4 common causes for digestive problems

As with any mechanical process, pieces and parts of the human digestive system occasionally go awry. Here are four common breakdowns.

Notice that you're burping a bit more or feel pain in your chest after meals? You may have heartburn or its more serious cousin, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The two typically occur when the valve that's supposed to keep the bottom of the esophagus closed weakens, allowing digestive juices to flow up from the stomach and into the esophagus, sometimes all the way to the back of your throat.

Studies find more than half of people 65 and older have heartburn.

It's nothing to be embarrassed about, but we're all more likely to become constipated as we age. An estimated 41 percent of older people have constipation. This is because, as we age, we:

• tend to become less active
• follow unhealthier diets
• take more medications

The microbes that cause food poisoning are the obvious ones; they make you sick almost immediately after eating contaminated food. But we're more concerned with a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, which is the primary cause of ulcers — sores in your stomach and intestines that can cause great pain and possibly blood loss.

As waste passes through the intestines, small amounts sometimes get caught in the crevices, where they can cause infection.

Intestinal issues requiring a doctor's care include:

• diverticulitis
• inflammatory bowel disease
• irritable bowel syndrome

Conditions that are easier to manage on your own, include:

• ulcers
• heartburn
• constipation

If you've been checked out and your doctor found no underlying medical cause for your digestive issues, start with some simple, healthy lifestyle changes. Proper nutrition and exercise will not only improve your condition, but also help prevent problems from starting or recurring.