What are the most prevalent digestive conditions affecting millions worldwide. How can you recognize the symptoms of these gastrointestinal disorders. What are the latest treatment options and preventive measures for digestive system diseases.

Crohn’s Disease: Understanding the Inflammatory Bowel Condition

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. However, it most commonly impacts the terminal ileum, which connects the end of the small intestine to the beginning of the colon. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (CCFA), approximately 780,000 Americans may be affected by this condition.

The exact cause of Crohn’s disease remains unknown, but researchers believe that genetics and family history play significant roles in its development. People with Crohn’s disease often experience a range of symptoms, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Persistent diarrhea
• Rectal bleeding
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever

How is Crohn’s disease treated? Treatment options vary depending on the severity of symptoms and may include:

1. Topical pain relievers
2. Immunosuppressants
3. Biologic therapies
4. Surgery (in severe cases)

In addition to medical interventions, many patients find relief by avoiding trigger foods. These may include dairy products, carbonated beverages, alcohol, coffee, raw fruits and vegetables, red meat, and foods that are fatty, fried, spicy, or gas-producing.

Ulcerative Colitis: Another Form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Ulcerative colitis is another type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects an estimated 907,000 Americans, according to the CCFA. While it shares many similarities with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis specifically targets the large intestine, or colon.

In ulcerative colitis, the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the colon, leading to the development of sores or ulcers. This results in a range of symptoms, including:

• Frequent and urgent bowel movements
• Pain accompanied by diarrhea
• Blood in the stool
• Abdominal cramps

How is ulcerative colitis managed? Treatment approaches typically focus on suppressing inflammation and may include:

1. Anti-inflammatory medications
2. Immunosuppressants
3. Dietary modifications
4. Surgery to remove the colon (in severe cases)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Common Functional Disorder

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects 10 to 15 percent of the global population. In the United States alone, up to 45 million people live with IBS, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Unlike IBD, IBS doesn’t cause inflammation or damage to the digestive tract. Instead, it’s characterized by a group of symptoms that occur together, including:

• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Changes in bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea, or both)
• Bloating
• Gas

What causes IBS? The exact cause remains unknown, but factors such as gut-brain axis dysfunction, altered gut motility, visceral hypersensitivity, and changes in the gut microbiome are thought to play a role.

How can IBS symptoms be managed? Treatment strategies often focus on dietary and lifestyle modifications:

1. Low-fat, high-fiber meals
2. Avoiding trigger foods (dairy, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners)
3. Implementing the low-FODMAP diet
4. Incorporating probiotics
5. Stress management techniques
6. Cognitive behavioral therapy
7. Low-dose antidepressants (in some cases)

Hemorrhoids: A Common Yet Uncomfortable Condition

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus, affecting 75 percent of Americans over age 45, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). While often not serious, they can cause significant discomfort and concern, especially when they lead to rectal bleeding.

What causes hemorrhoids? Several factors can contribute to their development:

• Chronic constipation or diarrhea
• Straining during bowel movements
• Lack of fiber in the diet
• Prolonged sitting on the toilet
• Obesity
• Pregnancy

How can hemorrhoids be treated? In many cases, simple home remedies and lifestyle changes can provide relief:

1. Increasing fiber intake
2. Drinking more water
3. Regular exercise
4. Over-the-counter creams and suppositories
5. Sitz baths

In more severe cases, medical interventions such as rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, or hemorrhoidectomy may be necessary.

Diverticulitis: When Diverticula Become Inflamed

Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches (diverticula) that form in the walls of the digestive tract become inflamed or infected. While the presence of diverticula alone (diverticulosis) is common and often asymptomatic, about 5 percent of people with diverticulosis will develop diverticulitis.

What are the risk factors for diverticulitis? Several factors can increase your likelihood of developing this condition:

• Age (more common after 40)
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Lack of exercise
• Diet low in fiber and high in animal fat
• Certain medications (NSAIDs, steroids)

How is diverticulitis treated? Treatment approaches depend on the severity of the condition:

1. Antibiotics for mild cases
2. Clear liquid diet to allow the colon to heal
3. Pain relievers
4. Hospitalization for severe cases
5. Surgery in complications or recurrent episodes

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): More Than Just Heartburn

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a chronic condition where stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus. While occasional acid reflux is common, GERD can lead to more serious health problems if left untreated.

What are the symptoms of GERD? Common signs include:

• Frequent heartburn
• Difficulty swallowing
• Regurgitation of food or sour liquid
• Sensation of a lump in the throat
• Chronic cough or laryngitis

How can GERD be managed? Treatment options typically include:

1. Lifestyle modifications (e.g., weight loss, avoiding trigger foods)
2. Over-the-counter antacids
3. H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors
4. Surgical interventions in severe cases

Celiac Disease: When Gluten Becomes the Enemy

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It affects about 1 in 100 people worldwide, although many remain undiagnosed.

What are the symptoms of celiac disease? The condition can manifest in various ways:

• Digestive issues (diarrhea, bloating, gas)
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Anemia
• Skin rash
• Neurological symptoms

How is celiac disease managed? The primary treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet. This involves avoiding foods containing:

1. Wheat
2. Barley
3. Rye
4. Some oats (due to cross-contamination)

The Importance of Early Detection and Treatment

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of digestive diseases is crucial for early intervention and effective management. Many of these conditions share similar symptoms, making accurate diagnosis challenging. Therefore, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional if you experience persistent digestive issues.

How can you protect your digestive health? Consider these preventive measures:

• Maintain a balanced, fiber-rich diet
• Stay hydrated
• Exercise regularly
• Manage stress
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Get regular check-ups and screenings

The Role of Gut Microbiome in Digestive Health

Recent research has highlighted the significant impact of the gut microbiome on overall health, including digestive function. The gut microbiome refers to the trillions of microorganisms living in our intestines, playing crucial roles in digestion, immunity, and even mental health.

How can you support a healthy gut microbiome? Consider these strategies:

1. Consume a diverse range of plant-based foods
2. Incorporate fermented foods into your diet
3. Limit artificial sweeteners and processed foods
4. Consider probiotic supplements (under medical guidance)
5. Manage stress levels
6. Get adequate sleep

Emerging Therapies in Digestive Disease Management

The field of gastroenterology is constantly evolving, with new treatments and therapies emerging to better manage digestive diseases. Some promising areas of research include:

• Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for conditions like C. difficile infection and IBD
• Targeted biologic therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases
• Gene therapy for inherited digestive disorders
• Artificial intelligence in diagnostic imaging and personalized treatment plans
• Gut-brain axis modulation for functional gastrointestinal disorders

As our understanding of digestive diseases continues to grow, so does our ability to provide more effective and personalized treatments. Staying informed about these advancements can help patients and healthcare providers make better decisions in managing digestive health.

The Impact of Lifestyle on Digestive Health

While genetic factors play a role in many digestive diseases, lifestyle choices significantly influence our digestive health. Understanding this relationship can empower individuals to take proactive steps in preventing and managing digestive issues.

How does lifestyle affect digestive health? Consider these factors:

1. Diet: A balanced, nutrient-rich diet supports optimal digestive function
2. Physical activity: Regular exercise promotes healthy digestion and bowel movements
3. Stress management: Chronic stress can exacerbate digestive symptoms
4. Sleep: Adequate sleep is crucial for digestive repair and overall health
5. Hydration: Proper hydration supports digestive processes and prevents constipation

By addressing these lifestyle factors, many individuals can significantly improve their digestive health and overall well-being.

The Connection Between Mental Health and Digestive Disorders

The gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system, plays a crucial role in both digestive function and mental health. This connection explains why stress and anxiety can trigger or worsen digestive symptoms, and conversely, why chronic digestive issues can impact mental well-being.

How can you support both your mental and digestive health? Consider these approaches:

• Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques
• Seek psychological support when dealing with chronic digestive issues
• Incorporate mind-body practices like yoga or tai chi
• Maintain social connections and engage in enjoyable activities
• Consider cognitive behavioral therapy for managing stress and digestive symptoms

By addressing both mental and digestive health, individuals can often achieve more comprehensive and lasting improvements in their overall well-being.

Nutrition and Digestive Health: Beyond the Basics

While general dietary guidelines are helpful, understanding the specific nutritional needs for different digestive conditions can lead to more effective management. Tailoring your diet to your specific digestive health needs can make a significant difference in symptom control and overall quality of life.

What are some condition-specific dietary considerations?

1. IBD: Anti-inflammatory diets, specific carbohydrate diet, or elemental diets may be beneficial
2. IBS: Low-FODMAP diet, elimination diets to identify trigger foods
3. GERD: Avoiding acidic and spicy foods, eating smaller meals
4. Celiac disease: Strict gluten-free diet, focus on nutrient-dense alternatives
5. Diverticulitis: High-fiber diet (except during acute flares), adequate hydration

It’s important to work with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian to develop a nutrition plan that addresses your specific digestive health needs while ensuring overall nutritional adequacy.

The Future of Digestive Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

As technology and medical research advance, the future of digestive disease management looks promising. Emerging technologies and approaches are set to revolutionize how we diagnose, treat, and prevent digestive disorders.

What innovations are on the horizon for digestive health?

• Precision medicine: Tailoring treatments based on an individual’s genetic profile and microbiome composition
• Advanced imaging techniques: Improving early detection and monitoring of digestive diseases
• Minimally invasive procedures: Reducing recovery time and improving outcomes for gastrointestinal surgeries
• Microbiome-based therapies: Developing targeted probiotics and prebiotics for specific conditions
• Nanotechnology: Enabling more precise drug delivery and diagnostic capabilities

These advancements hold the potential to significantly improve outcomes for individuals with digestive diseases, offering hope for more effective treatments and potentially even cures in the future.

9 Common Digestive Conditions From Top to Bottom

4. Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is part of a group of digestive conditions called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn’s can affect any part of the GI tract but most commonly affects the terminal ileum, which connects the end of the small bowel and the beginning of the colon. As many as 780,000 Americans may be affected by Crohn’s, according to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (CCFA).

Doctors aren’t sure what causes the disease, but it’s thought that genetics and family history may play a part. The most common Crohn’s symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fever. “Treatment depends on the symptoms and can include topical pain relievers, immunosuppressants, and surgery,” Dr. Bamji says. Avoiding trigger foods like dairy products, carbonated beverages, alcohol, coffee, raw fruit and vegetables, red meat, and foods that are fatty, fried, spicy, or gas-producing can also help prevent flares.

RELATED: 10 Complementary Therapies for Crohn’s Disease

5. Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is another inflammatory bowel disease that may affect as many as 907,000 Americans, according to the CCFA. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis are very similar to those of Crohn’s, but the part of the digestive tract affected is solely the large intestine, also known as the colon.

If your immune system mistakes food or other materials for invaders, sores or ulcers develop in the colon’s lining. If you experience frequent and urgent bowel movements, pain with diarrhea, blood in your stool, or abdominal cramps, visit your doctor.

Medication can suppress the inflammation, and eliminating foods that cause discomfort may help as well. In severe cases, treatment for ulcerative colitis may involve surgery to remove the colon.

RELATED: How Well Is Your Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Working?

6. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Is your digestive tract irritable? Do you have stomach pain or discomfort at least three times a month for several months? It could be irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), another common digestive condition.

About 10 to 15 percent of people worldwide suffer from IBS, and of that percentage, up to 45 million people with IBS live in the United States, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. Signs of IBS can vary widely from having hard, dry stools one day to loose, watery stools on another. Bloating is also a symptom of IBS.

What causes IBS isn’t known, but treatment of symptoms centers largely on diet, such as eating low-fat, high-fiber meals and avoiding common trigger foods (dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and foods that produce gas). The low-FODMAP diet, which involves eliminating foods that are high in certain carbohydrates called FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), has also been shown to reduce IBS symptoms.

Additionally, friendly bacteria, such as the probiotics found in live yogurt, may help you feel better. Stress can trigger IBS symptoms, so some people find cognitive behavioral therapy or low-dose antidepressants to be useful treatments, as well.

RELATED: Mindfulness Meditation Reduces IBS Symptoms and Anxiety, Study Finds

7. Hemorrhoids

Bright red blood in the toilet bowl when you move your bowels could be a sign of hemorrhoids, which is a very common condition. In fact, 75 percent of Americans over age 45 have hemorrhoids, according to the NIDDK.

