Will frequent gastrointestinal upset by caffeine cause long-term complications?

Doctor's Answers 1

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan
Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

Caffeine has a stimulating effect on the bowel muscles. This effect can either help to regulate bowel movements for people with chronic constipation or cause havoc for those with a sensitive intestine.

In general, the stimulating effect is transient and not expected to result in any long term damage or injury to the digestive tract. For people with fatty liver, drinking 2 cups of coffee daily may even have a desirable effect on the condition.

Do listen to your body and watch out for unwanted side effects of caffeinated drinks on your body. If you experience discomfort repeatedly with such drinks, the best is to avoid them altogether. Otherwise, enjoy your drinks!

Similar Questions

What kind of diet is recommended for patients with gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis occurs when the stomach rhythmic peristaltic movement slows down significantly. This can be due to many reasons and is commonly seen after surgery and during severe systemic infections. At times, electrolyte imbalances or side effect from medicine may also cause gastroparesis. The end result may be bloating, nausea and vomiting similar to that of a gastric outlet obstruction. Treatment of gastroparesis starts with excluding a structural obstruction and identifying the most likely underlying cause and administer the respective treatment.

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan

Answered By

Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

What TCM treatments are available for gastric problems causing bloating and stomach discomfort?

From the TCM point of view, gastric problems are closely related to the function of spleen and stomach. These two organs are responsible for the transformation and transportation of the food that we consume. When the spleen and stomach is weakened, it can lead to many digestive issues such as bloated, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach-ache, ingestion etc. In TCM, the most common treatment for these internal problems would be herbal medicine. Herbal medicines are prescribed according to each patient's body constitution.

Photo of Human

Answered By

Human

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox