You know that moment when your stomach starts to feel “off” and you’re not sure if it’s just food—or your age catching up? You’re not imagining it. Misryoum newsroom reported that intestinal issues can arise at any age, but may become more prevalent over time.
Misryoum newsroom reported that roughly 60 million to 70 million Americans are affected by digestive diseases. Common symptoms include heartburn, bloating, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habits—constipation, diarrhea, or both. And figuring out the exact reason can be messy because digestion isn’t one simple switch. It’s a bunch of moving parts, plus aging and lifestyle, all blending together.
As the years go by, the nerves and muscles in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can start to glitch. That can slow down how your digestive organs function together, and communication signals between them can get a little haphazard. Movement in the esophagus and the muscles involved in swallowing may also become less coordinated, which can increase the odds of esophageal reflux, also known as GERD—when stomach contents “make a comeback.” Meanwhile, slower stomach motility can make food linger, and that lingering is one of the things that can trigger indigestion. And then there’s the stomach lining itself: Misryoum newsroom reported that it can become thinner with age, making you more susceptible to injury from things like inflammation.
There’s also a chain reaction that can happen further down. Misryoum newsroom reported that slower motility in the small bowel can contribute to higher rates of bacterial overgrowth, which may cause bloating and diarrhea. If motility in the colon slows too much, constipation and diverticulosis can show up—those small sacs that form and push against weak spots in the colon wall, raising the risk of symptom flareups like bleeding and inflammation. On top of that, health conditions that tend to stack up with age—arthritisis, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases—often come with movement limits, which can worsen gut motility. “If you don’t move, neither does your gut,” Misryoum editorial desk noted.
Medications can complicate things, too, and not in a small way. Misryoum analysis indicates that prescription and over-the-counter drugs—especially NSAID pain relievers such as ad aspirin and ibuprofen—can cause GI side effects like nausea, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even ulcers. It’s not always dramatic, but sometimes it’s the little stuff that gets your attention first. For one person, it might be the smell of coffee turning sour in the air during a morning that ends with heartburn. For another, it’s realizing the timing is always off after a particular pill.
Still, doctors say there are ways to reduce the impact of age-related stomach problems. Chewing better matters: Misryoum editorial team stated that salivary enzymes help digest starch and fat in the mouth, lowering the GI tract’s workload, and saliva’s alkaline pH can help neutralize acid in the esophagus—especially when reflux is an issue. Cutting food into smaller pieces and chewing at least 15 to 20 times per bite is one practical approach when swallowing feels tricky. Saliva production can drop as we age, Misryoum newsroom reported, so dry mouth may become more likely—especially if you take one or more medications daily. Sipping water between bites or using an over-the-counter saliva substitute can help.
And then there’s the basics that somehow never lose relevance: eat more plants, stay hydrated, move after meals, and get enough sleep. Misryoum newsroom reported that diets high in processed food can alter the gut microbiome, leading to dysbiosis, an unhealthy balance of gut bacteria linked to higher rates of digestive disease. Fiber—soluble and insoluble—helps bulk up stool, which makes bathroom time more efficient and may lower the likelihood of fecal incontinence while also helping treat diarrhea by absorbing water. Hydration matters too, especially as fiber increases; Misryoum editorial desk noted that the National Council on Aging recommends drinking one-third of your weight in fluid ounces daily. Exercise stimulates GI motility, Misryoum analysis indicated, and Misryoum newsroom reported that lying recumbent on the couch after eating is one of the worst things you can do because it can promote acid reflux; walking for roughly 15 minutes after meals can help activate the stomach and improve gastric emptying. Sleep is part of it, too—seven to nine hours per night, Misryoum newsroom reported—because sleep deprivation may increase microscopic inflammation in the bowel.
One more point: don’t ignore medications and don’t just assume everything is “aging.” Misryoum newsroom reported that any medicine can have GI side effects, even those prescribed for GI illnesses, and that taking them exactly as prescribed reduces risk. NSAIDs should never be taken on an empty stomach, for instance, while acid-suppressive medicines should be taken 30 minutes before breakfast. And if symptoms show up anyway, call your doctor. Misryoum editorial team stated it’s important not to assume—share symptoms with a gastroenterologist, especially if there are persistent changes in bowel habits along with trouble swallowing, abdominal pain, nausea and/or vomiting, unexplained weight loss, or blood in your poop (or stool that looks black and tarry). Depending on the issue, Misryoum newsroom reported, doctors may start with bloodwork and prescribe medications or do further testing such as an endoscopy or colonoscopy.