Hemorrhoids are an inflammation of the blood vessels at the end of your digestive tract that can be painful and itchy. Causes include chronic constipation, diarrhea, straining during bowel movements, and a lack of fiber in your diet.

Treat hemorrhoids by eating more fiber, drinking more water, and exercising. Over-the-counter creams and suppositories may provide temporary relief of hemorrhoid symptoms. See your doctor if at-home treatments don’t help; sometimes a hemorrhoidectomy is needed to remove hemorrhoids surgically.

RELATED: 4 Signs Your Hemorrhoids Warrant a Doctor’s Visit

8. Diverticulitis

Small pouches called diverticula can form anywhere there are weak spots in the lining of your digestive system, but they are most commonly found in the colon. If you have diverticula but no symptoms, the condition is called diverticulosis, which is quite common among older adults and rarely causes problems. By age 50, about half of people have diverticulosis, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. But in about 5 percent of people, the pouches become inflamed or infected, a condition called diverticulitis. Symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, and abdominal pain. Obesity is a major risk factor for diverticulitis.

Mild diverticulitis is treated with antibiotics and a clear liquid diet so your colon can heal. A low-fiber diet could be the cause of diverticulitis, so your doctor may direct you to eat a diet high in fiber — whole grains, legumes, vegetables — as part of your treatment.

If you have severe attacks that recur frequently, you may need surgery to remove the diseased part of your colon.

RELATED: Diverticulitis Diet: Foods to Eat and Avoid for Prevention and Treatment

9. Anal Fissure

Anal fissures are tiny, oval-shaped tears in the lining of the very end of your digestive tract called your anus. The symptoms are similar to those of hemorrhoids, such as bleeding and pain after moving your bowels. Straining and hard bowel movements can cause fissures, but so can soft stools and diarrhea.

A high-fiber diet that makes your stool well formed and bulky is often the best treatment for this common digestive condition. Medication to relax the anal sphincter muscles, as well as topical anesthetics and sitz baths, can relieve pain; however, chronic fissures may require surgery of the anal sphincter muscle.

Additional reporting by Ashley Welch

Digestive system diseases | Des Moines University

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) –Severe “heartburn” in laymen’s language. Weakness of the valve between the esophagus and stomach may allow stomach acid to reflux (regurgitate, backup) into the esophagus and irritate and inflame the lining. This results in chest pain which can mimic that of angina (pain of cardiac ischemia or an MI).

Jaundice – Literally means “yellow” in French. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes from a backup of bile metabolic by-products from the blood into body tissues. May result from blockage of the ducts draining bile from the liver into the intestines or excessive breakdown of red blood cells. Hemoglobin from destroyed RBCs is broken down, and in part, ends up in bile secretions.

Diverticulosis/diverticulitis – Small pouches may form along the walls of the large intestine called diverticuli which if symptomatic, causing discomfort to the patient, is called diverticulosis. These abnormal outpocketings may collect and not be able to empty fecal material which can lead to inflammation, diverticulitis.

Cirrhosis – Literally, “orange-yellow” in Greek. A degenerative disease of the liver that often develops in chronic alcoholics, but can have other causes. The name refers to the gross appearance of the organ.

Portal hypertension – A potential complication of chronic alcoholism resulting in liver damage and obstruction of venous blood flow through the liver. The rising blood pressure in the veins between the gastrointestinal tract and liver causes engorgement of veins around the umbilicus (navel). The characteristic radiating pattern of veins is called a “caput medusae” (head of Medusa). Medusa was the “snake-haired lady” in Greek mythology.

Esophageal varices – bulging, engorged veins in the walls of the esophagus are often a complication of chronic alcoholism (see portal hypertension). The thin-walled, swollen veins are at risk of tearing resulting in severe, possibly fatal, bleeding.

Dysphagia – Difficulty swallowing. May be related to GERD (see above), esophageal tumor or other causes.

Crohn’s Disease – a chronic inflammatory disease primarily of the bowel. Typical symptoms are abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea. There may also be rectal bleeding that can lead to anemia. Special X-rays and tests are needed to differentiate Crohn’s from other diseases with similar symptoms.

Peritonitis – Inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity. Before antibiotics, people would die from peritonitis if an inflamed appendix burst. Indications of peritonitis are called “peritoneal signs”: tender abdomen, rebound pain (pain when manual pressure released from examining abdomen), board-like rigidity of abdominal muscles, no bowel sounds (gurgles). The peritoneal membrane is very sensitive to exposure to foreign substances. Contact with blood, bile, urine, pus will cause peritoneal signs.

Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System

Peritonitis

Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, usually caused by an infectious organism that is introduced into the abdominal cavity.

Learning Objectives

Describe the causes and prognosis of peritonitis

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• Perforation of part of the gastrointestinal tract is the most common cause of peritonitis.
• The main manifestations of peritonitis are acute abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, and abdominal guarding.
• Depending on the severity of the patient’s state, the management of peritonitis may include supportive measures, antibiotics, or surgery.
• If properly treated, typical cases of surgically correctable peritonitis (e.g., perforated peptic ulcer, appendicitis, and diverticulitis ) have a mortality rate of less than 10%.

Key Terms

• Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP): Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the development of peritonitis (infection in the abdominal cavity) despite the absence of an obvious source for the infection.
• peritoneal dialysis: A treatment for patients with severe chronic kidney disease in which fluids are exchanged from the blood in the patient’s peritoneum in the abdomen.
• Blumberg sign: Blumberg’s sign is a sign that is elicited during physical examination in medicine and is indicative of peritonitis. A positive sign shows rebound tenderness, meaning that pressing a hand on the abdomen elicits less pain than releasing the hand abruptly, which will aggravate the pain, as the peritoneum snaps back into place.

Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs. Peritonitis may be localized or generalized, and may result from infection (often due to rupture of a hollow organ as may occur in abdominal trauma or appendicitis) or from a non-infectious process.

Peritoneum: The peritoneum, colored in blue, is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity. It covers most of the intra-abdominal, supporting them and serving as a conduit for their blood and lymph vessels and nerves. Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum often causing abdominal pain and tenderness.

Symptoms and Complications

The main manifestations of peritonitis are acute abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, and abdominal guarding, which are exacerbated by moving the peritoneum by coughing, flexing one’s hips, or eliciting the Blumberg sign. Diffuse abdominal rigidity (“washboard abdomen”) is often present, especially in generalized peritonitis. Other symptoms include fever, sinus tachycardia, and development of intestinal paralysis, which also causes nausea, vomiting, and bloating.

Complications of peritonitis include sequestration of fluid and electrolytes, as revealed by decreased central venous pressure, which may cause electrolyte disturbances, as well as significant hypovolemia, possibly leading to shock and acute renal failure. A peritoneal abscess may form and sepsis may develop, so blood cultures should be obtained.

Causes

Perforation of part of the gastrointestinal tract is the most common cause of peritonitis. Examples include perforation of the distal esophagus, of the stomach by a peptic ulcer or gastric carcinoma, of the duodenum, of the remaining intestine by appendicitis, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), intestinal infarction, intestinal strangulation, colorectal carcinoma, or of the gallbladder. Other possible reasons for perforation include abdominal trauma, ingestion of a sharp foreign body (such as a fish bone, toothpick or glass shard), perforation by an endoscope or catheter, and internal leakage of a colostomy site. In most cases of perforation of a hollow viscus, mixed bacteria are isolated from the infection; the most common agents include Gram-negative bacilli like E. coli and anaerobic bacteria. Fecal peritonitis results from the presence of feces in the peritoneal cavity. It can result from abdominal trauma and occurs if the large bowel is perforated during surgery.

Disruption of the peritoneum, even in the absence of perforation of a hollow viscus, may also cause infection simply by letting micro- organisms into the peritoneal cavity. Examples include trauma, surgical wound, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, and intra-peritoneal chemotherapy. Again, in most cases, mixed bacteria are isolated; the most common agents include cutaneous species such as Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, but many others are possible, including fungi such as Candida.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a peculiar form of peritonitis occurring in the absence of an obvious source of contamination. It occurs in patients with excess fluid in their abdomens, particularly in children. Intra-peritoneal dialysis predisposes a patient to peritoneal infection. Systemic infections such as tuberculosis may rarely have a peritoneal localization.

Sterile abdominal surgery, under normal circumstances, causes localized or minimal generalized peritonitis. However, peritonitis may also be caused by the rare case of a sterile foreign body inadvertently left in the abdomen after surgery (e.g., gauze, sponge). Much rarer non-infectious causes may include familial Mediterranean fever, porphyria, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Treatment

Depending on the severity of the patient’s state, the management of peritonitis may include supportive measures, antibiotics, or surgery. General supportive measures include vigorous intravenous rehydration and correction of electrolyte disturbances. Antibiotics are usually administered intravenously, but they may also be infused directly into the peritoneum. The empiric choice of broad-spectrum antibiotics often consist of multiple drugs, and should be targeted against the most likely agents, depending on the cause of peritonitis; once one or more agents are actually isolated, therapy will of course be targeted on them. Surgery is needed to perform a full exploration and lavage of the peritoneum, as well as to correct any gross anatomical damage that may have caused peritonitis. The exception is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, which does not always benefit from surgery and may be treated with antibiotics in the first instance.

If properly treated, typical cases of surgically correctable peritonitis (e.g., perforated peptic ulcer, appendicitis, and diverticulitis) have a mortality rate of <10% in otherwise healthy patients, which rises to about 40% in the elderly, and/or in those with significant underlying illness, as well as in cases that present late (after 48 hours). If untreated, generalized peritonitis is almost always fatal.

Mumps

Mumps was a common childhood viral disease, but widespread vaccination has now made it rare in developed countries.

Learning Objectives

Analyze the cause, symptoms, and prevention of mumps

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• Mumps is a contagious disease that is spread from person to person through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva from an infected person. The common symptoms of mumps include inflammation of the salivary glands, pancreas, and testicles; fever; and headache.
• A physical examination confirms the presence of the swollen glands. Usually, the disease is diagnosed on clinical grounds and no confirmatory laboratory testing is needed.
• The most common preventative measure against mumps is a vaccination with a mumps vaccine. The vaccine may be given separately or as part of the routine MMR immunization vaccine which also protects against measles and rubella.
• Like many other viral illnesses, there is no specific treatment for mumps, other than supportive treatment. Death from mumps is very unusual. The disease is self-limiting, and general outcome is good. Known rare complications of mumps include infertility in men and profound hearing loss.

Key Terms

• orchitis: A painful inflammation of one or both testes.
• salivary gland: Any of several exocrine glands that produce saliva to break down carbohydrates in food enzymatically.
• prodromal symptoms: A prodrome is an early symptom (or set of symptoms) that might indicate the start of a disease before specific symptoms occur.
• parotid gland: Either of a pair of salivary glands located in front of, and below each ear in humans.

Mumps, also known as epidemic parotitis, was a common childhood viral disease caused by the mumps virus. Before the development of vaccination and the introduction of a vaccine in 1949, it was common worldwide, but now, outbreaks are largely confined to developed countries.

Symptoms

Child with mumps: This child with mumps displays the typical swelling of the salivary glands caused by the mumps virus.

The common symptoms of mumps include inflammation of the salivary glands, pancreas, and testicles; fever, and headache. Swelling of the salivary glands, specifically the parotid gland, is known as parotitis, and it occurs in 60–70% of infections and 95% of patients with symptoms. Parotitis causes swelling and local pain, particularly when chewing. It can occur on one side but is more common on both sides in about 90% of cases. Painful inflammation of the testicles in mumps in known as orchitis. Other symptoms of mumps can include dry mouth, sore face and/or ears and occasionally, in more serious cases, loss of voice. In addition, up to 20% of persons infected with the mumps virus do not show symptoms, so it is possible to be infected and spread the virus without knowing it. Fever and headache are prodromal symptoms of mumps, together with malaise and loss of appetite.

Causes

Mumps virus: This transmission electron micrograph (TEM) shows the ultrastructure of the mumps virus. It is a roughly spherical particle made up of layers of fatty lipids, large protein molecules, and nucleic acids. The virus is dotted with large protein “spikes” that enable it to gain entry to host cells. Inside lies a core of a single, long molecule of RNA wrapped up in protein that is released into the host cell.

