Digestive Diseases
Featured Articles
Complete Body Cleanse
A complete body cleanse system (also known as the Advanced Cleansing Kit) from GHChealth.com includes several components for achieving or regaining optimal health, including products for colon cleansing, resisting intestinal invaders, liver cleansing, and promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
Canine Diarrhea
Canine diarrhea may be hard to diagnose if you don’t watch your dog closely. Read more about the dangers of canine diarrhea.
Sub Topics
Ileostomy, Colostomy, and Ileoanal Reservoir Surgery
Sometimes treatment for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and familial adenomatous polyposis involves removing all or part of the intestines. When the intestines are removed, the body needs a new way for stool to leave the body, so the surgeon creates an opening in the abdomen for stool to pass through. The surgery to create the new opening is called ostomy. The opening is called a stoma.
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Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a disease that causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the large intestine. The inflammation usually occurs in the rectum and lower part of the colon, but it may affect the entire colon. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine except for the end section, called the terminal ileum. Ulcerative colitis may also be called colitis or proctitis.
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Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction
Intestinal pseudo-obstruction (false blockage) is a condition that causes symptoms like those of a bowel obstruction (blockage). But when the intestines are examined, no obstruction is found. A problem in how the muscles and nerves in the intestines work causes the symptoms. Pseudo-obstruction symptoms include cramps, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, fewer bowel movements than usual, and loose stools. Over time, pseudo-obstruction can cause bacterial infections, malnutrition, and muscle problems in other parts of the body. Some people also have bladder problems.
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Viral Gastroenteritis
Anyone can get viral gastroenteritis and most people recover without any complications. However, viral gastroenteritis can be serious for people who cannot drink enough fluids to replace what is lost through vomiting and diarrhea, especially infants, young children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems. Complications from vomiting also can occur, even in healthy people.
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Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Flexible sigmoidoscopy enables the physician to look at the inside of the large intestine from the rectum through the last part of the colon, called the sigmoid or descending colon. Physicians may use the procedure to find the cause of diarrhea, abdominal pain, or constipation. They also use it to look for early signs of cancer in the descending colon and rectum. With flexible sigmoidoscopy, the physician can see bleeding, inflammation, abnormal growths, and ulcers in the descending colon and rectum. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is not sufficient to detect polyps or cancer in the ascending or transverse colon (two-thirds of the colon).
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Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in the small intestine and can affect any part of the digestive tract. Chron’s disease can lead to blockage of the intestine as it thickens the intestinal wall with swelling, and scar tissue, narrowing the passage.
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Diarrhea
Diarrhea–loose, watery stools occurring more than three times in one day–is a common problem that usually lasts a day or two and goes away on its own without any special treatment. However, prolonged diarrhea can be a sign of other problems. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluid to function properly. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and the elderly, and it must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems. Dehydration is discussed below.
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Bleeding in the Digestive Tract
Bleeding in the digestive tract is a symptom of a disease rather than a disease itself. Bleeding can occur as the result of a number of different conditions, some of which are life threatening. Most causes of bleeding are related to conditions that can be cured or controlled, such as ulcers or hemorrhoids. The cause of bleeding may not be serious, but locating the source of bleeding is important.
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Hirschsprung’s Disease
Hirschsprung’s Disease is a disease of the large intestine. Normally, muscles in the intestine push stools to leave the body. Special nerve cells in the intestine, make the muscles push. A person with Hirschsprung’s disease does not have these nerve cells in the last part of the large intestine.
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Appendicitis
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch attached to the cecum, the beginning of the colon, on the lower right side of the abdomen. The appendix is not necessary for life, but it can become diseased. If untreated, an inflamed appendix can burst, causing infection and even death. Appendicitis can affect people at any age. It is most common in people ages 10 to 30.
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