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, indigestion symptoms usually improve.

Sometimes, the cause of indigestion cannot be found. This indigestion type is called functional dyspepsia, which is thought to occur in the area where the stomach meets with the small intestine. The indigestion may be related to abnormal motility—the squeezing or relaxing action—of the stomach muscle as it receives, digests, and moves food into the small intestine.

Indigestion Symptoms

People with dyspepsia or indigestion usually have more than one of the following symptoms:

 Fullness during a meal. The person feels overly full soon after the meal starts and cannot finish the meal.

 Bothersome fullness after a meal. The person feels overly full after a meal—it may feel like the food is staying in the stomach too long.

 Epigastric pain. The epigastric area is between the lower end of the chest bone and the navel. The person may experience epigastric pain ranging from mild to severe.

 Epigastric burning. The person feels an unpleasant sensation of heat in the epigastric area.

• Common Stomach Diseases
• Peptic Ulcers
• Common Digestive System Diseases

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 ulcer is commonly caused by the bacteria called H. pylori. Experts believe that H. pylori may be spread through eating and drinking contaminated food and water. Also, the bacteria may be spread through kissing.

The second leading cause of peptic ulcer is long-term use of pain-reliever drugs, called NSAIDs. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), ulcers caused by NSAIDs are more often found in people who are age 60 or older; are female; have taken NSAIDs for a long time; and have had ulcer before.

Contrary to the notion, stress and eating spicy foods do not cause peptic ulcers. However, they can make ulcers worse and can affect healing.

Peptic Ulcer Symptoms

Peptic ulcer symptoms may include weight loss, poor appetite, bloating, burping, vomiting, and feeling sick to your stomach. However, the most common symptom of peptic ulcer is dull or burning pain in the stomach. The pain often starts between meals or during the night, briefly stops if you eat or take antacids, lasts for minutes to hours, comes and goes for several days or weeks.

Peptic Ulcers Treatment

Peptic ulcer treatment may include medicines to reduce stomach acid and protect the lining of your stomach and duodenum; antibiotics to kill the bacteria H. pylori; and medicines to coat the ulcer and protect them from stomach acid.

If NSAIDs use is the primary cause of peptic ulcer, your doctor may tell you to stop taking them or reduce how much of the NSAID you take. Your doctor may also prescribe an alternative pain medication that does not cause peptic ulcer.

Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Smoking and alcohol can make slow healing of ulcers and can make them worse.

Suggested Readings:

• Common Digestive System Diseases
• Common Stomach Diseases or Disorders
• Dyspepsia

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 consistency. The stool is the one that’s left when most of food molecules including vitamins and minerals and water, needed by the body, are absorbed. As stool passes through the large intestine, some of its water content is absorbed making stool a little bit solid. However, when water is not absorbed, the stool can become loose and watery.

Symptoms of Diarrhea

People with diarrhea often have unusual frequent bowel movements, which results in passing more than a quart of watery stool per day. It is a common condition, which usually lasts a day or two. Sometimes, the condition can last for months or years depending on the cause.

Other symptoms of diarrhea may include cramping in the abdomen, frequent urge or need to have a bowel movement, uncomfortable feeling in the anus, and sometimes fever or chills.

Sometimes severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration where water and important body salts are lost. In dehydration, the body cannot work properly, which can make a person become or feeling tired. Dehydration is a serious complication of diarrhea, especially in babies, children, and older people.

Symptoms of Dehydration

Symptoms of dehydration include being thirsty, urinating less often than usual, having dark-colored urine, having dry skin, feeling tired or dizzy, and fainting. In more severe cases, diarrhea may cause kidney failure where the kidneys stop to function.

It may be difficult to know when babies are experiencing dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration in babies may include having dry mouth and tongue, crying without tears, having no wet diapers for 3 hours or more, having a high fever, and being unusually sleepy or drowsy. These warning signs of diarrhea that needs special medical attention.

Diarrhea symptoms may be signs of other problems in the digestive tract as well.

Treatments

Treatment of diarrhea usually involves replacing the lost fluids. However, severe diarrhea cases may need hospitalization. In some cases, treating the cause can make diarrhea go away. For example, diarrhea caused by bacteria can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

Suggested Readings:

• Common Digestive System Diseases
• Common Stomach Diseases or Disorders

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 inflammation of the appendix—a small organ attached to the first part of the large intestine. It can be caused by blockage to the lumen of the appendix.

The bacteria in the appendix can multiply and cause inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms of disease include pain in the lower right part of the abdomen, low-grade fever, nausea and vomiting.