Mumps is a contagious disease that is spread from person to person through contact with respiratory secretions, such as saliva from an infected person. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the droplets aerosolize and can enter the eyes, nose, or mouth of another person. Mumps can also be spread by sharing food and drinks. The virus can survive on surfaces and then be spread after contact in a similar manner. A person infected with mumps is contagious from approximately six days before the onset of symptoms until about nine days after symptoms start. The incubation period can be anywhere from 14–25 days, but is more typically 16–18 days.

Diagnostics

A physical examination confirms the presence of the swollen glands. Usually, the disease is diagnosed on clinical grounds, and no confirmatory laboratory testing is needed. If there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, a test of saliva or blood may be carried out. An estimated 20–30% of cases are asymptomatic. As with any inflammation of the salivary glands, the level of amylase in the blood is often elevated.

Prevention

The most common preventative measure against mumps is a vaccination with a mumps vaccine. The vaccine may be given separately or as part of the routine MMR immunization vaccine which also protects against measles and rubella. The MMR vaccine is given at ages 12–15 months and then again at four to six years.

Treatment and Complications

Like many other viral illnesses, there is no specific treatment for mumps. Symptoms may be relieved by the application of intermittent ice or heat to the affected neck/testicular area and by the acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief. Warm salt water gargles, soft foods, and extra fluids may also help relieve symptoms. Patients are advised to avoid acidic foods and beverages, since these stimulate the salivary glands, which can be painful.

Death from mumps is very unusual. The disease is self-limiting, and general outcome is good, even if other organs are involved. Known complications of mumps include:

• In teenage males and men, complications from orchitis such as infertility or sub-fertility are rare, but present.
• Spontaneous abortion in about 27% of cases during the first trimester of pregnancy.
• Mild forms of meningitis in up to 10% of cases.
• Profound hearing loss is very rare, but mumps was the leading cause of acquired deafness before the advent of the mumps vaccine.

After the illness, life-long immunity to mumps generally occurs; re-infection is possible but tends to be mild and atypical.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk, due to a lack of the enzyme lactase.

Learning Objectives

Analyze lactose intolerance and tolerance

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• Symptoms of lactose intolerance include abdominal bloating and cramps, flatulence, diarrhea, nausea, borborygmi (rumbling stomach), and/or vomiting after consuming significant amounts of lactose. Individuals may be lactose intolerant to varying degrees, depending on the severity of these symptoms.
• Most mammals normally become lactose intolerant after weaning, but some human populations have developed lactase persistence, in which lactase production continues into adulthood. These populations (northern Europe, India, and a few groups in Africa) are dairying cultures.
• Lactase deficiency has a number of causes, and is therefore classified as one of three types: primary, secondary, or congenital. Primary lactase deficiency is genetic and normal as most adults worldwide do not maintain lactase production.
• Secondary/acquired/transient lactase deficiency is caused by an injury to the small intestine. Congenital lactase deficiency prevents lactase expression from birth, making nourishment from breast milk impossible.
• Lactose intolerance is not an allergy, because it is not an immune response, but rather a problem with digestion caused by lactase deficiency. Milk allergy is a separate condition, with distinct symptoms that occur when the presence of milk proteins trigger an immune reaction.
• Primary lactase deficiency is genetic, secondary/acquired/transient lactase deficiency is caused by an injury to the small intestine, and congenital lactase deficiency prevents lactase expression from birth.

Key Terms

• lactose: The disaccharide sugar of milk and dairy products, C12h32O11, (a product of glucose and galactose) used as a food and in medicinal compounds.
• lactose intolerance: The inability to fully metabolize lactose.
• lactase: A β-galactosidase enzyme that is involved in the hydrolysis of the disaccharide lactose into constituent galactose and glucose monomers.

Examples

Those who are lactose intolerant can be more tolerant of traditionally made yogurt than of milk because it contains lactase produced by the bacterial cultures used to make the yogurt. Frozen yogurt, if cultured similarly to its unfrozen counterpart, will contain similarly reduced lactose levels. However, many commercial brands contain milk solids, increasing the lactose content.

Lactose intolerance, also called lactase deficiency and hypolactasia, is the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and, to a lesser extent, in milk-derived dairy products. Lactose intolerant individuals have insufficient levels of lactase, the enzyme that metabolizes lactose into glucose and galactose, in their digestive system. In most cases, this causes symptoms such as abdominal bloating and cramps, flatulence, diarrhea, nausea, borborygmi (rumbling stomach), and/or vomiting after consuming significant amounts of lactose. Some studies in the U.S. and elsewhere suggest that milk consumption by lactose intolerant individuals may be a significant cause of irritable bowel syndrome.

Lactose: Lactose, a disaccharide of β-D-galactose and β-D-glucose, is normally broken down by the enzyme lactase into its component monosaccharides. Individuals who suffer from lactose intolerance have insufficient levels of lactase to break down the lactose in milk and dairy products.

Most mammals normally become lactose intolerant after weaning, but some human populations have developed lactase persistence, in which lactase production continues into adulthood. It is estimated that 75% of adults worldwide show some decrease in lactase activity during adulthood. The frequency of decreased lactase activity ranges from 5% in northern Europe through 71% for Sicily to more than 90% in some African and Asian countries. This distribution is now thought to have been caused by recent natural selection favoring lactase persistent individuals in cultures that rely on dairy products. While it was first thought that this would mean that populations in Europe, India, and Africa that had high frequencies of lactase persistence shared a single mutation, it has now been shown that lactase persistence is caused by several independently occurring mutations.

Causes

Primary lactase deficiency is genetic, only affects adults, and is caused by the absence of a lactase persistence allele. It is the most common cause of lactose intolerance as a majority of the world’s population lacks these alleles. Secondary, acquired, or transient lactase deficiency is caused by an injury to the small intestine, usually during infancy, from acute gastroenteritis, diarrhea, chemotherapy, intestinal parasites, or other environmental causes. Congenital lactase deficiency is a very rare, autosomal recessive genetic disorder that prevents lactase expression from birth. It is particularly common in Finland. People with congenital lactase deficiency who are unable to digest lactose from birth are unable to digest breast milk.

Effects on Nutrition

While dairy products can be a significant source of nutrients in some societies, there is no evidence that lactose intolerance has any adverse impact on nutrition where consumption is the norm among adults. Congenital lactase deficiency (CLD), where the production of lactase is inhibited from birth, can be dangerous in any society because of infants’ nutritional reliance on breast milk during their first months. Before the 20^th century, babies born with CLD were not expected to survive, but these death rates can now be lowered using soybean-derived infant formulas and manufactured lactose-free dairy products. Beyond infancy, individuals affected by CLD usually have the same nutritional concerns as any lactose-intolerant adult.

Lactose cannot be directly absorbed through the wall of the small intestine into the bloodstream so, in the absence of lactase, it passes intact into the colon. Bacteria in the colon are able to metabolize lactose and the resulting fermentation produces copious amounts of gas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane) that causes the various abdominal symptoms. The unabsorbed sugars and fermentation products also raise the osmotic pressure of the colon, resulting in an increased flow of water into the bowels (diarrhea).

Assessment and Treatment of Lactose Intolerance

To assess lactose intolerance, intestinal function is challenged by ingesting more dairy products than can be readily digested. Clinical symptoms typically appear within 30 minutes, but may take up to two hours, depending on other foods and activities. Substantial variability in response (symptoms of nausea, cramping, bloating, diarrhea, and flatulence) is to be expected, as the extent and severity of lactose intolerance varies among individuals.

It is important to distinguish lactose intolerance from milk allergy, an abnormal immune response (usually) to milk proteins. This may be done in diagnosis by giving lactose-free milk, producing no symptoms in the case of lactose intolerance, but the same reaction as to normal milk if it is a milk allergy. An intermediate result might suggest that the person has both conditions. Since lactose intolerance is the normal state for most adults worldwide, it is not considered a disease and a medical diagnosis is not normally required, although tests are available if confirmation is necessary.

Lactose intolerance is not considered a condition that requires treatment in societies where the diet contains relatively little dairy. However, those living among societies that are largely lactose-tolerant may find lactose intolerance troublesome. Although there are still no methodologies to reinstate lactase production, some individuals have reported that their intolerance varies over time, depending on health status and pregnancy. About 44% of lactose intolerant women regain the ability to digest lactose during pregnancy. This might be caused by slow intestinal transit and intestinal flora changes during pregnancy.

Peptic Ulcer Disease

A peptic ulcer, also known as peptic ulcer disease, is an erosion in the wall of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus.

Learning Objectives

List the causes of and treatments for peptic ulcer disease

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• 70–90% of peptic ulcers are associated with Helicobacter pylori, a spiral-shaped bacterium that lives in the acidic environment of the stomach.
• Diagnosis is mainly established based on the characteristic symptoms. Stomach pain is usually the first signal of a peptic ulcer.
• Treatment of H. pylori usually leads to clearing of infection, relief of symptoms, and eventual healing of ulcers.
• Gas in the peritoneal cavity, shown on an erect chest x-ray or supine lateral abdominal x-ray, is an omen of perforated peptic ulcer disease, which requires emergency surgery.
• Gastrointestinal bleeding is the most common complication. Sudden large bleeding can be life-threatening. It occurs when the ulcer erodes one of the blood vessels, such as the gastroduodenal artery.
• Most bleeding ulcers require endoscopy urgently to stop bleeding with cautery, injection, or clipping.
• During the active phase, the base of the ulcer shows 4 zones: inflammatory exudate, fibrinoid necrosis, granulation tissue and fibrous tissue.
• A gastric peptic ulcer is a mucosal defect which penetrates the muscularis mucosae and muscularis propria, produced by acid-pepsin aggression.
• Ulcers are not purely an infectious disease and that psychological factors do play a significant role.
• Diagnosis is mainly established based on the characteristic symptoms. Stomach pain is usually the first signal of a peptic ulcer.
• Gastric ulcers are most often localized on the lesser curvature of the stomach.
• Gas in the peritoneal cavity, shown on an erect chest X-ray or supine lateral abdominal X-ray, is an omen of perforated peptic ulcer disease.
• Gastrointestinal bleeding is the most common complication. Sudden large bleeding can be life-threatening. It occurs when the ulcer erodes one of the blood vessels, such as the gastroduodenal artery.
• Burning or gnawing feeling in the stomach area lasting between 30 minutes and 3 hours commonly accompanies ulcers.
• Typical ulcers tend to heal and recur and as a result the pain may occur for few days and weeks and then wane or disappear.

Key Terms

• prostaglandin: Any of a group of naturally occurring lipids derived from the C20 acid prostanoic acid; they have a number of physiological functions and may be considered to be hormones.
• NSAID: Any drug of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory class used as a pain reliever.
• gastrin: A hormone that stimulates the production of gastric acid in the stomach.
• gastritis: Inflammation of the lining of the stomach, characterized by nausea, loss of appetite, and upper abdominal discomfort or pain.

A peptic ulcer, also known as peptic ulcer disease, is an erosion in the wall of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. As many as 70–90% of such ulcers are associated with Helicobacter pylori, a spiral-shaped bacterium that lives in the acidic environment of the stomach. Ulcers can also be caused or worsened by drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs.

Symptoms

Deep gastric ulcer: This image, acquired via endoscope, shows a deep gastric ulcer.

Symptoms of a peptic ulcer include abdominal pain, classically near the stomach with severity relating to mealtimes, about three hours after eating a meal; bloating and abdominal fullness; nausea; copious vomiting; loss of appetite and weight loss; vomiting of blood; and melena, which are tarry, foul-smelling feces due to oxidized iron from hemoglobin. Rarely, an ulcer can lead to a gastric or duodenal perforation, which leads to acute peritonitis. This is extremely serious and requires immediate surgery.

Causes

A major causative factor of ulcers is chronic inflammation due to Helicobacter pylori that colonizes the mucosa. The immune system is unable to clear the infection, despite the appearance of antibodies. Thus, the bacterium can cause a chronic active gastritis, resulting in a defect in the regulation of gastrin production by that part of the stomach. Gastrin secretion can either be increased, or as in most cases, decreased, resulting in a too basic or too acidic stomach environment, respectively. A decrease in acid can promote H. pylori growth and an increase in acid can contribute to the erosion of the mucosa and therefore ulcer formation.

Another major cause is the use of NSAIDs. The gastric mucosa protects itself from gastric acid with a layer of mucus, the secretion of which is stimulated by certain prostaglandins. NSAIDs block the function of cyclooxygenase 1 (cox-1), which is essential for the production of these prostaglandins.

