What happens if the digestive system is disrupted

If you notice any such signs, immediately consult your doctor. The earlier the detection of an irregularity in your system, the faster is the recovery. Book An Appointment.

Book Appointment. Smoking, alcohol abuse, stress or a hereditary predisposition can also cause excessive acid production in the stomach. Treatment with antibiotics is prescribed for a bacterial infection with Helicobacter pylori , the most common cause of gastroduodenal ulcers.

Those ulcers not caused by H. Changes to diet, stopping the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and taking antacids available over the counter are usually sufficient.

If needed, histamine h2 antagonists cimetidine, famotidine, etc. In rare cases, surgery is indicated for treating certain medication-resistant ulcers, or if gastric cancer is suspected. Hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach partly rises through a small opening called the esophageal hiatus located in the diaphragm, the respiratory muscle between the chest cavity and the abdomen. There are two main types of hiatal hernia:. The exact cause of hiatal hernia is poorly understood.

In some cases, it is present at birth and caused by a hiatus that is too wide, or the entire diaphragm is poorly closed. However, the elderly are more likely to suffer from a hernia because the elasticity and stiffness of the diaphragm tend to decrease with age and the hiatus tends to widen. In addition, structures that attach the cardia to the diaphragm and keep the stomach in place change with age.

As this type of hernia can sometimes cause or worsen gastroesophageal reflux, so its symptoms are similar to reflux:. This type of hernia does not cause heartburn or any other symptom. It may cause occasional discomfort. The treatment for sliding type hiatal hernia is the same as for gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD.

Diet modifications and over-the-counter antacids sodium bicarbonate, sodium alginate, etc. The rarely occurring and less symptomatic paraoesophageal type of hiatal hernia may require surgery that consists of moving the stomach back into the abdominal cavity and closing the hiatus to prevent the stomach from re-herniating. Vesicual lithiasis is the formation of stones in the gallbladder , the organ that stores bile secreted by the liver.

Theses stones look like little pebbles and are composed of cholesterol , bile pigments and calcium. The stones may be numerous if they are small like a grain of salt , and they can be as large as a golf ball. Biliary lithiasis , or gallbladder stones, is quite widespread and affects two to three times more women than men. A hepatic colic or biliary colic attack is caused by a gallstone passing into the gallbladder, temporarily blocking it and preventing the bile from draining.

Such an attack can last 30 minutes to four hours, and pain begins to subside when the gallstone is dislodged. An attack can occur at any time with no triggering event. It is not clear what triggers the formation of the gallstones, but the most common risk factor is obesity.

Symptoms In most cases, biliary lithiasis does not cause symptoms. Gallstones are therefore diagnosed during a bladder ultrasound. Most cases of asymptomatic vesicular lithiasis gallstones do not need treatment.

Occasional hepatic colic or constant and severe pain cholecystitis can be treated with analgesics, or sometimes with antibiotics cholecystitis , anti-spasmodics and anti-emetics to relieve nausea and reduce vomiting.

Surgery is eventually needed to remove the gallbladder and gallstones cholecystectomy. This procedure can be performed through small incisions in the abdomen laparoscopy , or can take the form of open surgery laparotomy. For non-urgent cases, an oral treatment is available with a drug ursodiol that dissolves certain stones within six months to two years. Diverticula can form in the large intestine of people ages 40 and over.

While diverticulosis mainly affects the colon or large intestine, diverticula can also be found throughout the entire digestive tract, including the stomach and small intestine. Diverticulitis is an inflammation of the diverticula caused by an infection. It can cause severe pain. Diverticula form when weak areas in the colon wall stretch under pressure. If the pressure causes a small lesion on the wall of the diverticula, an infection may occur.

Causes include a sedentary lifestyle and a diet with not enough fibre. Diverticulosis does not cause symptoms. However, when the diverticula become swollen or infected, diverticulitis is the result.

Intense and sudden pain at the bottom of the abdomen on the left hand side. Sometimes the pain is moderate, variable and gradually increases over several days. Asymptomatic diverticulosis does not require treatment. One quarter of patients develop diverticulitis, which is treated with painkillers and oral antibiotics at home or intravenous antibiotics in hospital. This surgery often requires creating a bowel connection through an opening in the abdomen stoma which allows an ostomy bag to be attached.

In most cases, the bag can be removed within three to six months after surgery. Bleeding from the diverticula is usually reabsorbed, but if it persists, a colonoscopy and other interventions may be necessary. Appendicitis is a sudden inflammation of the appendix, a small worm-shaped protrusion located at the beginning of the large intestine, on the lower right side of the abdomen. It most often occurs between the ages of 10 and 30, affecting one in 15 people, and slightly more often in men than in women.

Appendicitis must be treated promptly or the appendix could burst and cause peritonitis , an infection of the peritoneum, the thin wall that surrounds the abdominal cavity and contains the intestines.

In some cases, peritonitis requires emergency medical treatment and can be fatal. Appendicitis is often the result of a fecal or mucous obstruction.

The appendix then becomes swollen with bacteria and deteriorates over the long term. Acute appendicitis can lead to serious complications, such as a ruptured appendix and a peritoneal infection peritonitis. Surgical removal of the appendix appendectomy is the most effective way to treat acute appendicitis. An appendectomy can be performed through a large abdominal incision laparotomy or through smaller incisions laparoscopy that allow the insertion of a small video camera and surgical instruments.

Antibiotics are often administered before and after surgery. Mayer EA. Functional gastrointestinal disorders: irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, esophageal chest pain, and heartburn. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Updated by: Michael M. Editorial team. Digestive diseases. The first sign of problems in the digestive tract often includes one or more of the following symptoms: Bleeding Bloating Constipation Diarrhea Heartburn Incontinence Nausea and vomiting Pain in the belly Swallowing problems Weight gain or loss A digestive disease is any health problem that occurs in the digestive tract.

Other digestive diseases include: Gallstones , cholecystitis , and cholangitis Rectal problems, such as anal fissure , hemorrhoids , proctitis , and rectal prolapse Esophagus problems, such as stricture narrowing and achalasia and esophagitis Stomach problems, including gastritis, gastric ulcers usually caused by Helicobacter pylori infection and cancer Liver problems, such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C , cirrhosis , liver failure, and autoimmune and alcoholic hepatitis Pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocyst Intestinal problems, such as polyps and cancer, infections, celiac disease , Crohn disease , ulcerative colitis , diverticulitis , malabsorption , short bowel syndrome , and intestinal ischemia Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD , peptic ulcer disease, and hiatal hernia Tests for digestive problems can include colonoscopy , upper GI endoscopy , capsule endoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP , and endoscopic ultrasound.

Other providers involved in the treatment of digestive diseases include: Nurse practitioners NPs or physician assistants PAs Nutritionists or dietitians Primary care doctors Radiologists Surgeons. Normal abdominal anatomy.