The digestive system is responsible for taking the food and liquid that we put into our mouth and turn it into either nutrients or energy needed by the cells of our body or into waste products that are then expelled by our body as bowel movements. Digestive system disorders occur when the process of digestion has a faulty function that does not allow some part of the digestion process to work correctly. There are many common digestive system disorders.
Common Digestive System Disorders:
Colon and Rectal Cancer
Colon and Rectal cancer is also referred to as colorectal cancer.
This type of cancer is a malignant cell that is found in the colon or rectum region of the body. The large intestine is made up of the colon and the rectum. Colon and rectal cancers share so many common features that they are referred to as the same cancer which is how the name colorectal cancer came about.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death by cancer in the U.S.A. The number of new cases of colorectal cancer has decreased because in large part, the sigmoidoscopic screening and polyp removal procedures initiated by the medical community.
Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer is also called, gastric cancer. This cancer affected approximately 21,700 Americans during 2001. The majority of those individuals were in their 60s and 70s. The risk factors for developing stomach cancer are Helicobacter pylori infection and a diet that consists of the following: eating large amounts of smoked foods, salted fish and meat, foods that are high in starch and low in fiber, pickled vegetables, and foods and beverages that contain nitrates and nitrites.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is watery stool, or an increased frequency in stool, or both as compared to the normal amount of stool passed by the individual. Diarrhea can be short-term or it can be related to a bacterial or viral infection, or it can be long-term which is usually related to a functional disorder or intestinal disease.
Diverticular Disease
This disease occurs in small pouches that bulge out in the colon. It is an inflammation or infection in the pouches.
Gas in the Digestive Tract
You get gas in your digestive tract by swallowing air or during the breakdown process of certain foods by the bacteria that is present in the colon. Everyone has gas. It can be uncomfortable and certainly embarrassing to pass the gas. The average person produces 1 to 3 pints of gas a day and pass gas through their rectums about 14 times each day.
Heartburn
Heartburn is what most of us get from time to time. Chronic heartburn is a digestive disorder called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is caused by gastric acid that flows from the stomach and into the esophagus.
Hepatitis
This is an inflammation of the liver that can result in liver cell damage. There are two types of hepatitis - acute and chronic and six main types of the hepatitis virus.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
There are several different diseases that fall under this category all of which require a doctor for treatment. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are two of these diseases.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal disorder that causes cramping, gassiness, bloating and changes in the bowel habits of the individual with the disorder.
Lactose Intolerance
Individuals with lactose intolerance lack and enzyme called lactase. This enzyme is needed by the body to digest lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in milk products. Adults and children are affected by this intolerance. Digestive diseases or injuries to the small intestine cause this intolerance. Individuals can experience different symptoms but the common ones are: cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and nausea. The symptoms will worsen when larger portions of milk products are consumed.
Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers
Ulcers are open sores or lesions. They are found in the skin or mucous membranes of areas of the body. A stomach ulcer is called a gastric ulcer and an ulcer in the duodenum is called a duodenal ulcer. Lifestyle, stress and diet used to be thought to cause ulcers. These things may have a role in ulcer formation; they are not the main cause of them. Scientists now know that ulcers are caused by hydrochloric acid and pepsin that are contained in our stomach and duodenal parts of our digestive system and that these acids contribute to ulcer formation.
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