Gut Problems in Athletes

Signs and symptoms of gut dysfunction are common in athletes. They include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and various other complaints of symptoms similar to indigestion. Often, these problems affect the outcome of competition. Among the biggest sellers of drugs, both over-the-counter and prescription, are those that cover the symptoms of an improperly functioning gut. Most don’t treat or correct the causes of the problems.

Running seems to bring out more of these problems, probably because of its higher physical stress, although cycling, swimming, and other activities are also associated with gut problems. More than half the runners in a race will have some type of intestinal distress, with some published studies showing that number to be as high as 80 percent. Many runners report that these problems affect their running performance. It appears that athletes who don’t properly regulate water balance, often due to poor adrenal function, have more gut symptoms during training and competition.

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Causes for many gut problems depend on the athlete. They range from poor diet or nervous system stress to hormone imbalance and dehydration. A healthy athlete has much less gut trouble, not only during training and competition but at all other times, making the focus of overall health important to prevent these common problems.

Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) before running can significantly increase nausea and vomiting and cause injury to the gut. Consuming certain types of carbohydrates (such as sucrose, maltosebased sugars, and corn sugars) can also cause intestinal bloating and nausea. Eating solid food that requires digestion can also cause vomiting during or after training or competition. These problems can occur especially if food is not chewed or liquids not mixed with saliva to assist in digestion. Starting your race too fast or not warming up can also contribute to intestinal stress.

Upper gut symptoms are those that come from the stomach, including cramping, vomiting, and “gastric” problems. Those specifically associated with lower intestinal stress are also very common and include lower abdominal cramping and diarrhea.

In general, intestinal problems incurred during training and competition may represent an expression of existing gut problems. Some of these may also be evident during rest, while others may not have obvious signs or symptoms.

The good news is that the majority of gut problems can be significantly improved or eliminated by making some relatively simple changes in your food intake and other factors that influence the gut, such as stress. This includes problems in the mouth, such as tooth problems and indigestion, ulcers, reflux, and other chronic diseases such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Let’s consider each major area of the gut, its purpose, and how one can help it function better.