• More information about Appendicitis

• Diarrhea

• Gastritis (Inflamed Stomach)

• Gastroesophageal Reflux in Babies

• Hemorrhoids

• Peptic Ulcers

• Common Stomach Diseases
• Inguinal Hernia
• Indigestion: A Digestion Problem

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 Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), is defined as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. A person with constipation usually has stools that are dry, hard, small in size, and difficult to pass.

What causes constipation?

Common causes of constipation are:

• Not eating enough fibers
• Physical inactivity (especially in the elderly)
• Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement
• Certain medications, and
• Dehydration

• Common Digestive System Diseases
• Common Stomach Diseases or Disorders
• Diarrhea

Hemorrhoids, also called piles, can sometimes be painful or irritating and may cause alarm to an individual. Hemorrhoids, according to the National Library of Medicine, are swollen, inflamed veins around the anus or lower rectum. It can result from too much straining during bowel movement. Other factors such as pregnancy, aging, chronic constipation or diarrhea, and anal intercourse can contribute to the development of hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids are very common and can occur in both men and women. In fact, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, about half of all people will experience hemorrhoids by age 50.

The two types of hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids. When hemorrhoids occur inside the anus, it is called internal hemorrhoids. When it occurs under the skin around the anus, this is called external hemorrhoids.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

Some people do not experience symptoms of hemorrhoids. However, some people with internal bleeding hemorrhoids may notice some bright red blood covering their stool, on toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl. In some cases, an internal hemorrhoid may protrude through the anus outside the body, which can become irritated and cause pain. This condition is called protruding hemorrhoid.

In external hemorrhoids, symptoms may include painful swelling or a hard lump around the anus, which can result from the formation of a blood clot. This is known as a thrombosed external hemorrhoid.

Hemorrhoids are Common in Pregnant Women

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, hemorrhoids are common among pregnant women. However, this is usually a temporary problem. The presence of the growing fetus on the abdomen, as well as hormonal changes, cause the hemorrhoidal vessels to enlarge. These vessels can also be placed under severe pressure during labor or childbirth.

Diagnosis of Hemorrhoids

In most cases, hemorrhoids are not dangerous or life threatening. However, it is recommended that a thorough evaluation and proper diagnosis is done whenever bleeding in the rectum or blood in the stool occurs. Bleeding can be caused by other disorders of the digestive system, including colon or rectal cancer.

In addition to learning about your symptoms and family and medical history, your doctor will also perform a thorough physical exam. Your doctor may also use medical gadgets, such as an anoscope or proctoscope to view the inside of your rectum.

Your doctor may also recommend viewing your lower colon or sigmoid using a sigmoidoscope or your entire colon with the use of a colonoscope. Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are diagnostic procedures that can help your doctor see the inside of your large intestine, including the rectum and anus.

Treatment of Hemorrhoids

Medical treatment of hemorrhoids is aimed initially at relieving symptoms. Measures to reduce symptoms include

 tub baths several times a day in plain, warm water for about 10 minutes

 application of a hemorrhoidal cream or suppository to the affected area for a limited time

 Rubber band ligation. A rubber band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid inside the rectum. The band cuts off circulation, and the hemorrhoid withers away within a few days.

 Sclerotherapy. A chemical solution is injected around the blood vessel to shrink the hemorrhoid.

 Infrared coagulation. A special device is used to burn hemorrhoidal tissue.

 Hemorrhoidectomy. Occasionally, extensive or severe internal or external hemorrhoids may require removal by surgery known as hemorrhoidectomy.(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2004)

• Constipation
• Proctitis (Inflamed Rectum)
• Diarrhea

Gastritis is the inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach. This is not a single disease, but rather, several disorders that all have inflammation of the stomach lining. Gastritis may be acute or chronic. Acute gastritis occurs suddenly while chronic (long-term) gastritis can occur over a long period of time.

Causes of Gastritis

Gastritis can be caused by

 excessive alcohol drinking

 lon-term use of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin and ibuprofen.

 infection with bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)—the same bacteria that causes peptic ulcers.

 degeneration of the stomach lining due to advanced age.

 belching

 abdominal bloating

 nausea

 vomiting

 feeling of fullness

 burning sensation in the upper abdomen

 Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Your doctor eases an endoscope, a thin tube containing a tiny camera, through your mouth (or occasionally nose) and down into your stomach to look at your stomach lining. He or she will check for inflammation and may remove a tiny sample of stomach tissue for tests. This procedure to remove a tissue sample is called a biopsy.

 Blood test.

The doctor may check your red blood cell count to see whether you have anemia, which means that you do not have enough red blood cells in your blood. Bleeding from the stomach can cause anemia.

 Stool test.

This test checks for the presence of blood in your stool, a sign of bleeding. Stool test may also be used to detect the presence of H. pylori in the digestive tract.

