AARP 10 Stomach Symptoms You Should Never Ignore Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 13 April 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles AARP 10 Stomach Symptoms You Should Never Ignore Just as a cough or fever can be the first signs of COVID-19, gastrointestinal symptoms could also point to an infection, according to Cedars-Sinai experts. Photo by Getty Images. AARP recently interviewed gastroenterologist Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, director of Health Services Research at Cedars-Sinai, about stomach symptoms that could be a sign of something serious, including COVID-19. Everyone experiences occasional stomach issues and digestive discomfort, and they're usually not cause for worry. However, symptoms such as prolonged diarrhea could hint at a bigger problem. Just as a cough or fever can be the first signs of COVID-19, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms could also point to an infection, Spiegel told AARP. In fact, studies have proved that COVID-19 can cause gastrointestinal symptoms in as many as half of coronavirus cases. “Don’t wait for a cough or shortness of breath to get tested for COVID if you have diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, or abdominal pain that lasts more than a day,” said Spiegel, who also is a professor of Medicine. Diarrhea is the most frequently reported GI symptom among COVID-19 patients. “One bout of diarrhea may not mean anything, but if you have three or four per day and it is going on two days, and you have no history of diarrhea, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor, whether we’re in a pandemic or not,” Spiegel told AARP. Other digestive symptoms that could signal serious health problems include:Blood in the stoolSevere cramps after eatingDifficulty swallowingUnexplained weight lossChronic or prolonged constipationSudden, intense abdominal painFrequent, severe or worsening heartburnSwollen abdomenFeeling full after eating very little Patients should seek medical attention right away if they experience any of these issues. Click here to read the complete article from AARP. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release AARP 10 Stomach Symptoms You Should Never Ignore Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home