Researchers also continue to look at stress as a possible cause, or at least complication, in the development of ulcers. There is debate as to whether psychological stress can influence the development of peptic ulcers. Burns and head trauma, however, can lead to physiologic stress ulcers, which are reported in many patients who are on mechanical ventilation.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is mainly established based on the characteristic symptoms. Stomach pain is usually the first signal of a peptic ulcer. In some cases, doctors may treat ulcers without diagnosing them with specific tests and observe whether the symptoms resolve, this indicating that their primary diagnosis was accurate.

Gastric ulcer: This endoscopic image shows a gastric ulcer, which upon biopsy was shown to be gastric cancer.

Confirmation of the diagnosis is made with the help of tests such as endoscopies or barium contrast x-rays. The tests are typically ordered if the symptoms do not resolve after a few weeks of treatment. Tests are also given when first appear in a person who is over age 45 or who has other symptoms such as weight loss, because stomach cancer can cause similar symptoms. Also, when severe ulcers resist treatment, particularly if a person has several ulcers or the ulcers are in unusual places, a doctor may suspect an underlying condition that causes the stomach to overproduce acid.

An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), a form of endoscopy, also known as a gastroscopy, is carried out on patients in whom a peptic ulcer is suspected. By direct visual identification, the location and severity of an ulcer can be described. Moreover, if no ulcer is present, EGD can often provide an alternative diagnosis.

If a peptic ulcer perforates, air will leak from the inside of the gastrointestinal tract (which always contains some air) to the peritoneal cavity (which normally never contains air). This leads to “free gas” within the peritoneal cavity. If the patient stands erect, as when having a chest x-ray, the gas will float to a position underneath the diaphragm. Therefore, gas in the peritoneal cavity, shown on an erect chest x-ray or supine lateral abdominal x-ray, is an omen of perforated peptic ulcer disease.

Treatment

Benign gastric ulcer: This gastric ulcer was found in tissue removed during a gastrectomy.

Younger patients with ulcer-like symptoms are often treated with antacids. The ability of antacids to neutralize acidity by increasing the pH or blocking the secretion of acid by gastric cells is critical in reducing acidity in the stomach. Patients who are taking NSAIDs may also be prescribed a prostaglandin analogue in order to help prevent peptic ulcers by replacing the prostaglandins whose formation is blocked by NSAID use.

When H. pylori infection is present, the most effective treatments are combinations of two antibiotics, such as Clarithromycin, Amoxicillin, Tetracycline, and Metronidazole; and one proton pump inhibitor, sometimes in combination with antacids. In complicated, treatment-resistant cases, three antibiotics may be used together with a proton pump inhibitor. Treatment of H. pylori usually leads to clearing of infection, relief of symptoms and eventual healing of ulcers. Recurrence of infection can occur and retreatment may be required, if necessary with other antibiotics.

Perforated peptic ulcer is a surgical emergency and requires surgical repair of the perforation. Most bleeding ulcers require endoscopy urgently to stop bleeding with cautery, injection, or clipping.

Digestive System Pathologies

2. Gallstones Form When Substances in the Bile Harden

Gallstones are pieces of solid material that can form from stored bile in the gall bladder. They range from tiny specks to the size of golf balls. During digestion, gallstones can block the flow of fluid through the bile ducts. Signs of a gallstone attack include nausea, vomiting, or pain in the abdomen, back, or just under the right arm.

3. Straining to Have a Bowel Movement Can Cause Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen, inflamed veins around the anus or lower rectum. Straining for bowel movements can cause hemorrhoids. Pregnancy, diarrhea, and chronic constipation are contributing factors. They can develop under the skin around the anus (as external hemorrhoids) or inside the anus (as internal hemorrhoids). Further straining or irritation when passing stool can damage a hemorrhoid’s surface and cause it to bleed.

4. Ulcerative Colitis Causes Inflammation and Sores in the Colon and Rectum

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the large intestine. It causes inflammation and sores (ulcers) in the innermost lining of the colon and rectum. This leads most often to abdominal pain or to diarrhea with blood and pus. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition characterized by alternating periods of flare-up and remission, when the symptoms of the disease disappear.

5.

GERD is a Common Diagnosis of Recurring Heartburn

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disease of the digestive system. GERD usually occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle at the end of the esophagus, does not close properly. This allows stomach acid to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it. Symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation, and the taste of stomach fluid in the back of the mouth.

6. Diverticulosis Occurs When Pouches Form in the Large Intestine. Diverticulitis Is the Inflammation or Infection of These Pouches

Diverticulosis occurs when small pouches form in the wall of the large intestine. Most people with diverticulosis don’t have symptoms. However, if feces get trapped in the pouches and bacteria grow, inflammation and infection result. This is called diverticulitis. Most often it causes abdominal pain. Other symptoms include fever, nausea, and constipation.

3 Rare Gastrointestinal Disorders You Probably Haven’t Heard Of

Posted by San Antonio Gastro on 10/17/2019

It’s highly likely that you have heard of acid reflux, constipation, and diarrhea. These are gastrointestinal issues that most people have experienced at one time or another. You may have even heard of digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease and celiac disease because approximately 70,000 people are diagnosed with the condition each year. But what about the super rare GI conditions that you haven’t heard of? Just because a condition is rare, doesn’t mean you are immune. If you are struggling with various forms of digestive distress and more common ailments have been ruled out, you may want to consider the possibilities on this list and talk to a gastroenterologist:

Eosinophilic Enteropathy

Eosinophilic enteropathy is characterized by an excess of eosinophils, or toxin-releasing white blood cells, in any part of the digestive tract. While the exact cause of EE is unknown, it is most often seen in patients with food allergies and/or atopy, which is asthma, hay fever, or eczema, since eosinophils are produced as a part of the body’s immune response to allergens. When there are too many eosinophils in the digestive tract, they can cause inflammation, ulcers, polyps, and tissue breakdown.

Endoscopic examination with biopsy is the only way to diagnose eosinophilic enteropathy. There is not a known cure for eosinophilic enteropathy, but food allergy testing is generally recommended, followed by eliminating the offending food from the patient’s diet.

Hirschprung’s disease

Hirschprung’s disease affects the colon, also known as the large intestine. People afflicted with this disorder lack the proper nerves to signal the muscle contractions required to pass stools, and they often suffer from constipation and bowel obstruction. Most of the diagnoses, about 80 percent, are considered “short-segment” disease, which means that only a small portion of the bowel is affected. Fifteen to 20 percent of cases are categorized as “long-segment” disease, which means it spreads over a large enough area to affect the sigmoid colon, which is the lower section of the large intestine that connects to the rectum. In 5 percent of cases, the entire large intestine is affected by the disease.

The only known treatment for Hirschprung’s disease is to remove the affected portion of the colon. In some cases, intestinal transplantation may be an appropriate treatment option.

Whipple Disease

Whipple disease is caused when rare bacteria (Tropheryma whipplei) infects the lining of the small intestine. The bacteria cause the intestinal villi (small finger-like structures) to become abnormally shaped, interfering with their ability to absorb nutrients.

It’s not known how exactly the bacteria is transmitted, but it is usually found in soil and sewage/waste water. It is not spread person-to-person. This disease is seen most often in Caucasian men between the ages of 40 and 60, but it can infect anyone. The infection can spread throughout the body, and if left untreated, become life-threatening.

If you’re experiencing uncomfortable digestive issues, let the board-certified gastroenterologists at San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates help you reach a diagnosis. Even if your problem isn’t clear-cut, there are a variety of endoscopic procedures available to assess your symptoms and develop a treatment plan.

Upper GI vs. Lower GI Diseases

The gastrointestinal (GI) system goes all the way from the mouth to the anus, and for medical evaluation and treatment purposes it’s divided into two main sections: the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. There are various ailments that can afflict the upper and/or lower GI tract.

Let’s discuss everything you need to know about the upper and lower GI tracts and the diseases associated with them. 

Upper GI Tract Conditions

The upper GI tract is made up of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). When we eat, the food and liquid travels from our throat through our esophagus to our stomach.

The valve at the base of the esophagus, known as the lower esophageal sphincter, prevents food and stomach acids from flowing back up into our esophagus. The food you ate begins to digest and turns into a liquid in your stomach.

(If the sphincter suddenly fails, it can allow food to flow back upward into the esophagus. This causes acid reflux.)

After that, it travels from your stomach to the duodenum, where bile and digestive enzymes – which are produced by the gallbladder (with assistance from the liver and pancreas) – further break down the liquefied food. This is how your body is able to absorb the nutrients.

When there are issues with the upper GI tract, symptoms can include gas, bloating, stomach pain, and heartburn. These symptoms can be quite unpleasant, but can also be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

Diseases of the Upper GI Tract

Health conditions of the upper GI tract include:

• Anemia
• Barrett’s esophagus
• Celiac disease
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Esophagitis and esophageal stricture
• Gallstones
• Gas and bloating
• Gastritis
• Gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Gastroparesis
• Heartburn
• H. pylori bacterial infection
• Hiatal hernia
• Lactose intolerance
• Pancreatitis
• Peptic ulcers
• Swallowing disorders

Lower GI Tract Conditions

The lower GI tract consists of the small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, and anus. Most of the nutrients from our food are absorbed in the small intestine; what’s left in the small intestine is waste, which then travels to the large intestine.

As the waste products move through our colon, water is absorbed, and the particles become solid – which is what forms into stool.

The stool then moves into the lower part of the colon, followed by the rectum and anal canal. There, it passes out of the body as a bowel movement.

When there are issues with the lower GI tract, symptoms can include diarrhea, constipation, and hemorrhoids. These symptoms can be quite painful and should not be ignored, as they could indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Diseases of the Lower GI Tract

Conditions of the lower GI tract include:

• Anal fissure, abscess, and fistula
• Anemia
• Colon polyps
• Colon cancer
• Constipation
• Crohn’s disease
• Diarrhea
• Diverticulosis and diverticulitis
• Hemorrhoids
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Rectal bleeding
• Ulcerative colitis

How Are GI Diseases Diagnosed?

To find out whether you have a GI condition, your gastroenterologist will perform diagnostic tests. For upper GI issues, the doctor may conduct an endoscopy or an upper GI series/barium swallow. For lower GI issues, the tests may include a colonoscopy, enteroscopy, or lower GI series/barium enema.

Treatment usually begins with recommended changes to your diet and/or lifestyle. Treatment may also include medication or surgery to help alleviate your symptoms and to improve your quality of life.

South Central Pennsylvania Gastroenterology

Our board-certified and fellowship-trained gastroenterologists at Carlisle Digestive Disease Associates have years of experience in diagnosing and treating upper and lower GI conditions. We offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, as well as the highest quality of care.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call us today at (717) 245-2228 or use our secure online appointment request form. We are happy to serve you – and to help you feel much, much better.

Gastrointestinal Disturbances – Find Relief From Gastrointestinal Disorders In Fort Collins

All diseases that pertain to the gastrointestinal tract are considered by the medical community to be digestive diseases. Sadly, over 85 percent of all adult Americans suffer from some form of intestinal problem. In fact, most nutrient or toxicological conditions can be traced back to a problem in the digestive system. Nutrient deficiencies, pollution, poor diet, dehydration, stress, poor sleeping habits, and lack of exercise are among the long list of contributors to these staggering statistics. Suffering from these conditions causes a myriad of bodily harms, encompassing every cell and organ in the human body.

Fortunately, the vast majority of these conditions are entirely preventable and often times easily remedied. Let the caring staff at Balanced Well-Being Healthcare of Fort Collins help! We have the experience and expertise to accurately diagnose your condition and provide fully integrative solutions resulting in an actual cure, not just the treatment of symptoms.

The three most common digestive dysfunctions that we see include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), and Leaky Gut.

Risk factors for gastrointestinal disturbances include (but are not limited to):

• Insufficient exercise
• Traveling or other changes in routine
• Consuming high volumes of dairy products
• A diet low in fiber or some other nutrient deficiencies
• Being stressed
• Pregnancy
• Resisting the urge to have bowel movements
• Overusing laxatives (over time these can weaken your bowel muscles)
• Taking medicines containing calcium or aluminum (antacids often contain these)
• Taking certain supplements or medications (antidepressants, iron pills, antibiotics, and narcotics are common)

These contributors often lead to what are known as “functional disorders,” those in which the bowel looks otherwise normal but functions improperly. Functional gastrointestinal disorders are the most common and affect the colon and rectum. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one such condition.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS (also called spastic colon, leaky gut, irritable colon, or nervous stomach) is a condition in which the colon muscle contracts more easily than in people without the condition. It is estimated that up to 45 million people, or 10-15% of the American population, suffer from IBS. About 2 in 3 IBS sufferers are female, while about 1 in 3 IBS sufferers are male. IBS affects people of all ages, including children. There are three primary types of IBS: IBS with constipation predominance (IBS-C), IBS with diarrhea predominance (IBS-D), and mixed IBS (IBS-M), which presents as an alternating pattern of constipation and diarrhea.