• Common Digestive System Diseases
• Common Stomach Diseases or Disorders
• Peptic Ulcers
• Indigestion

An inguinal hernia occurs when intra-abdominal fat or part of the small intestine bulges through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles. An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin—the area between the abdomen and thigh.

Inguinal hernia occurs more commonly in males than females and can occur any time from infancy to adulthood.

Types

There are two types of inguinal hernia: direct hernia and indirect hernia. These two types have different causes.

Indirect Inguinal Hernia

Indirect inguinal hernias are congenital hernias and are much more common in males than females because of the way males develop in the womb.

In a male fetus, the spermatic cord and both testicles—starting from an intra-abdominal location—normally descend through the inguinal canal into the scrotum, the sac that holds the testicles. Sometimes the entrance of the inguinal canal at the inguinal ring does not close as it should just after birth, leaving a weakness in the abdominal wall. Fat or part of the small intestine slides through the weakness into the inguinal canal, causing a hernia.

In females, an indirect inguinal hernia is caused by the female organs or the small intestine sliding into the groin through a weakness in the abdominal wall.

Indirect hernias are the most common type of inguinal hernia. Premature infants are especially at risk for indirect inguinal hernias because there is less time for the inguinal canal to close.

Direct inguinal hernia

Direct inguinal hernias are caused by connective tissue degeneration of the abdominal muscles, which causes weakening of the muscles during the adult years. Direct inguinal hernias occur only in males. The hernia involves fat or the small intestine sliding through the weak muscles into the groin. A direct hernia develops gradually because of continuous stress on the muscles. One or more of the following factors can cause pressure on the abdominal muscles and may worsen the hernia:

 sudden twists, pulls, or muscle strains

 lifting heavy objects

 straining on the toilet because of constipation

 weight gain

 chronic coughing

• Hiatal Hernia
• Common Digestive System Diseases
• Common Stomach Diseases or Disorders

The stomach is a j-shaped, hollow, distensible organ located in the upper left corner of the abdomen. The stomach has several digestive glands, which produce stomach acid and enzyme that digest protein.

Common Stomach Diseases or Disorders

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)

CVS is characterized by episodes or cycles of severe nausea and vomiting that last for hours, or even days, that alternate with intervals with no symptoms. Although originally thought to be a pediatric disease, CVS occurs in all age groups. Medical researchers believe CVS and migraine headaches are related.

Many people can identify a specific condition or event that triggered an episode, such as an infection. Common triggers in children include emotional stress and excitement. Anxiety and panic attacks are more common triggers in adults. Colds, allergies, sinus problems, and the flu can also set off episodes in some people.
Other reported triggers include eating certain foods such as chocolate or cheese, eating too much, or eating just before going to bed. Hot weather, physical exhaustion, menstruation, and motion sickness can also trigger episodes.

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis, is a disorder in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents. It is also known as delayed gastric emptying. Normally, the stomach contracts to move food down into the small intestine for digestion. The vagus nerve controls the movement of food from the stomach through the digestive tract. Gastroparesis occurs when the vagus nerve is damaged and the muscles of the stomach and intestines do not work normally. Food then moves slowly or stops moving through the digestive tract.

Gastroparesis may occur in people with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. The vagus nerve becomes damaged after years of high blood glucose, resulting in gastroparesis. In turn, gastroparesis contributes to poor blood glucose control.

Symptoms of gastroparesis include early fullness, abdominal pain, stomach spasms, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, bloating, gastroesophageal reflux, lack of appetite, and weight loss.

Gastritis

Gastritis is not a single disease, but several different conditions that all have inflammation of the stomach lining. Gastritis can be caused by drinking too much alcohol, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or infection with bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic injury, burns, or severe infections. Certain diseases, such as pernicious anemia, autoimmune disorders, and chronic bile reflux, can cause gastritis as well.

The most common symptoms are abdominal upset or pain. Other symptoms are belching, abdominal bloating, nausea, and vomiting or a feeling of fullness or of burning in the upper abdomen. Blood in your vomit or black stools may be a sign of bleeding in the stomach, which may indicate a serious problem requiring immediate medical attention.

• Gastritis (Inflamed Stomach)

• Peptic Ulcers

 The person feels overly full soon after the meal starts and cannot finish the meal.
 The person feels overly full after a meal—it may feel like the food is staying in the stomach too long.

 The epigastric area is between the lower end of the chest bone and the navel. The person may experience epigastric pain ranging from mild to severe.

 The person feels an unpleasant sensation of heat in the epigastric area.

• Indigestion

• Common Digestive System Diseases

The Inflamed Appendix

Appendicitis is the medical term for the inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a fingerlike pouch attached to the first part of the large intestine called cecum. It is located in the lower right area of the abdomen.

