Digestive Disorders: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

I am so stressed”, how many times do we say or hear the people around us say so. In this the 21st century, it has almost become a normal thing to be stressed. Physiologically stress can be defined as the mental or emotional anxiety that is caused by circumstances that are demanding which can be work, relationships or day to day activities. The more stressed a person is, the more it affects their lives both physically and emotionally. These effects can range from high blood pressure to reduced functioning of the immune system and problems in the gastro intestine. In this article we are going to focus on how stress affects gastroenterology.

What is gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology can be described as the branch of medicine which focuses on the digestive system and its disorders. Two of common digestive disorders or diseases are gastrointestinal cancer and gastrointestinal bleeding. They are usually diagnosed through tests such as a stool test or endoscopy, just to mention a few, and treated by specialists referred to as gastroenterologists

Gastrointestinal diseases caused by stress are:

1. Constipation
2. Irritable Bowel syndrome
3. Structural disorders i.e. cancer and diverticular disease
4. Anal disorders i.e. hemorrhoids, fistula and anal fissures
5. Colon polyps

These are some of the common problems one experiences when in constant stress. With constipation and bowel irritation everything seems to be normal but the digestive system does not function properly. The more stressed a person is, the more severeis the dysfunction. One common symptom with digestive disorders is pain. The diseases may start out mild and become chronic over time. It can simply begin with a simple alteration of your normal bowel movements.

How stress affects gastroenterology
According to Kenneth Koth an MD, Professor of medicine “stress can affect every part of the digestive system”. The question is, how? The enteric nervous system which is composed of hundreds of nerves, used to communicate with the central nervous system, is what controls the digestive system. When one is stressed they are in a flight mode, which is communicated to your central nervous system which may shut down the flow of blood and consequentially affects your digestive system leading to disorders as well as triggering other diseases such as ulcers.

Keeping stress under control
By reducing stress one is able to control the negative effects it has on gastroenterology. Stress is easily relieved by lifestyle changes involving proper diet and exercise. Exercise and relaxation reduce tension and stimulate the brain to release endorphins which are chemicals that help in reducing stress and boosts or enhances one’s mood.

Stress is mostly unavoidable and each person has to make a personal choice not to be constantly stressed in order to avoid digestive disorders and lead a health life. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

People very often tend to feel uneasy, right after taking your lunch or for that matter any meal. At that point of time, neither do you feel like doing anything nor do you understand what has gone wrong with your health. This is quite common after-effect of eating, which is mainly related to the digestive process.

There are always certain symptoms, which if you carefully notice, you can pinpoint right before the completeion of any meal. 

• You can feel stuffy pretty easily even after having something in moderate quantity
• A sense of tiredness might creep in, just when you are about to finish your meal
• You might go through a feeling of nausea, which might be the result of indigestion due to the problem of ulcer or gallbladder disease.

What leads to people feeling sick after having a meal?

Food poisoning is one of the foremost problems, due to which you might all of a sudden start feeling unwell after having your food.

• There are food items like curd, which if kept in the open for too long, can easily get contaminated and cause food poisoning.
• Consuming too much of spicy items as well as those containing fat, can have ill effect on your health, thereby resulting in uneasiness.
• Too much eating at a time can also result in people having discomfort due to the time taken for digestion.
• Allergy from any particular food item might also result in you feeling restless or sick after having your meal.

What can you do to avoid having this problem?

There are certain ways through which you can prevent yourself from getting affected adversely after taking your meal. It is often said prevention is better than cure, so little bit of prevention might save you from having digestive pills or any related medicine, which you usually take as and when any sort of uneasiness creeps into your system. As the age old saying goes, ‘eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.’ Of course, this doesn’t mean that you would gobble up anything which comes your way during breakfast and lunch hours.

• Try not to have foods which are spicy or fried, especially during dinner time as most of the problems occur at night.
• It’s always preferable to have smaller meals on a frequent basis, rather than having three large meals in a day.
• Allow your food time to digest, so relax and sit still after eating.

So, we have discussed about the reasons for which you might feel sick right after having your meal, where now you are aware of the symptoms, what causes this problem and how can you prevent this problem from happening.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Knowingly or unknowingly, people often end up consuming food items that affect their digestive health negatively, instead of providing health benefits. Yes, the majority of people think that they can digest any kind of food and won't suffer from any side effects at all. But in reality, based on the preparation, processing, and ingredients present in them, some foods end up triggering digestive problems.

Let's take a look at some such foods that can be bad for the digestive health.