Symptoms of IBS can include abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, excessive gas, a change in bowel frequency and appearance, and dramatic shifts away from normal stool patterns. Symptoms typically improve with defecation.

A number of factors can trigger IBS, including certain types of food, certain supplements or medications–blood pressure medications like calcium channel blockers and beta blockers, and medications to reduce or eliminate acid like proton pump inhibitors, and medications to prevent incontinence. Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO), gut infections like candida or dysbiosis, food sensitivities, and stress can also be triggers.

The migrating motor complex (MMC) is the name for the natural “cleansing wave” — movement of muscles in the lining of your intestines that serves to empty the small intestine of waste at regular intervals. Research suggests that damage or impairment to this muscle movement may result in the bacteria and waste remaining and flourishing in the small intestine, creating IBS symptoms. Many things can damage the MMC. One theory is that an episode of food poisoning, referred to as “acute gastroenteritis”, may damage the muscles and cells responsible for this cleansing action, which helps explain the phenomenon of post-infectious IBS. Stress can also impact the MMC–it may slow down the action of the cleansing muscles, thus explaining the relationship between stress and IBS. Acid blocking medications, constipation, and infections like H Pylori can also inhibit the function of the MMC.

Testing is now available for IBS, through Commonwealth Labs, called IBSchek. The test diagnoses IBS based on the presence of antibodies to a toxin from gastroenteritis called CdtB, as well as vinculin, a protein found in the lining of the gut. IBSchek is a proprietary blood test for IBS based on the scientific findings of Mark Pimentel, MD, and his team of gastrointestinal experts at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Pimentel and his team conducted a 2500+ patient clinical trial which showed that anti-vinculin and anti-CdtB are effective biomarkers for the diagnosis of diarrhea-predominant or mixed symptom IBS.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

Within each of our digestive systems lives a complex micro-ecosystem of bacteria (roughly 1000 species known) that interact with each other and your body in a symbiotic way allowing you to properly digest your food and keep your digestive system healthy. Typically, these vast microbial populations are kept in balance by gastric acid secretion, intestinal movement, certain immunoglobulins, pancreatic secretions and even each other. The beneficial microbial colonies compete with each other, keeping one another in check so no specific microbial colony dominates. Any condition which impairs the normal transit or motion of the small intestine can increase the likelihood of getting SIBO. Abnormal pancreatic or immune function, decreased mobility, radical changes in diet, and the introduction of new bacteria into your system through food poisoning or contaminated water can cause this delicate internal balance to break down and allow for the abnormal and excessive growth on one or more types of bacteria. This “takeover” by one or more bacterial species is what we refer to when we say “bacterial outgrowth.”

There is a definite link between IBS and SIBO. A recent scientific study found that 36% of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome could trace their disease back to to a small intestinal bacterial outgrowth (SIBO), or Dysbiosis (aka. Dysbacteriosis). This condition can cause severe serious malnutrition and other deficiency syndromes, as well as perpetuate further damage to the digestive system as the dominating bacterial species (outgrowth) continues to damage other bacterial populations.

SIBO is a condition in which bacteria in the small intestine has overgrown and become chronic. In most patients, SIBO is not caused by a single type of bacteria, but is an overgrowth of the various types of bacteria that should normally be found in the colon. Bacteria are normally present throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract, but in varied amounts. Relatively few bacteria normally live in the small intestine compared to the large intestine. SIBO has been shown to negatively affect both the structure and function of the small intestine. It may significantly interfere with digestion of food and absorption of nutrients leading to serious malnutrition, primarily by damaging the cells lining the small bowel. This damage to the small intestinal cells can lead to leaky gut, which can lead to a whole host of problems from inflammation, to autoimmune disease, to food allergies.  

Symptoms of SIBO are similar to that of IBS and include gas, bloat, indigestion, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. It is currently believed that small intestinal bacterial outgrowth is one of the most misdiagnosed and under diagnosed conditions today.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Leaky Gut is a condition in which microbes, waste, or other toxins “leak” through a weak or excessively permeable gut wall resulting in these toxins moving into the blood stream and other internal areas of the body. This in turn can cause a myriad of problems and trigger an immune response. Once your body’s intestinal lining is damaged, it is less able to protect the internal environment, and your ability to filter needed nutrients and other biological substances into your system appropriately will be compromised. The body’s natural response to a compromised intestinal lining may in fact produce additional toxins. For instance, the liver will produce free radicals and carcinogens, and the body’s immune system may overreact causing increased food sensitivities or further damage other organs. The weakening of the gut wall itself may be caused by toxins, poor diet (malnutrition), parasites, infection (viral or bacterial), or medications. Conditions related to Leaky Gut Syndrome include:

• Crohn’s disease
• Colitis
• Frequent headaches
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
• Certain skin conditions (ex. Eczema and Psoriasis)
• Food allergies
• Chronic indigestion
• Autoimmune diseases

Removing gluten and casein from your diet and decreasing your sugar consumption may help in the treatment of Leaky Gut Syndrome. Certain anti-fungal agents, anti-microbial agents, supplements and probiotics are also recommended depending on the nature of the patients condition. For a complete analysis of your own condition, call Balanced Well-Being Healthcare today so we can custom-tailor a recovery and wellness plan specifically for you!

The ‘Four R’ Gut Healing Program

At Balanced Well-Being Healthcare we use the ‘Four R’ gut healing program to help people recover from digestive dysfunction as described above.

Step One: Remove the problem(s). In this step we remove the offending foods, pathogens, and toxins contributing to poor gut health. All of these irritate the gut in some form and create an inflammatory response. This means caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, sugars, gluten, and dairy, and in some cases grains and beans as well. If food allergies are a concern, we will do testing and further eliminate those that have been found to be problematic for you. In this step we also want to remove any pathogenic bacteria or infections that have come to light through testing. We may use a combination of prescriptives and herbal antimicrobials depending on your specific findings.

Step Two: Replace what you are missing to ensure proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. In this step we want to replace any digestive aids that you may be lacking. Digestive enzymes and stomach acid are the most common. Including these when indicated will better help you utilize the nutrients that you are taking in through food.

Step Three: Reinoculate with beneficial bacteria (i.e. Probiotics). Restoring beneficial bacteria to reestablish a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut is critical for health and immune function. We typically recommend anywhere from 10 -100 billion units a day.  Also, taking a prebiotic (food for the good bacteria) or consuming foods high in soluble fiber is important.

Step Four: Repair the gut lining. Providing the nutrients necessary to help the gut repair itself is essential.  We use nutrients like L-Glutamine, omega 3’s, zinc, aloe vera, curcumin, and slippery elm to help repair and rebuild the gut lining.

Colon Cancer Screening

Every year about 130,000 Americans are diagnosed with some form of colon cancer. It is the second most common form of cancer in the United States. Fortunately, with advances in early detection and treatment, colon cancer is one of the most easily curable forms of this disease. By using a variety of screening tests, it is possible to prevent, detect, and treat the disease long before any symptoms appear. One of the most troubling aspects of colon cancer is that in its early stages, there are seldom any symptoms. When symptoms do become apparent, the cancer is often in an advanced state. When symptoms do become apparent, they often include blood on or mixed in with the stool, sometimes severe weight loss, irregular bowel habits, abdominal pain, and fatigue. Most cases of colon cancer are detected in one of four ways:

• Screening people at average risk for colon cancer (beginning at age 50)
• Colon screenings in patients with symptoms
• Screening people at higher risk for colon cancer (if you have a personal or family history of cancer)
• A chance finding at a routine checkup

Early detection is always the best chance for a cure. Many gastrointestinal disturbances and disorders can be prevented or minimized by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, practicing good bowel habits, and submitting to screening. At Balanced Well-Being Healthcare, we have the experience and expertise to accurately diagnose your condition, and build a solution together based on your unique needs. Please call us today to arrange your initial consultation.

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology studies diseases of the digestive system. Diseases of this group are within the competence of a gastroenterologist. Primary diagnosis is carried out mainly by therapists and pediatricians. Most often, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are detected when contacting the clinic with complaints of digestive disorders or abdominal pain.

Such disciplines as esophagology (diseases of the esophagus), gastrology (stomach diseases), enterology (intestines), hepatology (liver and biliary system) are independent sections of gastroenterology.Diseases in this section are infectious and non-infectious. Gastroenterology is closely related to areas of medicine such as pediatrics and surgery.

Symptoms . Acute abdominal pain, aching pain, heartburn, vomiting, diarrhea, pain after eating, etc. may indicate gastrointestinal diseases. At the first signs of discomfort, you should consult a doctor.

Major diseases in gastroenterology . The most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are: gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), gastroduodenitis (inflammation of the duodenum), cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), colitis (inflammation of the colon) intestine), stomach and duodenal ulcers, hepatitis, etc.d.

Treatment and prevention . Therapy of gastroenterological diseases is aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease, eliminating symptoms and restoring the normal functioning of the digestive system. The treatment tactics are determined by the doctor after conducting diagnostic studies and analyzes.

Patient memo

Intestinal dysbiosis

The human body is a very complex and well-coordinated system, for the normal functioning of which it is important to maintain internal balance. But the body also has helpers – beneficial bacteria that live in the intestines. They help to digest food, get nutrients, moreover, they are necessary for the immune system and protect the body from the spread of harmful, pathogenic bacteria. However, sometimes the balance of microorganisms is disturbed, which leads to unpleasant consequences – dysbiosis develops.

Nutrition for intestinal dysbiosis

Intestinal dysbiosis manifests itself at one time or another in most adults and in almost all children.There can be many reasons for this condition, and, of course, it is simply impossible to protect yourself from all the reasons for the development of dysbiosis. The state of the intestinal microflora can be affected by ecology, chronic stress, and various diseases and even an emotional state. However, a person’s health, and especially the state of the digestive system, largely depends on what he eats. The best way to prevent dysbiosis is a complete, balanced diet.

Preparing for a colonoscopy

The decision on the need for a colonoscopy is made by the doctor depending on the clinical tasks (confirmation of the diagnosis, sampling of material for research, etc.).etc.). The examination allows you to examine the entire intestine.

Signs of intestinal dysbiosis

Intestinal dysbiosis is a condition in which the composition of the normal intestinal microflora is disturbed, which can lead to the appearance of unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms. The consequences of imbalance can affect not only the function of the digestive system, but also the general condition of the body.The symptoms of dysbiosis depend on the stage of the disease.

What does a gastroenterologist treat?

Gastroenterologist – a doctor who treats diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: stomach, intestines, pancreas, etc. The most common diseases that a gastroenterologist treats: gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal tract tumors, pancreatitis, colitis, enterocolitis, dysbiosis.

When to see a gastroenterologist

A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. If you experience discomfort associated with digestive processes, pain, heaviness in the stomach, frequent bloating in the abdomen, heartburn, you should contact a gastroenterologist to select a diet and appropriate treatment.

Preparation for ultrasound of the abdominal cavity

Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity is used in the diagnosis of acute and chronic diseases of internal organs. Preparation for the study begins in a few days.

What is included in the appointment of a gastroenterologist

Can I find out in advance how the appointment with a gastroenterologist will take place? The Ministry of Health has regulated the list of mandatory services that a gastroenterologist must provide at the first visit.

How to identify a good gastroenterologist

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are quite common in the modern rhythm of life. Their danger lies primarily in the fact that they can develop into a chronic form. In this article, you will learn how to identify a good gastroenterologist who will help you cope with all the ailments of the digestive system.

Diet for intestinal dysbiosis in children

Proper nutrition is the main part of the treatment and prevention of intestinal dysbiosis. It is especially important to pay attention to feeding a child suffering from dysbiosis – the diet for infants is different from the diet for children over three years old.

Diseases of the digestive system

13 October 2020

According to statistics, up to 40% of visits to therapists are precisely problems with the digestive system. One of the most common and insidious diseases is precisely those of the digestive system.

