Common symptoms of digestive tract diseases
There are multiple diseases and disorders of the digestive tract but most of them are likely to cause the occurrence of similar symptoms such as:
- Heartburn,
- Bloating,
- Pain in the different parts of the abdomen,
- Burping,
- Nausea,
- Irregular stools, diarrhea or constipation, incomplete emptying of the bowel, and so on.
What organs make up the digestive tract?
The main digestive organs are:
- Mouth, or oral cavity with teeth, tongue, and salivary glands.
- Pharynx.
- Esophagus.
- Stomach.
- Small intestine.
- Colon.
Besides these organs, in the digestive process also participate:
- Salivary glands,
- Liver,
- Pancreas,
- Gall bladder,
- Bile duct.
How does the digestive tract work?
The mechanical processing of food is carried out in the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus.
Then the stage of chemical processing of food and splitting food into useful trace elements, vitamins, and fats that enter the bloodstream to further nourish the human body and the formation of fecal masses follows. This process involves the stomach, the small and large intestine, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, and bile ducts.
The final stage of digestion occurs in the rectum, the final straight part of the bowel, which ensures the elimination of fecal masses from the body.
What causes digestive system disorders?
Since the digestive system is involved in food processing, it majorly depends on consumed food and food habits. The primary factors for the development of the digestive tract diseases are:
- Unhealthy habits, i.e. a lot of fat, spicy, and other food that is hard for the digestive system to process;
- Overeating;
- Malnutrition.
Other factors that aren’t related to food include:
- Stress;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- Infections;
- Poor ecology;
- Other organs diseases;
- Hereditary factors.
Naturally, if there are several factors for disease development, it is more likely to occur. For instance, if you prefer fast food, do not engage in any physical activity, are stressed and live in a big city, there is a high chance that you already have digestive problems.
As for the other organs diseases, for instance, if you have trouble with your spine, it is likely that the signals that come through the nerves are delayed, or otherwise failed which contributes to bad digestion, and as a result, such symptoms as heartburn, bloating, and others.
Hereditary factors, for instance, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome which is characterized by the excessive production of gastric juice causes the damage to the stomach mucosa and its ulceration.
Bacteria that can affect the digestive tract vary, but if you have a stomach ulcer, you must get checked for Helicobacter pylori which is bacteria that specifically affects the stomach and duodenum and causes ulcers formation.
Digestive tract disorders, as well as disorders of any other systems of the body, can be also caused by cancer. Before starting the treatment of any symptoms, it is crucial to exclude the presence of a tumor as the symptomatic therapy can hide the manifestations and make the diagnosis difficult. You should also know that the untreated conditions of the digestive tract are a high-risk factor for cancer development so you shouldn’t neglect the symptoms and get checked timely.
Can digestive tract disorders be prevented?
Today you can treat almost any digestive tract disorder if you buy gastrointestinal drugs. But to prevent their occurrence, you should follow some rules: 1. Eat healthy: minimize eating out and start cooking. When you cook, you know what ingredients you use and spices you add so you can avoid unhealthy foods and additives that interfere with your digestion or irritate your stomach.
2. Eat several times a day. Long-time fasting and then eating of large portions is not healthy. Thus, you should eat at least thrice a day and make sure your servings are enough to saturate you but not oversaturated. Notice when you start feeling fullness in your stomach, if you feel heavy after eating, make sure to lower your serving the next time.
3. Quit unhealthy habits. Primarily, they are smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol. These two substances very negatively affect the digestive system.
4. Control your weight. Overweight people commonly suffer from more diseases of the digestive tract, so try to stay in your optimal weight by eating healthy and exercising.
5. Make sure you rest sufficiently. Stress and insufficient sleep are important factors for ulcers formation. Make sure you sleep for 7-8 hours a day and let your mental system get rid of the stress. If just sleeping for sufficient time is not enough, try meditation or other recommended practices.
6. People with diabetes must even more carefully control their eating and stick to all recommendations. In the occurrence of any painful sensations in the abdomen, you should inform your doctor.
7. Minimize carbonated drinks (soda) and coffee intakes. These beverages irritate the stomach. It is advised to drink not more than 300-400 ml of coffee per day and only a single glass of soda (it is better fully excluded).
When it is time to go to a doctor?
Everybody from time to time suffers from such unpleasant symptoms as heartburn, bloating, and other symptoms of digestive tract disorders. However, it doesn’t mean that you should run to a doctor at their first occurrence. We advise you to consult a specialist if you suffer from mild symptoms for two weeks or if the symptoms are severe for 2-3 days.
The symptoms can be these:
- Burping,
- Heartburn,
- Flatulence,
- Diarrhea or constipation,
- Abdominal aches,
- Heaviness in the abdomen,
- Loss of appetite,
- Nausea and vomiting.
Besides the mentioned above recommendations, you should be especially vigilant in the presence of such risk factors as:
- Age over 45;
- The manifestations worsen or new ones occur;
- If the pains or other symptoms are severe;
- Unprompted weight loss;
- Vomiting (especially with blood);
- Ache in the chest or back beside the other symptoms.
In the case of these risk factors presence, especially if there are several, go to a doctor immediately.
Digestive tract diseases diagnosis
Since there are many organs of the digestive tract, there are also multiple methods of diagnosis. First of all, you should talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms and based on them he or she will decide what tests are needed. For instance, if liver, pancreas, or gallbladder disease is suspected, you would need to do blood tests and ultrasound. If you have trouble with your stomach, gastroscopy is needed.
In suspected bowel diseases, you need a colonoscopy and other tests. For pancreas and gallbladder, ultrasound examination is frequently appointed.
If your doctor appoints you any tests, do them without hesitation as they are crucial for the correct diagnosis and treatment.
What digestive tract drugs you can buy at our med store?
We offer a wide range of medications for digestive tract diseases, they include:
- Proton pump inhibitors (Medications that lower the production of stomach acid and are used in ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Zollinger–Ellison syndrome, and others): Rabeprazole, Nexium, Esomeprazole, Omeprazole, Pantoprazole. We offer branded and generic medications made by such companies as Lupin, Abbott, Ipca, AstraZeneca, and others.
- H2 histamine receptors blockers (Medications that suppress gastric acid by inhibiting H2 histamine receptors, they are used for ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Zollinger–Ellison syndrome, and other conditions that require lowered stomach acidity): Misoprostol, Famotidine, Ranitidine.
- Anti-vomit medications: Domperidone, Reglan.
- Antibacterials (Medicines used in case the digestive tract disease is caused by bacteria): Damizol (Diloxanide Furoate-Metronidazole), Metronidazole. - Anthelmintic drugs: Albendazole is used to eliminate parasites such as helminths or worms. - Antidiarrheal drugs: Loperamide. - Antacids (Medicines that help to cope with heartburn): Sucralfate.
- Antispasmodics (Medicines used to cope with painful spasms of the digestive system including biliary spasms and intestinal spasms): Mebeverine. - Anti-air and seasickness drugs: Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate).
We offer you qualitative gastrointestinal medications without prescription and at the prices lower than at the regular drugstores. However, we strongly encourage you to consult a specialist and undergo all appointed tests in order to find out the precise diagnosis before you start the therapy to avoid masking the real reason behind them.
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