Common Disosders of
the Digestive System
By: Shaneen Mayol
Digestive Disorders or
Diseases
• Digestive diseases are disorders of the
digestive tract, which is sometimes
called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
• In digestion, food and drink are broken
down into small parts (called nutrients)
that the body can absorb and use as
energy and building blocks for cells.
• The digestive tract is made up of the
esophagus (food tube), stomach,
large and small intestines, liver,
pancreas, and the gallbladder.
Some of the Most Common
Digestive Disorders
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Disease (GERD)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a
condition where stomach acid
persistently and regularly flows up into
the esophagus.
• The esophagus may also be referred to as
the food pipe or gullet and is the tube
that transports food from the mouth to
the stomach.
Symptoms
• A burning sensation in your chest
(heartburn), usually after eating, which
might be worse at night.
• Chest pain.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Regurgitation of food or sour liquid.
• Sensation of a lump in your throat.
GERD occurs more commonly in people
who are:
• overweight or obese because of increased
pressure on the abdomen
• pregnant, due to the same increased
pressure
• taking certain medications, including
some asthma medications, calcium
channel blockers, antihistamines,
sedatives, and antidepressants
• smoking, and being exposed to secondhand smoke
Prevention
• Other lifestyle and behavior changes can
help relieve GERD include:
• Eat moderate amounts of food and avoid
overeating.
• Stop eating 2 to 3 hours before sleeping.
• Quit or avoid smoking.
Prevention
• If a person is overweight, losing
weight can help prevent symptoms.
• Do not wear clothing that is tight
around the abdomen.
• Sleep at a slight angle with the head
slightly elevated.
Chronic diarrhea
• Chronic diarrhea is defined as loose stools
that last for at least four weeks. This usually
means three or more loose stools per day.
There are many possible causes of chronic
diarrhea.
Causes
• Chronic diarrhea is sometimes caused by
an underlying medical condition.
• Our diet can also play a role in chronic
diarrhea. Certain ingredients speed up
the rate of digestion, causing food to
pass rapidly through the colon. Common
culprits include milk and artificial
sweeteners (sorbitol and fructose).
• abuse
Symptoms
• the main symptom of chronic diarrhea
is loose or watery stools that persist
for weeks. These stools may or may
not be accompanied by a sense of
urgency. You may have other
symptoms as well, such as:
• abdominal cramps
• bloating
• nausea
Treatment
• Anti-diarrheal medications can
•Treatment might include
relieve diarrhea, but these
prescription medications like
medications aren’t recommended
an immunosuppressant or a
as a long-term therapy.
corticosteroid.
• Treatment
forimprove
chronicas
diarrhea
•Diarrhea
may
depends
on improves.
the underlying cause.
your
health
Prevention
• Drink from a clean water source or
filter your water.
• Thoroughly clean meat before
cooking.
• Cook meat thoroughly.
• Wash your hands after handling
food.
Prevention
• Clean kitchen surfaces to prevent
contamination.
• Wash fruits and vegetables before
consuming them.
• Wash your hands after using the
bathroom, changing a diaper, or
attending to a sick person.
Ulcer
• An ulcer is a sore, which means it's an
open, painful wound. Peptic ulcers are
ulcers that form in the stomach or the
upper part of the small intestine, called
the duodenum.Peptic ulcers are
actually very common.
Symptoms
• Stomach pain is the most common
symptom of an ulcer. It usually feels
like sharp aches between the
breastbone and the belly button.
This pain often comes a few hours
after eating. It can also happen
during the night or early in the
morning, when the stomach is
empty.
Symptoms
•
•
•
•
•
loss of appetite
sudden, sharp stomach pains
Nausea
frequent burping or hiccuping
weight loss
Symptoms
• vomiting (if blood is in the vomit or
the vomit looks like coffee grounds,
which only happens with severe
ulcers, call a doctor right away)
• bloody or blackish bowel movements
(this could indicate a serious
problem, so call a doctor right away
if you see this)
Treatments
• Medications are usually used to treat
mild-to-moderate ulcers. If the cause
is bacterial, antibiotics can help cure
the ulcer. For recurrent, severe cases
that do not respond to medication,
surgery may be necessary.
• You should not treat an ulcer on your
own without first seeing your doctor.
Over-the-counter antacids and acid
blockers may relieve some or all of
the pain, but the relief is always
short-lived. With a doctor's help, you
can find relief from the ulcer pain, as
well as a lifelong cure from the
disease.
Gallstone
• Gallstone are hardened deposits of
digestive fluid that can be form in your
gallbladder.
• Your gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped
organ on the right side of your abdomen,
just beneath your liver.
• Gallbladder holds a digestive fluid called
bile that’s released into your small
intestine.
Symptoms
Gallstones may cause no signs of
symptoms . If a gallstone lodges in a
duct and causes a blockage the
resulting signs and symptoms may
include:
• Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain
in the upper right portion of your
abdomen.
Symptoms
• Sudden and rapidly intensifying pain
in the center of your abdomen, just
breath below your breastbone.
• Back pain between your shoulder
blades
• Pain in your right shoulder
• Nausea or vomiting
Types of Gallstones
• Cholesterol Gallstone- this is the
most common type of gallstone. It
often appears in yellow in color, this
gallstones are composed mainly of
undissolved cholesterol, but may
contain other components.
Types of Gallstones
• Pigment Gallstone- these dark
brown or black stones form when
your bile contains too much
bilirubin.
Causes
• Obesity
• Taking birth control pills,
hormone replacement therapy
for menopause symptoms or
pregnant
• Improper Diet
Treatment
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• Open cholecystectomy
Conclusion
• You need a healthy lifestyle in
order to avoid having
complications with your body in
order to live a long and happy
life!
Thankyou!!