Problems of the Digestive System

Introduction

There are many diseases and minor common symptoms affecting the digestive system. The digestive system is affected by more diseases and symptoms than any other system of the body.
The digestive problems may be caused by diseases organs such as bacteria, virus or fungi or by the diet and lifestyle factor.
Some of the microbes( disease causing organisms) that cause infectious diseases enter the digestive system with food or water. They can infect and cause a disease in the digestive system or may enter the blood circulation and infect other organs. The organs closely associated with the digestive system are most likely to be infected first. All diseases have a negative effect on the body functions and interfere with food use at cellular level.

Below is a list of problems and diseases that affect the digestive system. Each of these problems interferes with some or all stages of food intake, digestion, absorption and its use at cellular level, and will ultimately compromise the nutritional status and overall health.

Diseases and Common problems of the Digestive system:

• Thrush (oral candidiasis).
• Acute gingivitis (Vincent’s infection).
• Cold sores ( recurrent or secondary herpes lesions).
• Tumours of the salivary glands.
• Oesophageal varices.
• Tumour of the oesophagus
• Peptic reflux oesophagitis.
• Acute and chronic gastritis.
• Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis.
• Autoimmune chronic gastritis.
• Gastric carcinoma.
• Acute and chronic gastritis
• Acute and chronic peptic ulcers.
• Tumours of the stomach
• Mal-absorption.
• Tumours of small intestine
• Leaky gut syndrome
• Coealiac disease
• Candida infection of the intestine.
• Acute and chronic pancreatitis.
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Tumour of the pancreas.
• Acute and chronic liver failure.
• Chronic and acute hepatitis.
• Viral hepatitis – type A, Type B and Type C.
• Cirrhosis of the liver.
• Tumours of the liver.
• Gallstones.
• Tumours of the gallbladder and bile duct.
• Jaundice.
• Appendicitis.
• Peritonitis.
• Thyroid fever.
• Escherichia coli ( E.coli) from food poisoning.
• Campylobacter food poisoning.
• Staphylococcal food poisoning.
• Cholera.
• Bacillary and Amoebic dysentery.
• Inflammatory bowel disease – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Diverticular disease.
• Benign tumour of colon.
• Cancer of the colon.
• Haemorrhoids.
• Carcinoid tumours of the appendix, ileum, stomach, colon, and rectum.
• Hernias – inguinal, femoral, umbilical, peritoneal and hiatus hernia.
• Volvulus.
• Intestinal obstructions.
• Heart burn
• Indigestion
• Constipation
• Excessive flatulence
• Diarrhoea or vomiting
• Acute or chronic abdominal discomfort
• Acute or chronic pain or cramps
• Headaches.
• Abdominal distension
• Bloating or wind accompanied by a general feeling of being unwell.
• Nausea and sometimes vomiting.
• Abdominal irritation.

The digestive system has a very large surface area, starting with the mouth (buccal cavity) and ending with the anus. It includes the alimentary canal and all organs and tissues that contribute to the process of taking in, digesting, absorbing digested food and eliminating the undigested food. Whatever affects a part of the digestive system will affect the process of digestion, absorption and elimination, and can therefore compromise nutritional status and overall health. Many other factors, internal or external, which can affect the way you feel, will affect the effectiveness of your digestive functions and as a result, problems such as indigestion, excess acid production, peptic or gastric ulcers, excessive flatulence, bloating, candida infection, IBS, constipation or diarrhoea may follow.

Immune function
The healthy digestive system has an extensive defence barrier (part of the immune system) that stops most of the unwanted harmful substances and undigested food from entering the blood circulation and accessing the rest of the body. Unfortunately, some harmful substances with small molecules such as food additives, pesticides, food colours, toxic elements, and other harmful substances that have found their way into the food chain can bypass this barrier. When the digestive system has been compromised and its lining has lost its integrity, the defence barrier more porous and weakened and so many more unwanted substances, including larger molecules such as partially digested protein, can be absorbed and find their way into the blood circulation and the rest of the body.
In an attempt to remove these harmful substances from the system, immune elements( antibodies) form immune complexes with them, which are then deposited in tissues and may contribute to diseases such as arthritis, joint and muscle aches and pains and autoimmune diseases. Further on in the large intestine, bacterial imbalances result in increased release of toxic substances from undigested food (stool) which also find their way into the blood circulation and to the liver putting severe strain on the livers capacity. This also increases the risk of some health problems many of which affect the digestive function and the nutritional status.

Those with digestive problems or any of the above symptoms might like to consider **Nutritional consultation, Hidden Food Allergy tests or a visit to their doctor.