1. Processed Foods: Processed or packed foods are high in carbohydrates, and can cause various digestive issues, such as bloating, cramping, gas formation, hypertension, and diabetes, when consumed in large amounts.
2. Alcohol: Technically speaking, alcohol may not be a food; but if you consume alcohol every time you eat, it can be counted as a food item. When the consumption of alcohol is moderate to high, it can cause acid reflux or heartburn, inflammation in the stomach lining, stomach cramps, and even diarrhea.
3. Artificial Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners may work great for keeping your blood sugar in control but may affecctyour digestive system adversely. Artificial sweeteners contain ingredients that can increase the chance of bloating, gas, diarrhea, and inflammation.
4. Fried and Greasy Foods: Fried foods and greasy food are not only difficult to digest but they can also cause minor digestive problems, which later lead to intense stomach conditions such as acid reflux, heartburn, bloating, tummy upset, belching, etc.
5. Chocolates: Are you fond of eating chocolates? Having a sweet tooth can cost you your digestive health. From heartburn to an upset stomach, eating too many chocolates or candies can result in loose stools and diarrhea.
6. Foods Rich in Spice: Eating too much of spicy foods and those that contain chili peppers for a tangy flavor can often lead to heartburn and acidity. While you may enjoy eating something delicious with a tangy and spicy taste, the damage it may cause to your digestive health can be a cause forconcern.
7. Too Much of Caffeine: Drinking too much coffee or drinks with a high caffeine content cannot only irritate the stomach but also damage the smooth functioning of the digestive system. Heartburn, inflammation, constipation, and dehydration are some of the common digestive problems posed by coffee.
8. Raw Vegetables and Acidic Fruits: While consuming too many acidic fruits can cause acid reflux and stomach inflammation, eating raw vegetables leads to cramps, diarrhea, bloating and gas as they pass through the digestive system undigested.

For those who are concerned about their digestive health, consulting a doctor is recommended. In case you already have a stomach related ailment or disorder or have suffered from any in the past, a doctor can suggest and advice you and what are the best foods to incorporate in your diet.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Firstly, what you need to realise is that Alzheimer’s is not dementia and the main point you need to remember about the difference between the two is that the former is a disease while the latter is a syndrome. Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease, it breaks down the cognitive functions of the brain and reduces a person’s ability to function properly. It’s one of the foremost reasons for untimely senility in middle-aged to old-aged persons.

It can be a scary time for the patient themselves as well as for friends and family alike but fear not, there are ways to reduce the chances of suffering from this painful predicament. Here are a few easy hacks to keep in mind to stave off the risk of Alzheimer’s:

1. Fix your diet: Cut down on saturated fats and construct a diet combining lots of healthy vitamin and mineral rich foods, fruits and vegetables. Vitamin E is essential as well as vitamin B12 which can also be taken in the form of supplements. Vitamin E can be found in foods like spinach and even nuts. Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago has, after a lot of research, developed the MIND and DASH diets. The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet collates portions of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet to create the perfect combination that has been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by 53 percent.
2. Exercise mental and physical: A sedentary lifestyle is one of the major causes of Alzheimer’s because it leads to slower brain activity and an overall unhealthy lifestyle. To break out of this you need to regularly exercise and not just physical exercises but also mental exercises such as solving mental maths and crosswords and reading books and newspapers. There are a lot of apps concerning games that help boost brain activity on the market that can help as well. Physical exercise can include swimming, brisk walking, joking and even gardening.
3. Reduce stress: Stress proves to be a huge issue for the brain contributing to its damage by putting a lot of pressure on it. Try to relax more by improving your sleep cycle, resting as and when required, and not overworking yourself.
4. Aromatherapy: Essential oils have been shown to work wonders, by reducing stress and relaxing the mind. Lavender, rosemary, lemon and even orange are some great options you can try out. These oils can help rejuvenate damaged brain and nerve cells.
5. Meditation: Studies have shown that regular meditation helps boost grey matter in the brain, and along with yoga, keeps the minds and bodies of middle-aged people active and better focused contributing to the overall health of the brain.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Your digestive organs together comprise one of the most important systems in your body. You have to be very careful about everything in your body as sometimes the most common digestive disorders, having the most common symptoms, can be seriously threatening as well. A number of different health issues can be related to problems with your digestive system, therefore you need to be very careful about your health and track any symptom which indicates a digestive disorder.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
According to various studies, around 10-15% of the population faces the problem of irritable bowel syndrome in their lives, with almost twice as many women than men. This usually happens when there is a change in the functioning of the GI tracts. Constipation and diarrhea both can be observable problems in people with an Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Abdominal pain, changes in the bowel habits, cramping and other discomforts can be symptoms of IBS.

Celiac Disease
One of the most common diseases which affect around 2 million people in the US alone is Celiac Disease. This disease manages to damage the small intestine and also intrudes in the process of absorbing nutrients from the food. People affected by this disease are usually intolerant of various food products like wheat and barley among other items. Seizures, fatigues, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain and more can be symptoms of celiac disease.

Crohn’s Disease

Gastroparesis
Women are more likely to get affected by gastroparesis than men as the process of emptying food from the stomach to the small intestine is slowed down and this is already a slow process in the case of women. Diabetes along with intestinal surgery and nervous system diseases are often the cause of this problem. Pain in the stomach, lack of appetite, bloating of the abdominal region are all symptoms of this disorder. This disorder can be a chronic disease in many cases and immediate diagnosis and treatment are suggested on observing the symptoms. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!