Indigestion, also called dyspepsia, is the term used to describe one or more symptoms including burning or pain in the area of the upper abdomen, feeling of fullness during a meal, and uncomfortable fullness after a meal. In some people, the condition can occur once in a while. While in others, indigestion may occur as often as every day. There are many indigestion causes including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, cancer, or abnormality of the pancreas or bile ducts. If the condition improves or resolves,...

Peptic ulcers are sores that form in the inner lining of the stomach and sometimes in the duodenum. The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine. Peptic ulcer names may be different depending on the digestive tract involved. When it occurs in the stomach, it is called gastric ulcer. A peptic ulcer occurring in the duodenum is called duodenal ulcer. Many people have peptic ulcer. It can occur both in the stomach and duodenum. Sometimes, you can have more than one ulcer in your lifetime. Peptic Ulcer Causes Peptic...

Diarrhea occurs when a person has a change in bowel movements, passing unusually loose and watery stools. For most cases, the condition usually goes away without special medical treatment. However, diarrhea can be potentially life-threatening if it leads to dehydration. Causes Diarrhea can be caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Other causes of diarrhea include certain medications, certain food like milk, or health problems affecting the stomach or the intestines. Normally, stool has a semi-solid...

The digestive system is composed of the digestive tract and organs that aid in digestion of food. The digestive tract includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and the anus. Other organs or structures that help in digesting food are the teeth, salivary glands, the liver, and the pancreas. The following are brief descriptions of the common digestive diseases. Appendicitis Appendicitis is the...

Having difficulty of passing stool? Or maybe you have stool that is dry, hard, and painful passing of stool? If your answer to this is yes, you are probably experiencing constipation. Fact is, constipation is one of the leading gastrointestinal complaints in the United States. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, more than 4 million Americans have frequent constipation, accounting for 2.5 million physician visits a year. Constipation, according to the National Institute of Digestive...