A 28-year-old male presents with intermittent abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. He has no family history of gastrointestinal diseases. He works as a software developer and often drinks energy drinks. His BMI is 25.4. What is your approach?
The patient's symptoms could be consistent with a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, possibly irritable bowel syndrome given the lack of red flag symptoms such as weight loss or blood in stool. The consumption of energy drinks and his job stress might exacerbate these symptoms. His BMI indicates he is slightly overweight, which may or may not be relevant to his current complaints. The next steps would be a thorough physical examination, basic lab tests, and possibly a referral for a gastroenterology consultation. A discussion about lifestyle modifications, including diet, exercise, and stress management, would also be important.