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Diseases & Conditions- Adult Health Library
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Digestive Disorders
Barium X-Rays (Upper and Lower GI)
Barium X-Rays (Upper and Lower GI) What are barium X-rays? A barium X-ray is a radiographic (X-ray) examination of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Barium X-rays (also called upper and lower GI series) are used to diagnose abnormalities of the GI tract, such as tumors, ulcers and other inflammatory conditions, polyps, hernias, and strictures. Click Image to Enlarge The use of barium with standard X-rays contributes to the visibility of various characteristics of the GI tract. Barium is a dry, white, cha...
Barrett's Esophagus
Barrett's Esophagus Click Image to Enlarge What is Barrett's esophagus? Barrett's esophagus is a condition in which normal cells that line the esophagus, called squamous cells, turn into cells not usually found in humans, called specialized columnar cells. This process is called intestinal metaplasia because the specialized columnar cells are similar to the lining of the intestine. Damage to the lining of the esophagus causes the cells to change. Less than 1 percent of people with this condition develop...
Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease What is celiac disease? Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine because of a sensitivity to gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats. This hereditary disorder interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. Tiny fingerlike protrusions, called villi, which line the small intestine and enable the absorption of nutrient...
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer What is colorectal cancer? Colorectal cancer is malignant cells found in the colon or rectum. The colon and the rectum are parts of the large intestine, which is part of the digestive system. Because colon cancer and rectal cancers have many features in common, they are sometimes referred to together as colorectal cancer. Cancerous tumors found in the colon or rectum also may spread to other parts of the body. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in...
Constipation
Constipation Click Image to Enlarge What is constipation? Constipation is a condition in which a person has uncomfortable or infrequent bowel movements. Generally, a person is considered to be constipated when bowel movements result in passage of small amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week. However, normal stool elimination may consist of having a bowel movement three times a day or three times a week; it depends on the person. About 4 million people in the United States have...
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's Disease Click Image to Enlarge What is Crohn's disease? Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is a chronic condition that may recur at various times over a lifetime. It usually involves the small intestine, most often the lower part called the ileum. However, in some cases, both the small and large intestine are affected. Sometimes, inflammation may also affect the entire digestive tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, appendix, or anus. Crohn's disease ...
Diarrhea
Diarrhea Click Image to Enlarge What is diarrhea? Diarrhea is defined either as watery stool, or increased frequency, or both, when compared to a normal amount. It is a common problem that may last a few days and disappear on its own. Diarrhea may be acute (short-term), which is usually related to bacterial or viral infections, or chronic (long-term), which is usually related to a functional disorder or intestinal disease. What causes diarrhea? Diarrhea may be caused by a number of conditions, including...
Digestive Diagnostic Procedures
Digestive Diagnostic Procedures How is a digestive disorder diagnosed? In order to reach a diagnosis for digestive disorders, a thorough and accurate medical history will be taken by your doctor, noting the symptoms you have experienced and any other pertinent information. A physical examination is also done to help assess the problem more completely. Some patients need to undergo a more extensive diagnostic evaluation, which may include laboratory tests, imaging tests, and/or endoscopic procedures. The...
Digestive Disorders
Digestive Disorders Many digestive disorders require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Appendicitis Barrett's Esophagus Celiac Disease Constipation Crohn's Disease Diarrhea Diverticular Disease Gas in the Digestive Tract Gastritis Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) / Heartburn Gastroparesis Helicobacter Pylori Hemorrhoids Hepatitis Viral Hepatitis Overview Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepati...
Diverticular Disease
Diverticular Disease Click Image to Enlarge What is diverticular disease? In the colon, some people have small pouches that bulge outward through weak spots. Diverticular disease is an inflammation or infection in the pouches, known as diverticula, which are located in the colon. A single pouch is called a diverticulum. Two or more pouches are called diverticula. Having diverticula is a condition called diverticulosis. Having infected or inflamed diverticula is a condition called diverticulitis. The con...
Esophageal Cancer
Esophageal Cancer What is esophageal cancer? Esophageal cancer is cancer that develops in the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. The esophagus, located just behind the trachea, is about 10 to 13 inches in length and allows food to enter the stomach for digestion. The wall of the esophagus is made up of several layers and cancers generally start from the inner layer and grow out. The American Cancer Society estimates that 17,460 Americans will be newly diagnosed with es...
Gas in the Digestive Tract
Gas in the Digestive Tract Click Image to Enlarge What is gas in the digestive tract? Gas in the digestive tract is created from: Swallowing air The breakdown of certain foods by the bacteria present in the colon Everyone has gas. It may be uncomfortable and embarrassing, but it is not life-threatening. Gas is eliminated by burping or passing it through the rectum. Most people produce about 1 to 4 pints of gas a day and pass gas about 14 times a day. Most gas is made up of odorless vapors--carbon dioxid...
Gastritis
Gastritis Click Image to Enlarge What is gastritis? Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. While the lining of the stomach is quite strong and can withstand strong acid, drinking too much alcohol, eating spicy foods, or smoking can cause the lining to become inflamed and irritated. What causes of gastritis? Gastritis may be caused by the following: Drinking too much alcohol Eating spicy foods Smoking Prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Infection with bacteria, suc...
