Overview. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion/dyspepsia, bloating and constipation are common in the community.
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.
They are the most common problems affecting the GI tract (including the colon and rectum). Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, food poisoning, gas, bloating, GERD and diarrhea are common examples.
The most common gastrointestinal complaints in elderly patients include dysphagia, dyspepsia, anorexia, constipation, and fecal incontinence.
General symptoms of gastrointestinal conditions
Abdominal discomfort (bloating, pain or cramps) Unintentional weight loss. Vomiting and nausea. Acid reflux (heartburn)
Abstract. Gastrointestinal conditions are a less common cause of sudden unexpected death when compared to other conditions such as cardiovascular conditions, but they are equally important. Various congenital and acquired gastrointestinal conditions that have resulted in sudden unexpected death are discussed.
If you experience persistent heartburn, stomach acid, or ulcers, your doctor may prescribe a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), such as Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, or Aciphex. These medications are used to treat people with heartburn, stomach or intestinal ulcers, or excess stomach acid.
These foods are likely to produce gas:
Beer and other alcohol, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chewing gum, cucumber, dairy products, dried beans, eggs, hot drinks, lentils, melons, mushroom, nuts, onions, pop, radishes, strong flavoured cheese, sugar, sweet potatoes, turnips, and yeast.
The Effect Of Chronic Stress On The Digestive System
And repeated stress can lead to gastrointestinal issues—or exacerbate issues that are already there. “It's important to note that stress doesn't cause underlying diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but it can intensify symptoms,” says Dr. Torosian.
Frequent discomfort, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn could be signs that your gut is having a hard time processing food and eliminating waste. You feel tired more often than not. People with chronic fatigue may have imbalances in the gut.
Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, can happen in any part of the stomach. However, in the U.S., most stomach cancers occur in the gastroesophageal junction, which is where the esophagus - the tube that carries chewed up food - meets the stomach.
Some of the most common diagnostic tests for gastrointestinal cancers include colonoscopy, endoscopy, biopsy, and imaging.
Stomach cancer can be fatal if it is not found early. If found early, stomach cancer can be curable. However, stomach cancer is often not diagnosed until it has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs. In its advanced stages, only 1 in 5 people will survive for 5 years.
Standard imaging tests for gastric conditions include upper gastrointestinal series (UGI), ultrasounds, MRIs, CT scans and X-rays. For an even clearer picture of the gastrointestinal tract, a barium swallow or barium enema may be used in conjunction with an X-ray.
The muscles in the digestive tract become stiffer, weaker, and less efficient. Your tissues are also more likely to become damaged because new cells aren't forming as quickly as they once did. As a result, digestive tract problems that can occur as people age include: Heartburn.
Certain gastrointestinal disorders can be life threatening and require emergency treatment. For many people, emergency treatment involves surgery. Not all gastrointestinal disorders are treated with surgery (see Ileus. Abdominal surgery and drugs that interfere with the intestine's movements are a common cause.