs a GP check.

Causes of loose or frequent stools, how to prevent dehydration, and when diarrhoea needs medical attention.

Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) can be caused by reflux, stroke or oesophageal cancer; progressive symptoms or weight loss need urgent assessment.

Feeling sick (nausea) is usually short-lived, caused by stomach bugs, motion sickness, anxiety, pregnancy or medicines — see a GP if it lasts days.

Heartburn is a burning chest discomfort caused by acid reflux — smaller meals and antacids usually help, but daily symptoms or weight loss need a GP review.

Jaundice is yellowing of the skin and eyes from high bilirubin, with causes ranging from Gilbert's syndrome to liver disease and gallstones needing urgent care.

Most tummy pain is caused by minor problems like trapped wind, indigestion or constipation and settles quickly. Severe or sudden pain needs urgent help.

Antacids ease heartburn by neutralising stomach acid, while other reflux medicines reduce acid production for longer-lasting, slower relief.

Laxatives treat constipation by softening, bulking or stimulating the bowel, usually working within 1 to 3 days, alongside fluids, fibre and exercise.

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that reduces stomach acid for heartburn, reflux and ulcers; how to take it safely and when to see a GP.

Oral rehydration salts are pharmacy sachets that replace fluids and salts lost to diarrhoea and vomiting; how they work, dosing, and dehydration warning signs.

Bowel cancer screening uses a home FIT kit to detect hidden blood in poo; it is offered every 2 years in England and a positive result leads to colonoscopy.

A colonoscopy is a test that uses a flexible camera to examine the whole colon, used after a positive FIT, for symptoms or surveillance, and to remove polyps.

An endoscopy, or gastroscopy, uses a flexible camera to examine the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum, detecting ulcers, coeliac disease and cancer.

Liver function tests measure enzymes and proteins in the blood to detect liver inflammation, fatty liver disease and other liver conditions.