Causes of digestive system disorders are:

• Congenital or hereditary diseases.
• Incorrect power supply.
• Ingestion of pathogens in the human body.
• Stress. An unfavorable psychoemotional state can provoke the formation or renewal of gastrointestinal diseases.

exogenous, endogenous and genetic factors can provoke gastrointestinal diseases.

Exogenous . These primary causes of the disease include:

• dry food intake,
• consumption of very hot dishes,
• abuse of various spices and herbs,
• excessive drinking,
• smoking,
• eating poor quality food,
• no power mode,
• hasty food intake, as a result of which food is poorly chewed, and, therefore, absorbed by the body,
• defects of the human chewing apparatus,
• uncontrolled intake of drugs (especially salicylates and hormones),
• unfavorable environmental conditions.

Diseases caused by exogenous factors include gastritis and enteritis, colitis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, cholelithiasis, as well as dyskinesia and cirrhosis of the liver.

Endogenous – secondary (or endogenous) causes of gastrointestinal diseases are diseases such as diabetes and anemia, obesity and hypovitaminosis, various kidney and lung diseases, stress.

Diseases provoked by endogenous factors are hepatitis and cholecystitis, pancreatitis and enterobiasis.

Genetic. This group includes genetic factors, as well as developmental anomalies, including malformations of the esophagus and benign tumors (both of the esophagus and the stomach), diagnosed abnormal development of the pancreas (for example, cystic fibrosis of the pancreas itself), as well as congenital hypoplasia of the pancreas glands.

It should be noted that most often gastrointestinal diseases occur with a combination of both endogenous and exogenous factors.

Prevention of diseases of the digestive system

Many diseases of the digestive system can return if they are not prevented even after successful treatment. See your doctor on time, no matter what worries you – there is nothing to be ashamed of in this topic, just like in any other diseases.

It is important to monitor your diet, change your eating habits, adhere to the recommended diet. You can not allow snacks on the run, eat monotonous food.If you have problems with this, you can consult with a nutritionist and psychologist.

It is equally important to avoid bad habits, especially alcohol. It not only undermines the health of the liver, but also provokes excess acid secretion in the stomach.

Although stress is not directly related to digestion, it has a huge negative impact. Sometimes some digestive problems are not solved by treating the stomach or intestines at all.

90,000 Diseases of the digestive system in children

Chronic diseases of the digestive system are among the most common diseases of childhood.Their prevalence now exceeds 100 per 1000 child population.

Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of gastroenterological diseases in children has increased by 30%, and it has no significant regional features.

An increase in morbidity in children is observed at the age of 5-6 and 9-12 years, ie. during periods of the most intense morphological and functional changes in the child’s body, when, due to uneven growth and maturation of individual organs and systems, growth imbalances and organ dysfunction occur.It has been established that up to 30% of the diseases detected in these age periods are nothing more than functional disorders, more than half of which disappear without a trace without any treatment. At the same time, a significant part of functional disorders, under the condition of constant exposure of the child to unfavorable environmental factors, progresses and becomes a chronic process.

An important feature of the gastroenterological pathology of childhood, as the combined nature of the lesion of the digestive system, which is 70-90% of cases.This justifies the need for a comprehensive and complex examination of a gastroenterological patient.

Over the past 10 years, the role of the neuropsychic factor in the formation of pathology of the digestive system has significantly increased. The psychosomatic genesis of gastroenterological diseases can be traced to varying degrees in 40-50% of patients.
For a long time, several etiological factors were considered the cause of chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract in children – alimentary, neuropsychic, genetic, immunological disorders, impaired motility of the stomach and duodenum, food allergy.At the present stage, data on the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) as one of the main etiopathogenic units in the development and course of gastroduodenal pathology are of great scientific and practical interest. Among children with chronic diseases of the stomach and duodenum, H. pylori infection was up to 81% in chronic gastritis and 90-100% in erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastroduodenal zone.

The role of H. pylori is explained by the fact that under its influence mucosal atrophy develops and / or intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia develops, which increases the risk of malignant processes.Recently, H. pylori has been found in newborns in 5.4% of cases, and by the age of 13-15, the infection rate reaches 58-72%.

One of the central problems of pediatric gastroenterology is the study of the mechanisms of the development of a chronic pathological process, as well as factors affecting the nature of the course of the disease. Among the endogenous factors in the development of diseases of the stomach and duodenum, the greatest importance is attached to the ratio between aggressive factors affecting the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum (the level of acid production, high proteolytic activity of gastric juice).

In recent years, new data have been obtained on the mechanisms of the development of chronic gastroduodenitis in children. It has been established that in childhood the pathological process is not limited to the stomach and, as a rule, the duodenum is also involved.

In preschool children, chronic gastroduodenitis often develops against the background of allergic lesions of the mucous membrane.

In children of all age groups, the frequency of inflammatory changes in the fundus of the stomach is less common and the degree of their severity in the mucous membrane of the body of the stomach is much less than in the antrum.The topography of gastritis is very important in determining the prognosis. Severe atrophic antral gastritis with the preserved structure and function of the fundus is considered a prognostic sign of the development of a duodenal ulcer in a patient, as evidenced by the results of long-term observations. A comparative assessment of the morphology of the mucous membrane in different age periods showed an increase in the frequency of more severe pathological changes in adolescence. In adolescents, atrophic gastritis is observed 3 times more often, there is a violation of the regeneration of the fossil epithelium (dysplasia and metaplasia).

It is generally accepted that diseases of the digestive system arise as a result of the interaction of genetic factors and the influence of the environment. The role of the family, the microecological environment in the formation of the phenotype of the child’s health and illness is beyond doubt. Macroecology is of no less importance in this respect; family habitat, since the digestive system in unfavorable environmental conditions is often a target. According to the research results, gastroduodenal pathology in children in “clean” regions is relatively rare, which indicates its ecological determinism.Unfavorable ecology aggravates the hereditary predisposition, enhances the influence of negative family factors, which leads to a more frequent occurrence and more severe course of diseases of the digestive system.
Deterioration of the ecological situation, an increase in the frequency of allergic diseases, the regime of increased neuropsychic stress experienced in the children’s collective, a sedentary lifestyle, imbalance in nutrition and a violation of the regime lead to an increase in the frequency of diseases of the digestive tract.
In recent years, the proportion of peptic ulcer disease has increased by 2.5 times in children. Multiple and chronic ulcers are recorded in 40.8% of patients with this pathology, 6.3% of them do not respond to conservative therapy. In 25-30% of patients, despite the complex therapy, relapses of the disease are noted. If in the treatment of duodenal ulcer in recent years it has been possible to achieve certain successes, then the prevention of relapses is very important and requires improvement.

Thus, the issues of early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the digestive system in children in recent years have gone beyond pediatrics proper and represent a complex and large medical and social problem.
Spring is associated with an exacerbation for many. Feelings, needs and chronic diseases, incl. gastrointestinal diseases. The most common among diseases of the digestive system, which occurs in almost every third patient, is gastritis.
Gastritis only at first glance are relatively harmless – in almost 20% of cases, they are complicated by the formation of stomach and duodenal ulcers.To avoid serious consequences, you need to carefully monitor the diet, and if you did not have a chance to protect yourself, start carefully following the recommendations of gastroenterologists and nutritionists.

REASONS

Gastritis is manifested by inflammation and destruction of the gastric mucosa. The damaging factors for the stomach are infection, chemicals, high or low temperatures.
It is curious that relatively recently, one of the most common mechanisms of gastritis development was established – the disease provokes infection of the gastric mucosa with the helicobacter bacterium (the infection is called “helicobacteriosis”).It selectively affects the gastric mucosa and causes its superficial destruction like gastritis or deeper destruction like peptic ulcer disease.

In addition, gastritis can develop as a result of burns of the gastric mucosa with various chemicals – alcohol, alkali, acid. Taking certain medications (various anti-inflammatory drugs, some antibiotics) has a negative effect on the mucous membrane. Moreover, drugs from the group of anti-inflammatory drugs cause gastritis not only due to direct irritation of the gastric mucosa, but also due to the violation of the molecular mechanisms of its protection.Simply put, the disease can also be earned with the participation of drugs used in the form of injections or ointments.

SYMPTOMS

Depends on the form of the disease. Acute gastritis is characterized by abdominal pain – a sharp paroxysmal or constant painful. Moreover, it often depends on food intake – it increases on an empty stomach or some time after eating. Nausea can often occur after eating; there is heartburn (an unpleasant burning sensation in the chest), belching with a sour odor, increased salivation (as the body’s reaction to indigestion), sometimes dry mouth and stool disorder.In addition, there is a pronounced weakness, dizziness, a decrease in blood pressure, an increase in temperature.
Chronic gastritis is characterized by decreased appetite, unpleasant taste in the mouth, belching with a putrid odor, heaviness in the abdomen after eating and rumbling, bloating, flatulence. These digestive disorders lead to weight loss, severe weakness, drowsiness and irritability. In addition, chronic gastritis occurs with periodic exacerbations and remissions. An exacerbation of chronic gastritis can be seasonal (for example, in spring and autumn), and can also be provoked by a violation of the diet, the use of certain medications.

DIAGNOSTICS

The main methods for detecting gastritis are fibrogastroduodenoendoscopy (FGDS) and biopsy. In the first case, the inner surface of the stomach is examined with a probe, in the second, a small piece of tissue is removed for examination. EGDS makes it possible not to confuse gastritis and ulcers, and also helps to determine the type of disease: erosive or non-erosive.
With erosive gastritis, obvious erosions are formed on the mucous membrane. A similar form develops with the use of a number of drugs, as well as with the ingestion of chemicals that corrode the mucous membrane.If the damage to the mucous membrane is not too deep, the patient feels only nausea, a “stone” in the stomach after eating. If the erosion is deep, hemorrhages are formed on it. Of all the forms of gastritis, this one most often develops into an ulcer.
Non-erosive gastritis differs in superficial and atrophic forms. The superficial variety is distinguished by shallow disturbances of the upper layer of the mucous membrane – while the glands that produce gastric juice are not damaged. All forms of the disease begin precisely with non-erosive.The atrophic form affects the glands that produce gastric juice. Atrophy is the degeneration of glands into connective fibers.

PREVENTION

In chronic gastritis, it is important to prevent exacerbations. At the same time, it is not drug treatment that is of primary importance, but the nutritional factor, including careful sanitary control over the organization of public catering, as well as individual preventive measures. In addition to adhering to the diet, it is necessary to exclude overeating, as well as some medications.An important role is played by the mode of work and rest, the treatment of concomitant diseases.
– The use of fatty, spicy, salty, smoked food, sweet carbonated water leads to gastritis. The pastry also does not have a very good effect on the digestive tract: eating rolls all day long, and even in large quantities, is like rolling a crumb in your hand, making a sticky mass out of it and filling your stomach with it.
Acute gastritis can also be caused by poor-quality food, and if food poisoning is ignored, chronic gastritis can develop over time.Nowadays, it is necessary to carefully monitor not only the expiration dates, but also the composition of products: gastritis can develop due to preservatives and synthetic flavors.

Children abuse chips, gelatins and carbonated drinks.
If gastritis could not be prevented, then, in order not to aggravate the situation, you need to be more careful about nutrition. For people with gastrointestinal problems, it is advisable to eat at least five times a day in small portions – the stomach should not be overloaded.During an exacerbation of the disease, food can go up to seven times a day. For prevention, it is important that the diet includes hot liquid food and dairy products, but at the same time it is necessary to take into account the acidity with which gastritis is high (milk is recommended) or low (kefir is preferred). Also, food must be mechanically processed – it is better to refrain from meat in large pieces and switch to cutlets, only not fried, but steam. You can eat low-fat boiled fish.Strong tea should be excluded from the diet, and the consumption of chocolate should be limited. Fruit purees, thermally processed vegetables (except cabbage and radish) will not interfere. Vegetables are best cooked boiled or stewed; porridge is recommended not crumbly, but viscous. If you follow these and other rules, you can protect yourself from further consequences.

