Digestive system disorders
Digestive system disorders
Digestive system disorders can cause a lot of discomfort. Symptoms can include gas, diarrhea, constipation, cramps, nausea and vomiting. These common symptoms can have very different causes. These kinds of symptoms can make digestive disorders hard to diagnose.
Celiac disease
Celiac disease occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to a type of protein called gluten. If a person eats food that contains gluten, the immune system will gradually damage the lining of the small intestine. When the small intestine is damaged, it is difficult for the body to absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from food.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurs when the small or large intestine (bowel) becomes inflamed. When the intestine is inflamed, it becomes swollen and painful. This causes symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, stomach cramps and, sometimes, weight loss.
There are two main types of IBD: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the GI tract. It causes the walls of the affected part to thicken and develop a cobblestone-like surface. Depending on where Crohn’s disease occurs, symptoms can include stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, poor growth and mouth ulcers. Ulcerative colitis is similar to Crohn’s disease, but it affects only the colon (large intestine). When a person has ulcerative colitis, the lining of their colon develops ulcers, or tears. This can lead to stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, bleeding from tears around the anus, weight loss and decreased appetite.
Special diets
Healthy foods prepared simply can help maintain good digestion, but the wrong foods can cause any number of digestive woes. When you're experiencing a bout of indigestion, you need to switch to wholesome choices, and avoid these hard-to-digest foods. If you have celiac disease, you must avoid gluten as well as "all derivatives of it" to protect your
Digestive system disorders can cause a lot of discomfort. Symptoms can include gas, diarrhea, constipation, cramps, nausea and vomiting. These common symptoms can have very different causes. These kinds of symptoms can make digestive disorders hard to diagnose.
Celiac disease
Celiac disease occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to a type of protein called gluten. If a person eats food that contains gluten, the immune system will gradually damage the lining of the small intestine. When the small intestine is damaged, it is difficult for the body to absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from food.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurs when the small or large intestine (bowel) becomes inflamed. When the intestine is inflamed, it becomes swollen and painful. This causes symptoms such as diarrhea, bloating, stomach cramps and, sometimes, weight loss.
There are two main types of IBD: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the GI tract. It causes the walls of the affected part to thicken and develop a cobblestone-like surface. Depending on where Crohn’s disease occurs, symptoms can include stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, poor growth and mouth ulcers. Ulcerative colitis is similar to Crohn’s disease, but it affects only the colon (large intestine). When a person has ulcerative colitis, the lining of their colon develops ulcers, or tears. This can lead to stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, bleeding from tears around the anus, weight loss and decreased appetite.
Special diets
Healthy foods prepared simply can help maintain good digestion, but the wrong foods can cause any number of digestive woes. When you're experiencing a bout of indigestion, you need to switch to wholesome choices, and avoid these hard-to-digest foods. If you have celiac disease, you must avoid gluten as well as "all derivatives of it" to protect your