Understanding Common Digestive Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options - Dr Lorance Peter

Our digestive system is a combination of multiple organs and tissues in our body that work towards breaking down the food that we eat into nutrients that can help our bodies with energy, growth, and repair.

Just like any other body function, our digestive system can be affected by certain digestive disorders that can cause discomfort, pain, and even serious health complications. It is important to understand these common digestive disorders so that they can be avoided or diagnosed at an early stage so that one can take timely precautions or seek timely treatment.

Here are some of the most common digestive disorders:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Recurring abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel movements are characteristics of chronic IBS. Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be caused by several factors, including poor diet, stress, or even hormonal changes.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): GERD is a condition in which stomach acid flows back up into the oesophagus, causing heartburn, difficulty wallowing, and a bitter taste in the mouth. The most common cause of GERD is a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which allows stomach acid to flow back up into the oesophagus.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): IBD is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. There are two main types of IBD: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Celiac Disease: It is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to react to gluten. Symptoms can include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to malnutrition and other complications.

Understanding the Causes and Symptoms

There are several factors that can cause digestive disorders. This includes:

• Diet: A diet that includes processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can contribute to digestive disorders.
• Stress: Stress is often considered mental health, but it can also affect physical health. Stress can aggravate the symptoms of digestive disorders.
• Hormonal changes: Hormones play an essential role in health conditions. Any hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy, menopause, or thyroid disorders can affect digestive disorders.
• Genetics: Genetics is another common factor that can lead to digestive disorders like celiac disease.
• Infections: Bacterial infections are a very common cause of digestive disorders, which can lead to food poisoning or gastroenteritis.
• Medications: Certain medications that affect the balance of gut bacteria can lead to digestive disorders.

The symptoms of digestive disorders may vary depending on the severity of the condition. The most common symptoms include abdominal pain or cramping, bloating or gas, diarrhoea or constipation, a feeling of nausea or vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, and a change in bowel movements or stool consistency.

Diagnosis of Digestive Disorders

The diagnosis of digestive disorders often involves a combination of tests and examinations. Here are a few ways in which a diagnosis can be made:

• Endoscopy: A flexible tube equipped with a camera is sent through the mouth to diagnose any digestive disorders.
• Colonoscopy: To view the colon and rectum, a flexible tube equipped with a camera is passed through the rectum.
• Imaging studies: A sequence of X-rays is used to see the stomach, small intestine, and oesophagus after ingesting a contrast agent.
• Blood tests: Blood tests are useful in the diagnosis of diseases, including IBD and celiac disease.
• Stool tests: Stool tests are useful in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and giardiasis.

Choosing the Right Treatment Options

Treatment options for digestive disorders depend on the underlying cause and severity of the condition. Some common treatment options include:

• Dietary changes: Avoiding foods that can trigger indigestion, increasing fibre intake, including probiotics, and following a gluten-free diet can help prevent digestive disorders.
• Lifestyle changes: Changes in daily routine such as regular exercise, stress management, and maintaining a healthy weight can help manage and even prevent digestive disorders.
• Medications: Medicines can help manage the symptoms of GERD, IBD, and celiac disease.
• Surgery: In severe cases where lifestyle modification and medication do not work, surgery is the best option to treat conditions like GERD or IBD.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.