Vitamins are also of great importance in the life of the human body.
The first breakfast should contain 25-30% of the total daily ration, the second 10-15%, lunch 40-45% and dinner 15-20%.
Foods rich in protein (meat, fish, eggs), as well as legumes are more appropriate for breakfast and lunch. Proteins require a significant amount of digestive juices and remain in the stomach for a long time. Therefore, foods rich in protein are digested and absorbed better during the day. For dinner, you should not eat vegetable or cereal dishes. Dinner should be light. Food should be taken no later than 2-3 hours before bedtime. If working conditions or other circumstances do not allow eating four times a day, you can limit yourself to three meals a day: a hearty breakfast before starting work, the second during a break from work and lunch after work.The food should not be very hot, but not cold either.
Correct drinking regime is also important for a balanced diet. Water is the necessary medium in which all chemical reactions and transformations of substances occur, associated with their continuous exchange. In the human body, water makes up about 65% of its weight. A certain amount of water is formed in the body due to the oxidation of fats, carbohydrates and proteins (10-15%). A healthy person uses. about 2-2.5 liters of liquid per day.Excessive fluid intake interferes with the functioning of the heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
In addition to general measures to help prevent gastric diseases, it is necessary to dwell on specific for each of these diseases. In particular, the prevention of acute gastritis includes all measures of sanitary supervision aimed at preventing the population from eating poor-quality foods. In the presence of carious teeth, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, inflammation of the biliary tract, they must be treated, with ascariasis – to expel worms.In order to prevent chronic gastritis, it is necessary to timely treat acute gastritis, as well as inflammatory processes of other organs and systems – biliary tract (chronic hepatocholecystitis, cholangitis), kidneys (chronic pyelonephritis).
Stomach or duodenal ulcer is not an occupational disease, but there are factors predisposing to its occurrence in every profession, the effects of which must be avoided. Harmful factors are excessive workload, emergency tasks, work at night, and lack of regular unloading.Traveling work is also harmful if regular meals are disrupted (frequent business trips, work on transport). From this it follows that the prevention of gastric or duodenal ulcers and their recurrences are facilitated by the improvement of working and living conditions, the rationalization of nutrition both in relation to the regimen and the network of canteens, in particular canteens for medical nutrition, the purposeful use of weekends and holidays.
Timely and radical treatment of acute and chronic gastritis, early detection of gastric or duodenal ulcers and a fairly complete treatment are of great importance.In the prevention of stomach cancer, dietary prevention of gastritis, timely treatment of acute and chronic gastritis, radical treatment of polyps and polyposis of the stomach, full treatment of peptic ulcer disease, including surgery, are important.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) – Polyclinic No. 1

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT): how to recognize the enemy in time?

A dozen organs participate in digestion, which grind food, assimilate nutrients and remove excess from the body.It is a “full cycle” system – from food absorption and processing to the removal of undigested residues. It is imperative that every element of it works clearly and does not fail.

How the human gastrointestinal tract works

The digestion process is a bit like descending a slide in a water park. The beginning of the path is the mouth cavity , where food is chewed, crushed, mixed with saliva and turns into a soft food lump.

This is interesting

The mucous membrane of the mouth has receptors that help to recognize the taste, temperature and texture of food.These sensors transmit signals to the brain, which turns on the salivary, fundic and pancreas.

This is followed by pharynx – a funnel-shaped canal in which the digestive and respiratory tracts intersect.

The journey of food continues into the esophagus , a cylindrical muscular tube 22–25 cm long. The upper and lower esophageal sphincters at the ends serve as valves that prevent food from returning to the oral cavity.

Stomach is a sac-shaped muscular organ that connects the esophagus with the duodenum (duodenum). It is like a cauldron in which food is accumulated, mixed to a pasty mass and digested by the action of gastric juice. Stomach juice consists of enzymes and hydrochloric acid, due to which it has a pronounced acidity (about 1.5–2.0 pH). Gastric juice breaks down proteins and other chemical compounds, after which they are transported to the small intestine for final digestion and absorption.

Length of the small intestine , consisting of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum and occupying most of the abdominal cavity, is about 4.5 m. The small intestine contains glands that produce intestinal juice for the main digestion of food and absorption of nutrients into the blood.

Large intestine – the lower part of the intestine, in which water, electrolytes, fiber are absorbed and unsuitable food residues are formed into feces.The large intestine is 1.5 m long and is subdivided into the cecum, colon, and rectum. The rectum – the end of the digestive tract – ends with an opening (anus). Serves for the accumulation of feces and bowel emptying. This is where the “unprecedented journey” ends – the processed food debris leaves the body.

The pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands, gall bladder and liver are also involved in digestion.

The pancreas is located in close proximity to the stomach and duodenum.It secretes pancreatic juice, which contributes to the complete digestion of food and the course of metabolic processes.

Liver takes part in the metabolism of lipids, vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates, synthesizes blood proteins: globulins, albumin and fibrinogen. The organ is involved in immunological reactions.

Functions of the gallbladder – store and supply as needed concentrated bile, which is constantly produced by liver cells.Bile is directly involved in human digestion and acts as a kind of antibacterial agent.

It is worth mentioning the role in digestion of the kidneys and adrenal glands related to the urinary system. They process the water coming from the colon, filtering it into suitable for the needs of the body and into urine containing unnecessary impurities and to be excreted.

At each stage of the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract, disruptions are possible, leading to incomplete assimilation of food, problems with the elimination of waste material and threatening the development of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Among the causes of problems with the digestive system, malnutrition, which has various forms, is in the lead. These are overeating and eating heavy food, malnutrition and starvation, irregular meals, quick snacks, scarcity and imbalance in the diet. Poorly purified water and harmful food additives negatively affect the digestive tract.

Other factors: poor ecology, stress, harmful working conditions, addictions, congenital predisposition, autoimmune diseases and disruptions in the endocrine system, side effects of drugs (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, painkillers, hormonal drugs), violation of sanitary standards in the preparation and consumption of food, capable of causing infectious diseases and parasite infestation.

Disruptions in the digestive system negatively affect the entire body, reduce immunity, disrupt metabolism, lead to a deterioration in the appearance of the skin, brittle hair and nails. They are fraught with numbness in the limbs, pain in muscles and bones, and sleep disturbances.

Possible complications for the cardiovascular system: hypertension, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, risk of stroke and heart attack. Against the background of gastrointestinal diseases, anular stomatitis, glossitis, bleeding gums, eczema, neurodermatitis can develop.With advanced forms of gastrointestinal diseases, damage to the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, gonads, thyroid gland is possible.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: what the statistics say

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are among the most common pathologies in the world.

Medical statistics Mortality from gastroenterological causes in Russia ranks third after cardiovascular and oncological diseases and is about 0.08% (80 cases per 100,000 people).An increase in deaths by an average of 0.003% is recorded annually.

Men are 38% more likely to become victims of gastrointestinal diseases, which is associated with both uncontrolled alcohol consumption and late seeking medical help.

Among fatal gastroenterological diseases, over 45% are liver diseases caused by alcohol. Twice as many men die as women (ratio 16: 7). Acute pancreatitis and other diseases of the pancreas are the cause of death in 17% of gastroenterologist patients.Death from peritonitis due to rupture of the gallbladder is less than 1%.

Fatal bowel diseases are caused by advanced forms of inflammation and perforation (violation of integrity, formation of holes) of the walls of the small and large intestine. In particular, appendicitis (inflammation of the cecum) is responsible for up to 4% of all deaths associated with the gastrointestinal tract. The same amount falls on a heart attack (necrosis, necrosis) of the intestine.

Despite its widespread prevalence, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer is the cause of death in no more than 10% in the gastroenteric group.

Of the non-lethal diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the leading one is chronic gastritis . It affects up to 80-90% of patients in the world, which is facilitated by the pathogenic bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which causes inflammation of the gastric mucosa. In developing countries, infection with Helicobacter in people over the age of 40 reaches 95%.

In Russia, the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach is noted according to various sources in 62–94% of adult patients.

The consequence of gastritis – a stomach ulcer is found in every 15th inhabitant of the Earth.In our country, the statistics are more optimistic – only 1 out of 40 Russians is sick. Men “earn” ulcers 2-4 times more often than women.

The prevalence gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) reaches 50% among the adult population. Symptoms of the disease are noted equally often in both men and women.

Duodenitis is a common duodenal disease that affects 5-10% of patients.In men, it is diagnosed twice as often due to alcohol abuse and poor lifestyle choices.

Relatively frequent and colitis – inflammatory diseases of the walls of the large intestine. The cause of the disease is pathogenic microbes (streptococci, staphylococci, Escherichia coli).

Appendicitis (inflammation of the cecum) occurs in 30% of Russians.

Every tenth man and every fourth woman who complains of abdominal pain is diagnosed with chronic cholecystitis (cholelithiasis).

Among children and adults, dysbiosis is widespread – an imbalance of the intestinal microflora, leading to disruption of the digestive system.

Symptoms of the most common gastrointestinal diseases

Typical signs of gastrointestinal pathologies: heartburn (burning from the throwing of stomach contents into the esophagus), flatulence and intestinal stenosis (bloating caused by the accumulation of gas in the intestines), belching (gas from the stomach or esophagus), nausea and vomiting, problems with stools (constipation or diarrhea), bad breath, plaque on the tongue.

Less common: dysphagia (impaired swallowing, accompanied by pain and a feeling of stopping the food lump), impurities in the feces (blood, mucus, undigested food residues), swelling of the tongue, bitterness in the mouth, itching and other allergic reactions. Diseases of a single pathogenesis have both general and specific features.

Stomach diseases

Pain in the epigastric (epigastric) region and dyspeptic syndrome (sour belching, heartburn, vomiting and nausea) may indicate a number of diseases of the stomach, esophagus and PrEP.

With peptic ulcer , which is a wound of the wall of the PrEP or stomach, there are sharp periodic pains in the left hypochondrium, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, bloody impurities in the feces.

The inflammatory processes of the stomach ( gastritis ) and the duodenum ( duodenitis ) are manifested in a similar way. The diseases are accompanied by sharp, aching or pulling pains in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and problems with stools.Patients experience a feeling of a full stomach and a heaviness in the abdomen even with little food intake.

Hernia of the esophagus is also given by pain in the epigastric region when changing posture and after eating. Back pain and girdle pain are also possible. In 20% of patients (mainly over 60 years old), pain in the region of the heart is noted against the background of concomitant cardiac diseases.

The intestine often suffers from inflammatory processes, infectious lesions.Inflammations of the large and small intestines ( enteritis and colitis ) are accompanied by stool disorder (up to 15 times a day). During and immediately after bowel movements, the patient experiences severe weakness, dizziness, nausea, and a drop in pressure. There is bloating, cold sweat, trembling limbs, tachycardia, as well as loud rumbling, splashing noise and tenderness on palpation.

Signs of paraproctitis, or abscess (purulent inflammation) rectum – these are severe pains in the rectum or perineum.Against the background of an increase in the size of the abscess, the pain intensifies, the urge to defecate becomes painful, the temperature rises, and chills are possible.

Dysbacteriosis is manifested by impaired stool, bloating, cramping pains, dyspeptic disorders and allergic reactions (itching and skin rashes).

Hemorrhoids (varicose veins of the rectum) are characterized by bleeding or smearing with blood after the act of defecation, prolapse of hemorrhoids through the anus and pain during bowel movement, continuing for some time (when walking, in a sitting and lying position).

Symptoms appendicitis is determined by the patient’s age, the area of ​​the appendix in the abdominal cavity and the presence of complications. Characterized by a dull pain in the right side, weakness and headache, which may be accompanied by pain in the legs, nausea in combination with a single vomiting, frequent loose stools, a temperature within 38 degrees.

One of the most common and meanwhile mysterious pathologies should not be overlooked – irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) , accompanied by abdominal cramps, stool disorder, painful bloating.IBS has a negative effect on the entire body: the patient complains of headache, insomnia, increased fatigue, heart palpitations, even at rest. According to most experts, IBS has a psychosomatic nature and appears as a result of stress, severe emotional overload. However, to get rid of the problem, it is important not only to come to peace of mind, but also to apply complex medication. One of the solutions can be the intake of bismuth preparations, which simultaneously have a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and protective effect.

Liver diseases

Acute hepatitis C (inflammatory viral liver damage) is marked by a whole range of symptoms. Among them: weakness, decreased appetite and performance, sleep disturbance, aversion to food, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, pain in large joints, the appearance of a rash, fever, darkening of urine, yellowing of the skin (hence the popular name of the disease – jaundice).

The first signs of liver cirrhosis are: a feeling of a full abdomen, decreased performance, pain in the right hypochondrium, a feeling of fullness in the stomach, bleeding gums and nosebleeds, fever, flatulence, nausea, vomiting.

