The Digestive System - Disorders

Common, long term condition of the digestive system. It can cause bouts of stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation, The symptoms vary between individuals and affect some people more severly than others. They tend to come and go in periods lasting a few days to a few months at a time, often during times of stress or after eating certain foods. Cause is unknown.

Treatment:

- Food diary - allows a record of food eaten to be recorded and matched against bouts of pain/irritability - identifies foods that should be avoided.

- Avoiding fizzy drinks/coffee - both irritate the gut and cause symptoms of IBS so can increase symptoms and inconvenience.

- Exercise helps reduce stress which appears to be a trigger for IBS so regular gentle exercise will lead to well-being and reduction of symptoms.

Autoimmune Disease. In Coeliacs, a protein called gluten triggers an immune response that results in the villi of the ileum wall being destroyed. Flattening and associated, inflammation results in reduced absorption of nutrients.

 Causes are not fully understood. Condition tends to run in families and a childhood infection of the gut may trigger the condition later.

Symptoms are abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, diarrhoea, fatty stools and weight loss. Can lead to secondary conditions such as anaemia and osteoporosis.

Usually treated by simply excluding foods that contain gluten from your diet.

Form due to an imbalance in the composition of bile, high levels of cholesterol and bilirubin result in the formation of crystals that grow to form gallstones/ stick in the bile duct.

No specific reason. Risk factors are being female, overweight, over 40 years old, having existing liver damage, IBS and a family history of gall stones.

Symptoms include pain, being sweaty, nauseous and vomiting.

Treatment - Depends on how the symptoms are affecting your daily life. If no symptoms, active monitoring. 

- Key hole surgery to remove the gall bladder

- Medication to dissolve gall stones.