Common diseases of the digestive system | Symptoms, treatment and prevention methods
Digestive diseases affect the gastrointestinal tract (GI), from mouth to anus. There are two types: functional and structural.
Some examples include colitis, food poisoning, lactose intolerance and diarrhoea.
Functional digestive diseases
Functional diseases are those where the digestive tract looks normal when examined, but does not move properly.
They are the most common problems affecting the digestive tract (including colorectal). Common examples are constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, gas, bloating and diarrhea.
Many factors can disturb the digestive tract including:
- Low-fiber diet.
- Not getting enough exercise.
- Travel or other changes in routine.
- Eat large quantities of dairy products.
- Fatigue and stress.
- Resistance to the desire for bowel movement, possibly due to hemorrhoids.
- Excessive use of anti-diarrhoea drugs that, over time, weaken the movements of the bowel muscles.
- Take anti-acidic drugs containing calcium or aluminum.
- Take some medications (especially antidepressants, iron pills and strong pain drugs such as drugs).
- Pregnancy
Some people also experience increased sensitivity in the organs of the digestive system (visceral hypersensitivity).
This can make them feel pain or discomfort even when the organs work normally.
Structural digestive diseases
Structural digestive diseases are those where your intestines appear abnormal upon examination as they do not function properly.
Sometimes, the structural anomaly must be surgically removed. Common examples of structural gastrointestinal diseases include stenosis, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, colonoscopies, colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
Some common intestinal diseases that are treated
Health care providers specializing in gastroenterology are called gastroenterologists and some of the most common conditions they treat include:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (also called convulsive colon, IBS, IBS or nervous stomach) is a functional condition in which bowel muscles contract more or less than “normal”. Some foods, medications and emotional stress are some of the factors that can cause IBS.
Symptoms of IBS include:
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- excess gas.
- Bloating.
- Change bowel habits such as tougher, more flexible or more urgent stool than usual.
- Constipation or diarrhoea.
IBS can be treated through:
- Avoid excessive caffeine.
- Increase fiber in your diet.
- Monitor foods that stimulate IBS (and avoid these foods).
- Reduce tension or learn different ways to deal with tension.
- Take medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
- Avoid drying and moisturizing well throughout the day.
- Get a good rest.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are expanding veins in the anal canal and this is a structural disease. They occur due to chronic excess pressure from stress during bowel movement, constant diarrhea or pregnancy. There are two types of hemorrhoids: internal and external.
Internal hemorrhoids are blood vessels inside the anus. When they fall into the anus as a result of stress, they become irritated and begin bleeding. In the end, internal hemorrhoids can fall enough to hang (sink or stick) from the anus.
Treatment includes:
Improve bowel habits (such as avoiding constipation, not stressing during bowel movements and moving the intestine when you have the desire).
Doctors surgically remove them. Only a small number of people with very large, painful and persistent hemorrhoids need surgery.
External hemorrhoids: veins are located directly under the skin on the outside of the anus. Sometimes, after stress, external hemorrhoids explode and subcutaneous blood clots form. This very painful condition is called a “pile.”
Treatment includes clot and vein removal under local anaesthetic or hemorrhoids removal itself.
Anal cracks
Anal cracks are also a structural disease. It’s cracks or cracks in the lining of the anus. The most common cause of anal incision is the passage of solid or aquatic stool.
The incision in the anal lining reveals the core muscles that control the passage of stool through the anus and outside the body.
Anal incision is one of the most painful problems you can experience, because exposed muscles are irritated by exposure to faeces or air. This leads to severe burning pain, bleeding or convulsions after bowel movements.
The initial treatment of anal cracks includes:
- Pain medication
- Eat More Dietary Fiber
- Sitting in Warm Water Bath
If these treatments do not alleviate your pain, surgery may be needed to repair the incision.
Anal Fistula
An anal fistula is a structural disorder that often follows the drainage of an abscess. It is an abnormal, tube-like passage from the anal canal to an opening in the skin near the anus.
Waste that travels through your anal canal is diverted through this small channel and exits through the skin, causing itching and irritation.
The fistula also causes pain and bleeding. They rarely heal on their own and usually require surgery to drain the abscess and “close” the fistula.
Diverticular Disease
Diverticula are small, outward pouches (diverticula) in the muscular wall of the large intestine that form in weak areas of the bowel. They usually occur in the sigmoid colon, a high-pressure area in the lower large intestine.
Diverticular diseases are very common, occurring in 10% of people over the age of 40 and in 50% of people over the age of 60 in Western cultures. They are often caused by too little roughage (fiber) in the diet. Diverticula can sometimes develop into diverticulitis.
Complications of diverticular disease occur in about 10% of people. These include infection or inflammation in the pouches (diverticulitis), which can lead to bleeding and obstruction. Treatment for diverticulitis involves managing constipation and sometimes antibiotics if the condition is severe.
