People who develop open skin sores called ulcers along the lining of the colon have a medical condition called ulcerative colitis. Ulcers in the colon are most frequently diagnosed in men and women between the ages of 15 and 30, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

A colostomy stoma is a hole in the abdomen opening into the intestines. A colostomy is often needed when part of the colon or rectum is removed and allows stools moving through the intestines to drain out of the stoma and into a bag attached to the side, explains Medline Plus.

Microscopic colitis is inflammation in the colon that can only be seen by a microscope. It has also been referred to as collagenous colitis, relating to the thickened layer of connective tissue in the colon’s lining, or lymphocytic colitis, referring to the increased level of white blood cells.

The hiatus hernia, also called the hiatal hernia, can cause significant pain and discomfort, although some people may not have symptoms or have occasional bouts of digestive distress.

Probiotics are bacterial species that don't cause infection in humans, but instead provide some sort of benefit to the digestive tract or other organ systems.

Intestinal gas is a normal by-product of digestion, but excessive gas can cause loud, smelly flatulence, which can be both uncomfortable and downright embarrassing. Certain foods tend to increase the levels of intestinal gas, but not all of them cause foul-smelling flatulence.

Women usually experience diarrhea sometime during their pregnancy. Diarrhea is described as loose and watery stools that occur several times a day.

Blueberries are a healthy, sweet and tangy fruit often added to yogurt, cereal or simply eaten by the handful. Some people experience adverse reactions, such as diarrhea, when eating blueberries.

Numerous conditions can cause stomach pain when swallowing food. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), pain, including stomach pain, sometimes occurs when you swallow. Swallowing-related pain may be felt anywhere from your upper neck to your mid-abdomen.

Nobody likes the effects of bowel cleansers--severe diarrhea--but the bowel must be clean to evaluate its health, according to German gastroenterologist S. Schanz.

The American College of Gastroenterology calculates that more than 60 million Americans experience recurrent heartburn, the No. 1 symptom of acid reflux. This common digestive condition occurs when the one-way valve between your esophagus and your stomach is too weak to keep the contents of your stomach down.

Acid reflux, commonly referred to as heartburn, is a common digestive complaint. Acid reflux involves digestive juice splashing out of the stomach and into the esophagus, where it causes irritation, inflammation and pain.