Exercise-Induced Gastrointestinal Symptoms.

In brief A triathlete and two distance runners sought medical advice for gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that were brought on by increased training and hard runs. Collectively, their symptoms included heartburn, nausea, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and bloody diarrhea. One patient had an up-per-GI motility disorder; one had a lower-GI motility disorder; the third had ischemia-related GI bleeding. The first two patients' symptoms improved with pharmacologic therapy and dietary changes, respsectively. The third patient did not require treatment.