Surgery is a last resort for those with significant complications, to remove the diseased portion of the colon.
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers, but it is also one of the most treatable forms of the disease. With a variety of screening tests available, it is possible to prevent, detect, and treat the disease long before symptoms appear.
Importance of Colorectal Cancer Screening
Nearly all colorectal cancers start as colon polyps, which are benign (non-cancerous) growths in the tissues lining the colon and rectum. Cancer develops when these polyps grow and abnormal cells begin to invade the surrounding tissues.
Removing benign polyps can prevent the development of colorectal cancer. Almost all cancerous polyps can be painlessly removed during a colonoscopy. If not detected in its early stages, colorectal cancer can spread throughout the body. More advanced cancer requires more complex surgical techniques.
Most early forms of colorectal cancer do not cause symptoms, making screening particularly important. When symptoms do occur, the cancer may already be advanced. Symptoms include blood on or mixed with the stool, a change in normal bowel habits, abdominal pain, weight loss, or persistent fatigue.
Most cases of colorectal cancer are detected in one of the four ways:
- By screening people at risk of colorectal cancer at age 45.
- By examining people at risk of colorectal cancer (for example, those with a family history or a personal history of colon or cancer).
- By examining the intestines in patients with symptoms.
- Routine examination.
Early detection is the best opportunity for treatment.
symptoms of colon cancer
If you have symptoms of colorectal cancer, you should consult a doctor immediately. Common symptoms include:
- Change in normal bowel habits.
- Blood on or in bright or dark stool.
- Unusual abdominal or gas pain.
- Feces are very tight.
- Feeling that the intestine did not completely empty after passing the stool.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Fatigue.
- Anemia (low blood count)
Colitis
There are several types of colitis, which are conditions that cause inflammation of the bowel. These include:
- Infectious colitis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Ischemic colitis
- Radiation colitis (after radiotherapy)
Colitis can cause diarrhea, rectal bleeding and abdominal contractions and the treatment depends on the diagnosis made by colonoscopy and biopsy.
Other types of gastrointestinal diseases
There are many other gastrointestinal diseases. Some of them are discussed, but others are not covered here. Other functional and structural diseases include:
- Peptic ulcer diseases
- Inflammation of the stomach and intestines
- Celiac disease;
- Crohn’s disease
- Gallstones of the gallbladder
- Fecal incontinence of urine
- Lactose intolerance
- Hirschsprung’s disease
- Abdominal adhesions
- Inflammation of the appendix
- Dyspepsia
- Malabsorption syndrome
- Inflammation of the liver.
Diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Diagnosis of digestive diseases depends on a range of factors, including symptoms, medical history and physical examination. The doctor may also request diagnostic tests, such as:
- Blood tests: Blood tests can be used to assess hormone levels and infections.
- Imaging tests: Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, MRI or colonoscopy, can be used to create images of the digestive system.
- Stool tests: Stool tests can be used to search for blood, bacteria, viruses or parasites.
Methods of treating digestive diseases
Treatment of digestive diseases depends on the specific condition. However, treatments may include:
Medications: Medications can be used to relieve symptoms or treat the underlying cause of the disease.
Surgery: Surgery may be necessary in some cases, such as removing a tumor or repairing a hernia.
Lifestyle changes: Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, may help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
Medicines
Drugs are used to relieve symptoms or treat the underlying cause of the disease. Some common drugs used to treat gastrointestinal diseases include:
- Antacids: Antacids help reduce stomach acidity.
- NSAIDs: NSAIDs can be used to relieve pain and inflammation.
- Antihistamine 2 receptor (H2 blockers): Antihistamine 2 receptor antagonists help reduce stomach acid production.
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): Proton pump inhibitors help significantly reduce stomach acid production.
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial infections.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs: Anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to treat viral or fungal infections.
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary in some cases, such as removing a tumor or treating a hernia. Some of the common surgical procedures used to treat gastrointestinal diseases include:
- Cholecectomy: A gallbladder is performed to remove the gallbladder, a small organ of the upper right abdomen that helps digest fat.
- Stomach removal: A stomach removal is performed to remove part or all of the stomach.
- Colectomy: A colectomy is performed to remove part or all of the colon.
- Rectomy: rectomy is performed to remove the rectum, the last part of the large intestine.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, may help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Some lifestyle changes that may help treat gastrointestinal diseases include:
Healthy diet: A healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, can help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
Regular exercise: Regular exercise can help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Quitting smoking: Quitting smoking can help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Methods of prevention of gastrointestinal diseases
Many digestive diseases can be prevented or reduced by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, exercising good bowel habits and periodically checking to avoid cancer.
Colonoscopy is recommended for patients at risk at age 45. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or tuberculosis, colonoscopy may be recommended at a younger age.
Usually, colonoscopy is recommended 10 years younger than the infected family member. (For example, if your brother is diagnosed with colorectal cancer or benign tumors at the age of 45, the screening should begin at the age of 35).
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