Diseases of the gallbladder and biliary tract

Signs of cholecystitis (inflamed gallbladder) – acute pain in the right hypochondrium, intestinal distention, attacks of nausea and vomiting. The pain intensifies with a deep breath during palpation of the gallbladder zone. Many patients report a slight increase in temperature.

Diseases of the pancreas

Patients with pancreatitis often complain of acute abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea and vomiting with gastric juice, mucus, bile, etc.Bloating, dry mouth, and belching are also present. Cyanotic spots often appear on the left side and in the navel area.

Most common and life-threatening diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are caused by inflammatory processes against the background of a bacterial or viral infection. Digestion is a single interconnected system and diseases of its organs can consistently develop according to the domino principle. The source of the avalanche of problems is often in the stomach, which we put to the test of strength on a daily basis.Therefore, in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract pathologies, an integrated approach using gastroprotective (protective) and antiseptic gastrointestinal drugs is effective.

90,000 Prevention of diseases of the digestive system – Municipal formation of the city of Perm

Diseases of the digestive system are not only relevant for all groups of the population, but are also among the most common
in comparison with diseases of other organs. A considerable share in the general statistics of oncological diseases is also made by mortality
from malignant tumors of the large intestine and stomach.Compliance with the rules of a healthy lifestyle is necessary: ​​it is this factor that is decisive for the health of the digestive system.

THE MOST COMMON DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

• Gastritis

• Stomach ulcer

• Gallstone disease

• Pancreatitis

• Colon cancer

RISK FACTORS

– FATAL

• Age.

• Pol.Stomach cancer is 2 times more likely to develop in men, while gallstone disease develops 3-5 times more often in women.

• Heredity. If your parents or other close blood relatives had a peptic ulcer or cancer of the stomach and colon in the past, then in your case the risk of developing the corresponding diseases increases.

REMOVABLE

• Overweight

• Alcohol abuse

• Smoking

• Incorrect power supply

• Violation of power supply

• Stress

• Diabetes mellitus

• Abuse of coffee and carbonated drinks

• Low physical activity

• Overeating

PREVENTION

• Get your diet in order.Eat more often, but in smaller portions, be sure to have breakfast, do not skip meals. Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands and all non-cooked foods before eating to protect your body from the entry of pathogenic bacteria

• Eat right. Reduce the consumption of fatty, smoked, fried, salted food, smoked meats, drink as little carbonated drinks as possible. On the contrary, increase the dose of fiber in the diet (cereals, bran bread, vegetables, fruits), eat as much fresh salads, coarse fiber foods as possible, salt food in moderation, try to use less vinegar and similar ingredients when cooking

• Do not overeat.Don’t force yourself to starve, eat healthy and orderly

• Control your weight

• Give up alcohol or reduce its consumption to a minimum

• Quit smoking

• Learn to control stress. Move more, try not to be nervous, learn to cope with stress, walk, get enough sleep, rest. Such measures not only indirectly affect the health of the digestive system, but also improve your overall health

• If you have diabetes, keep your condition under control.Follow all the recommendations of your doctor, eat right, carefully monitor your health, control your blood sugar level. If you experience painful sensations in the digestive organs, immediately consult your doctor in order to avoid complications

• Limit your consumption of coffee and carbonated drinks. The safe consumption rate of coffee per day is 300-400 ml of ready-made natural coffee (2-3 coffee cups). Drink as little carbonated drinks as possible: it is advisable to limit yourself to one glass a day or stop drinking them altogether

• Move more.The norm of physical activity for an adult is 150 minutes per week; if you do not reach this indicator, try to increase your level of physical activity

MEDICAL CONTROL

– Examination by a general practitioner once a year

– At every visit to the doctor – determination of body mass index (BMI)

– Determination of cholesterol level 1 time in 5 years (or more often at the discretion of the doctor)

– Over the age of 50 – colon cancer screening

90,000 Treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in the sanatorium in Essentuki

Treatment of gastrointestinal diseases creates the basis for the treatment of various diseases.Therefore, in many sanatoriums, treatment begins with the digestive system.

It’s no secret that the treatment of many diseases should begin with an examination of the gastrointestinal tract. The phrase “He has a weakened immune system” has become a kind of cliché.

It has long been proven that up to 70% of the cells of the human immune system are located in the stomach.

Peptic ulcer disease in men, according to statistics, occurs 3 times more often than in women.Also, blood group I with a positive Ph-factor increases the risk of stomach ulcers.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract include duodenal ulcer, intestinal dysbatheiosis – these are the most common diseases.

The treatment of gastrointestinal diseases creates the basis for the treatment of various diseases. Therefore, in many sanatoriums, treatment begins with the digestive system. Particular attention is paid to the duodenal bulb, damage to which leads to the transfer of enzymes from the liver and pancreas into the stomach.It is these enzymes that erode the walls of the stomach, as a result of which its diseases appear.

It is known that any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Therefore, it is better to start treatment and restoration of the gastrointestinal tract when these problems do not bother you very much.
In case of intestinal dysbiosis, harmful bacteria prevail in the colon instead of the “correct” bacteria (acidophilic and bifidobacteria), thereby disturbing its microflora.There are many reasons for this: the use of antibacterial drugs; eating disorders; immunodeficiencies; alcohol consumption.

Sanatoriums of the gastrointestinal tract are shown to everyone: those who are already sick, and everyone who does not want to acquire this widespread ailment. The procedures used in both situations are quite similar.

Sanatoriums, whose gastrointestinal diseases are the main treatment profiles, offer their guests various therapeutic and prophylactic diets, which are prescribed by the attending physician.The use of mineral water is of great importance in the treatment of the digestive system.

Therefore, health resorts that have their own springs with mineral waters are very popular.
Most often, mineral water is used for drinking, but it can also be used for various washes, inhalations, duodenal tubing.

The digestive sanatorium offers such a procedure as bowel cleansing to all guests who have no contraindications for this procedure.

Colon hydrotherapy (bowel cleansing) is carried out using a special apparatus. This procedure cleanses the body as a whole, treats allergies, helps (with complex treatment) in weight loss.

Sanatoriums, for which the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract is a priority, often offer a set of measures to combat this currently widespread ailment.

The list of diseases of the digestive system, unfortunately, is quite large.Therefore, only a doctor can determine the severity of your illness and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

90,000 ALCOHOLISM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM OF MODERN SOCIETY

Alcohol abuse is one of the pressing problems of our country. Widespread sale and advertising of alcoholic beverages, social, economic and psychological tension, disorganization of leisure and recreation contribute to the alcoholization of the population, including students.The previously registered decrease in the incidence of chronic alcoholism was replaced by its growth, including its most severe condition – alcoholic psychosis. Accidents, poisoning and injuries associated with alcoholism mainly affect people of the blossoming age (especially men): in the structure of mortality of the working-age population, they rank first and came second in the structure of the causes of mortality of the entire population of Russia, becoming the cause of death of every second man and every third woman who died of working age.The growth in the mortality rate of the working-age population has an impact on the formation of labor resources.

Alcoholic lifestyle as the antipode of a healthy lifestyle is one of the most important factors leading to premature death. Alcoholism is a huge social evil that “eats away” a person from the inside, causing enormous damage to society. “National disaster”, “collective suicide of the nation”, “the path to the catastrophe of mankind” – this is how scientists and the public in many countries assess the growing abuse of alcoholic beverages.

Is alcoholism a disease or promiscuity? The beginning of systematic intoxication is licentiousness, lack of culture and lack of will, and the period of mental dependence on alcohol is an incipient disease.

The negative effect of alcohol on organs and body systems

The brain is the most active consumer of energy. The negative effect of alcohol on the brain is associated with impaired access of oxygen to neurons as a result of alcohol intoxication.Alcohol dementia, which develops with prolonged alcohol use, is the result of the death of brain cells.

Irreversible consequences of heavy alcohol consumption: damage to brain functions caused by damage to the cells of the cerebral cortex – the “thinking” area of ​​the brain. Autopsies of alcoholics who have died even at a relatively young age often reveal a significant depletion of the brain, especially of the cerebral cortex.

The harmful effects of alcohol affects all systems of the human body (nervous, circulatory, digestive).Currently, the harmful role of alcoholism in the development of acute and chronic diseases has been proven.

Diseases of the cardiovascular system occupy a leading place in the structure of mortality. Under the influence of alcohol, the heart muscle is affected, which leads to serious illness and death. X-ray examination reveals an increase in the volume of the heart, which does not develop in all patients suffering from chronic alcoholism, but can occur in patients with a relatively short alcoholic experience.Even in healthy people, after a large dose of alcohol, cardiac arrhythmias may appear, but they gradually disappear spontaneously. Alcohol abuse contributes to the development and progression of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and is often the direct cause of heart attacks.

Diseases of the external respiratory system . Breathing is synonymous with life. This is inhalation and exhalation, which alternate regularly. The respiratory process consists of four stages, and if any of them are disturbed, it will lead to serious respiratory distress.In patients suffering from the 1st stage of chronic alcoholism, some stimulation of the function of external respiration is noted: the minute volume of respiration increases, respiration becomes more frequent. As the disease progresses, breathing worsens, various diseases may occur (chronic bronchitis, tracheobronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, tuberculosis). Alcohol is often combined with tobacco. With the simultaneous exposure of these two poisons, their harmful effect is even more increased. Tobacco smoke damages the structure of alveolar macrophages – cells that protect lung tissue from organic and mineral dust, neutralize microbes and viruses, and destroy dead cells.Tobacco and alcohol are serious health risks.

Gastrointestinal pathology . Patients with chronic alcoholism often complain of disturbances in the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, since the gastric mucosa is the first to perceive the toxic effects of alcohol. During the study, they reveal gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. With the development of alcoholism, the function of the salivary glands is disrupted. Other pathological changes also develop.

The liver occupies a special position among the organs of the digestive system. This is the main “chemical laboratory” of the body, which performs an antitoxic function, is involved in almost all types of metabolism: protein, fat, carbohydrate, water. Under the influence of alcohol, the functions of the liver are impaired, which can lead to cirrhosis (degeneration) of the liver.

Kidneys. In the majority of patients with alcoholism, renal excretory function is impaired.There are malfunctions in the work of the entire hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, therefore, the regulation of kidney activity is disrupted. Alcohol has a detrimental effect on the delicate renal epithelium (the protective tissue lining the inner surface of the hollow organs), this significantly disrupts the functioning of the kidneys.

Mental disorders . In alcoholism, a wide variety of mental abnormalities are found – hallucinations, numbness of body parts, muscle cramps, and sometimes severe weakness in the extremities (“cotton feet”).Paralysis of certain muscle groups, mainly of the lower extremities, often develops. With abstinence from alcohol, these symptoms can go away.

Immune system disorders. Alcohol has a detrimental effect on the human immune system, disrupts the processes of hematopoiesis, reduces the production of lymphocytes, and contributes to the development of allergies.

Alcohol consumption leaves a significant imprint on the activity of all internal organs, which means that we should abandon a glass of dry wine, replacing it with a glass of juice or a few fruits.

Endocrine glands , primarily the sex glands, are adversely affected by alcohol. A decrease in sexual function is observed in 1/3 of alcohol abusers and in patients with chronic alcoholism. In men, as a result of “alcoholic impotence”, various functional disorders of the central nervous system (neuroses, reactive depressions, etc.) easily occur. In women, under the influence of alcohol, menstruation stops early, the ability to bear children decreases, and toxicosis of pregnancy is more often observed.

Muscle & Skin . Chronic alcohol use often leads to muscle weakness and wasting. Alcohol can damage muscles directly. Poor diet is another possible cause of muscular dystrophy.

In 30-50% of cases, alcohol abusers develop skin diseases. Skin lesions are the direct result of alcohol, liver damage and poor nutrition.

Delirium tremens – the most severe form of alcohol intoxication.It gives 1-2% of deaths even with intensive drug treatment, and without treatment, mortality can reach 20%. Delusional fever is characterized by hallucinations, confusion, and disorientation; tremors, agitation, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and fever are noted. Many people with alcohol dependence need medical attention during the detoxification period (“dry period”). This period can last from one to two days to a week.

Life span. Systematic alcohol consumption leads to premature old age, disability; the life expectancy of persons prone to drunkenness is 15-20 years shorter than the statistical average.

List of diseases caused by alcoholism

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