There are multiple pathologies that affect the stomach and intestines of an inflammatory and infectious nature that can cause severe to severe clinical pictures in the patient.
The digestive system is the group of organs responsible for the digestion process, that is, the transformation of food into nutrients and energy of metabolic interest and waste. This system consists of the intestinal tract, liver, pancreas and gallbladder. Together, this series of tubular and secretory organs work to break down food into easily assimilated parts.
The digestive system has exocrine glands (producers of juices and acids), endocrine glands (producers of hormones), nerve endings, mucous membranes, irrigation in the form of vessels and capillaries, muscle cuts of diverse nature and many other complex cellular associations with the same purpose: to take advantage of nutrients and allow the passage of food through our body.
Unfortunately, when any of its components fail, certain stomach diseases occur with characteristic symptoms. If you wantto know the most common in today’s society, keep reading.
- We recommend you read: “Stomach pain: causes and 7 home remedies to relieve it”
What are the most common stomach diseases?
The prevalence and incidence of the diseases that we are going to tell you about below varies drastically according to the region consulted. Therefore, surely in Ethiopia and the United States the order of importance of each of these pathologies will vary. Keep this in mind because, in many cases, the severity of a gastrointestinal clinical picture depends on the economic disparity of the region in which we focus our attention.
- We recommend you read: “The 8 parts of the human stomach (and their functions)”
1. Diarrheal diseases
Diarrhea is not a disease in itself, but a clinical sign that something is wrong at the gastrointestinal level. These are defined as pasty stools with a high water content, whose bowel movements occur 3 or more times a day, usually for more than 3 days.
Certain portals estimate that up to70% of global diarrheal diseases are caused by infections, which are a direct cause of lack of food hygiene or consumption of unsafe water. Therefore, it is not surprising to know that these pathologies are the second cause of death in low-income countries, well above cancers and other diseases with the worst reputation.
The devastating data does not end here, because the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that approximately 525,000 infants lose their lives annually due to diarrheal diseases and that more than 1,700,000 children are infected with these etiological agents annually.
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
In Western industrialized countries, the prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) ranges from 10-15%, reaching even 45% in certain small population groups. This disease is characterized bya disorder that leads to abdominal pains and changes in the intestine.
The clear underlying causes of this syndrome are not known, but in most cases infections or emotional reasons, such as stress, are suspected. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the nerves that supply gastric tissue can become more active during times of stress, which can cause the intestines to become more sensitive and compress or contract more, generating symptoms such as bloating, gas, fullness and changes when going to the bathroom. It is not a serious pathology, but it is chronic in nature.
3. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis
Diverticula are small pouches that bulge in the colon or large intestine. The presence of these upwellings is called diverticulosis, and 50% of those over 60 years of age have it. If these small pouches become inflamed or infected, the clinical picture becomes known as diverticulitis.
While diverticulosis is asymptomatic, diverticulitis presents with abdominal pain (usually on the left side), fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, and constipation. The treatment of this clinical picture is usually based on temporary changes in diet, antibiotics and analgesics until the inflammation of the diverticula is reduced. Again, it is not usually a serious pathology, but it is chronic in nature.
4. Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a whole world, as it depends a lot on the ethnic group sampled. Less than 10% of the population of northern Europe has this condition, while the vast majority of Asians are intolerant to dairy products, why?
Usually, lactose intolerance is due to thedeficiency of an enzyme produced in cells at the level of the small intestine: lactase. Not being able to assimilate dairy products generates diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, bloating and gas in the patient. As surprising as it may seem, in certain populations the gene expression that controls lactase production has been modified, allowing its members to consume dairy products without problem.
5. Celiac disease
We continue in the world of intolerances, becauseceliac disease is defined as a serious sensitivity to gluten. Upon consuming it, the affected patient experiences abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and weight loss. It is estimated that 1% of Western people are celiac, although many of them are not diagnosed until the disease is too evident.
6. Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel pathology that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, which results in abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Its full causes are not known, but it is speculated that an atypical immune response (where leukocytes attack the cells of the digestive system) or hereditary factors may promote its appearance.
It occurs, on average, in about 6 patients per 100,000 inhabitants in European populations, since white people are more likely to suffer from this pathology. There is no cure for Crohn’s disease, but corticosteroids to lower inflammation and immune-suppressing medications are usually effectiveat the worst times of the disease.
7. Ulcerative colitis
Another of the intestinal diseases of inflammatory nature that affects 396 per 100,000 inhabitants on average. This pathology causes lasting inflammation of the intestinal tissue, with the appearance of characteristic ulcers/sores. Unfortunately, the symptoms of this disease are usually more “scandalous” than those mentioned above, as it usually manifests itself with purulent/bloody bowel movements, pain in the rectum, rectal bleeding, fever, fatigue and weight loss, among other clinical signs.
As with Crohn’s disease, immunomodulators are usually the best allies to combat the clinical signs of the disease. In general, surgery is very effective in getting rid of ulcerative colitis, but for this the colon and rectum must be completely removed in a surgical intervention.
8. Gallstones
Gallstones aresolid deposits of digestive fluid that can form in the gallbladder. Normally these upwellings do not produce symptoms but, if they plug the excretory channel of the gallbladder, this organ becomes inflamed and surgical removal of it is required immediately.
- We recommend you read: “The 8 parts of the human vesicle (and their functions)”
9. Peptic ulcer
Peptic ulcer is defined asa sore or raw area that forms on the stomach or intestinal lining. There are two types of peptic ulcers: gastric and duodenal, which differ based on the place of appearance.
Alcoholism, the consumption of certain drugs, stress, anxiety, certain treatments or intestinal colonization by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori are important risk factors for developing this disease. It is estimated that the probability of presenting a peptic ulcer throughout the life of the individual is, approximately, 5-10%.
10. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
The prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is 10-20% in the Western population. This pathology is encouraged when theannoying reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus occurs continuously, causing a characteristic symptomatology.
When the lower esophageal sphincter does not function properly, the food bolus of an acidic nature can accidentally rise from the stomach back into the esophagus, leading to chest pain, difficulty swallowing, pain when swallowing, chronic pharyngitis, chronic cough and other pathologies related to the esophagus and upper respiratory tract.
Summary
As you may have seen, most common stomach diseases are due to inflammations of the intestinal tissue, in many cases due to unhealthy habits or chronic stress, which marks our vital patterns today. It is also very striking to know that the prevalence of many of these diseases are higher in European countries, which is why a clear genetic inheritance is suspected.
Many of these pathologies are chronic and for life, although the symptoms that characterize them can be alleviated with the appropriate medications. On the other hand, other of the listed diseases require a quick approach, as the clinical picture can become quite complicated over time. In general, if you have mild gastric symptoms for a month or recurrent pain for more than two weeks, it is necessary that you go to your family doctor for ablood test and abdominal palpation.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
