Do you often experience bloating, abdominal pain or digestive problems, and can’t seem to find the cause? It may be due to an imbalance in your gut microbiome. This delicate system plays a key role in digestion, the functioning of the immune system and maintaining our general well-being. If the balance is disrupted (dysbiosis), which can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms and, in the long term, serious health problems.
From Endomedix Gastroenterology Centre Our experts can help you make sense of the symptoms and the latest diagnostic options.
The key functions of the microbiome
The microorganisms living in our gut are not merely „guests”, but active partners:
- Digestion: They break down complex fibres.
- Nutrient production: They produce vitamins B and K.
- Defence: „They ”train’ the immune system and form a physical barrier against pathogens.
What symptoms might indicate a balance disorder?
Dysbiosis can not only cause problems in our gut, but may also manifest itself in other parts of the body.
1. Digestive problems
- Bloating and increased gas formation.
- Abdominal pain or discomfort (often after meals).
- Irregular bowel movements: Diarrhoea, constipation or a combination of the two.
- An urgent urge to go to the toilet, nausea or belching.
2. Signs outside the digestive system
- Skin problems: Eczema, acne or rosacea.
- Chronic fatigue: It is the result of a nutrient deficiency caused by poor absorption.
- Psychological effects: Anxiety, difficulty concentrating (due to disruption of the gut-brain axis).
- Allergies and intolerances: A newly developing sensitivity to certain foods.
How can the problem be diagnosed?
As the symptoms are varied, a professional assessment is essential. At Endomedix, we offer the following modern methods of treatment:
Laboratory tests
- Blood collection: Inflammatory markers (CRP), nutrient deficiencies (iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D) and coeliac disease screening.
- Stool analysis: Calprotectin levels (to measure inflammation), detection of undigested fat or infections.
Hydrogen breath test (SIBO screening)
This is a painless, non-invasive procedure for treating bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO) and for the detection of sugar malabsorption disorders (lactose, fructose).
Endoscopic examinations
Where appropriate (for example, in the event of alarming symptoms) gastroscopy or colonoscopy may become necessary, which is already the case today also available under anaesthesia. This enables accurate histological sampling and the ruling out of more serious conditions.
The Road to Recovery
Once the diagnosis has been made, treatment is complex:
- Targeted diet: For example, a low-FODMAP diet.
- Medication support: Where necessary, specific, locally acting antibiotics (e.g. rifaximin).
- Probiotics: Replacement of personalised labels.
- Lifestyle: Stress management and regular exercise.