Although anyone can get appendicitis, it is more common among people aged 10 to 30 years old.

Experts are not sure what the appendix does, if anything. The removal of the appendix does not seem to affect a person’s health. The inside portion of the appendix is called the appendiceal lumen. The mucus that the appendix creates travel through the appendiceal lumen and empties into the large intestine.

Causes

Appendicitis is commonly caused by obstruction of the appendix’x lumen. This can cause bacteria that normally live inside the appendix to multiply. As a result, the appendix becomes infected and become swollen. Obstruction of the appendix can be caused by

 feces, parasites, or growths that clog the appendiceal lumen
 enlarged lymph tissue in the wall of the appendix, caused by infection in the gastrointestinal tract or elsewhere in the body
 inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
 trauma to the abdomen

There is danger of the inflamed appendix to burst. When this happens, the infection can spread to nearby organs in the abdomen—a condition called peritonitis. This is a potentially dangerous condition, which requires immediate medical care.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

The most common symptom of appendicitis is pain in the abdomen. The abdominal pain usually

 occurs suddenly, often causing a person to wake up at night
 occurs before other symptoms
 begins near the belly button and then moves lower and to the right
 is new and unlike any pain felt before
 gets worse in a matter of hours
 gets worse when moving around, taking deep breaths, coughing, or sneezing

 loss of appetite
 nausea
 vomiting
 constipation or diarrhea
 inability to pass gas
 a low-grade fever that follows other symptoms
 abdominal swelling
 the feeling that passing stool will relieve discomfort

• Common Digestive System Diseases
• Common Stomach Diseases or Disorders

Thank you for visiting the Digestive System Diseases website.

Contacting the webmaster

Please be aware that we cannot reply to email questions about your specific health problems. We recommend that you direct your questions to your medical doctor.

The information in this website is meant to serve as an aid to understand general descriptions of health conditions and other health matters and not to replace a consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. You should not use the information in this website to formulate your own treatment plan. Your healthcare provider can determine which optimal medical and dietary plan is best for you.

To report any broken links, request for health topics to be featured in our website, or other concerns about our website, you can contact the webmaster at davidkm77(@)gmail(dot)com. View information about our privacy policy.Thank you very much.

[Top of Page]

Privacy Statement

Of the information we learn about you from your visit to Digestive System Diseases website "digestivesystemdiseases.blogspot.com," we store only the following: the domain name from which you access the Internet, the date and time you access our site, and the Internet address of the web site from which you direct-linked to our site. This information is used to measure the number of visitors to the various sections of our site and to help us make our site more useful to visitors.

Unless it is specifically stated otherwise, no additional information will be collected about you. When inquiries are emailed to us, we store the question and the email address information so that we can respond electronically. Unless otherwise required by statute, we do not identify publicly who sends questions or comments to our web site. We will not obtain information that will allow us to personally identify you when you visit our site, unless you chose to provide such information to us.

Mission and Disclaimer

Digestive System Diseases is a health education website, providing information for the general public about diseases or disorders of the digestive system, health news and consumer health informations. The information on this website is not intended as a substitute for medical professional help or advice but is to be used only as an aid in understanding medical conditions. A physician should always be consulted for any health problem.

This website provides links to other organizations as a service to our readers and is not responsible for the information, services, or products provided by these web sites, health professionals, or companies. If you access another site through a link we provide, you are subject to the privacy policy of that site. Reference in this referred website to commercial products, services, manufacturers, or companies does not constitute an endorsement by "digestivesystemdiseases.blogspot.com".

Advertisement Policy

Advertisements on this site are clearly stated as ads, ad links, affiliates/affiliate links or advertisements. They are provided for information purposes only and they do not constitute endorsements of those sites or products.

Pop-Up Advertisements

When visiting our website, your Web browser may produce pop-up advertisements. These advertisements were most likely produced by other websites you visited or by third-party software installed on your computer. This website (Digestive System Diseases) doesn’t produce pop-up ads and doesn’t endorse or recommend products or services for which you may view a pop-up ad on your computer screen while visiting this site.

Log Files

Like many other Web sites, digestivesystemdiseases.blogspot.com makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Cookies and Web Beacons

Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising/affiliate partners include Clickbank.

These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on digestivesystemdiseases.blogspot.com send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.

The Digestive System Diseases Website has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers. You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. www.dsdisorders.com's privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.

If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.

Contacting the Webmaster

Digestive System Diseases does not provide specific medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your doctor can provide you with more information about your specific health problem or concerns.

For other concerns, you can contact the webmaster at: davidkm77 (at) gmail (dot) com.