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)/Heartburn
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)/Heartburn What is GERD? Click Image to Enlarge Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that is caused by gastric acid flowing from the stomach into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and esophagus, and reflux means to flow back or return. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the return of acidic stomach juices, or food and fluids, back up into the esophagus. What are the symptoms of GERD? The following is the most common sympto...
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis Click Image to Enlarge What is gastroparesis? Gastroparesis is a stomach disorder in which the stomach takes too long in emptying its contents. If food remains in the stomach for too long, it can cause problems such as bacterial overgrowth from the fermentation of the food. The food can also harden into solid masses, called bezoars, that may cause nausea, vomiting, and, sometimes, obstruction in the stomach. This can be dangerous if they block the passage of food into the small intestine. ...
Glossary - Digestive Disorders
Glossary - Digestive Disorders | A | | B | | C | | D | | E | | F | | G | | H | | I | | J | | K | | L | | M | | N | | O | | P | | Q | | R | | S | | T | | U | | V | | W | | X | | Y | | Z | A [back to top] Abdomen - area between the chest and the hips that contains the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. Absorption - the way nutrients from food move from the intestines into the cells in the body. Accessory digestive organs - organs that help with digestion b...
Helicobacter Pylori
Helicobacter Pylori Click to Enlarge What is Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori )? H. pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium found in the stomach, which (along with acid secretion) damages stomach and duodenal tissue, causing inflammation and peptic ulcers. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of the U.S. population is thought to have H. pylori , but fortunately, most people don't develop ulcers. Even so, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, H. pylori is a leading cause...
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids Click Image to Enlarge What are hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids are veins, normally present in and around the anus and lower rectum, that have become swollen due to stretching under pressure. These are very common in both men and women, and about half the population have hemorrhoids by age 50. Hemorrhoids are also common in pregnant women due to the pressure of the fetus in the abdomen, as well as hormonal changes, which cause hemorrhoidal vessels to enlarge. The process of childbirth also puts sev...
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A What is hepatitis? The liver is one of the organs that helps with digestion, but is not part of the digestive tract. It is the largest organ in the body and carries out many important functions, such as making bile, changing food into energy, and cleaning alcohol and poisons from the blood. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that sometimes causes permanent damage. It is caused by viruses, bacteria, certain medications, or alcohol. It may also be caused by certain diseases, such as autoim...
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B Click Image to Enlarge What is hepatitis? The liver is one of the organs that helps with digestion but is not part of the digestive tract. It is the largest organ in the body and carries out many important functions, such as making bile, changing food into energy, and cleaning alcohol and poisons from the blood. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that sometimes causes permanent damage. It is most commonly caused by viruses, bacteria, certain medicines, or alcohol. It may also be caused b...
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C Click Image to Enlarge What is hepatitis? The liver is one of the organs that helps with digestion but is not part of the digestive tract. It is the largest organ in the body and carries out many important functions, such as making bile, changing food into energy, and cleaning alcohol and poisons from the blood. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that sometimes causes permanent damage. It is most commonly caused by viruses, bacteria, certain medications, or alcohol. It may also be caused...
Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal Hernia What is a hiatal hernia? A hernia is a protrusion of part of an organ through the muscle wall that surrounds it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes up into the chest through a small opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest. A hiatal hernia results in retention of acid and other contents, since the stomach tends to get squeezed by this opening in the diaphragm. These acids and other substances can easily back up (reflux or ...
Home Page - Digestive Disorders
Topic Index The Digestive System - An Overview Diagnostic Procedures Medications and the Digestive System Digestive Disorders Colorectal Cancer Esophageal Cancer Stomach Cancer Glossary Each year, millions of Americans are diagnosed with digestive disorders, ranging from the occasional upset stomach to the more life-threatening colorectal cancer. They encompass disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. About 70 million people in the United States are affec...
Indigestion
Indigestion Click Image to Enlarge What is indigestion? Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is a painful or burning feeling in the upper abdomen and is usually accompanied by nausea, bloating or gas, a feeling of fullness, and, sometimes, vomiting. While indigestion may be the result of a disease or an ulcer in the digestive tract, most often it is the result of eating too much, eating too quickly, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations. What causes indigestion? Some causes of in...
Inguinal Hernia
Inguinal Hernia What is an inguinal hernia? A hernia occurs when a section of intestine protrudes through a weakness in the abdominal wall. A soft bulge is seen underneath the skin where the hernia has occurred. An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin area, when a section of intestine pushes through a weak spot in the inguinal canal--a triangle-shaped opening between layers of abdominal muscle near the groin. What causes an inguinal hernia? As a male fetus grows and matures during pregnancy, the testicle...
Intra-Abdominal Abscess
Intra-Abdominal Abscess An intra-abdominal abscess is a collection of pus or infected fluid that is surrounded by inflamed tissue inside the abdomen. It can involve any abdominal organ, or it can settle in the folds of the bowel. Causes Intra-abdominal abscesses sometimes happen because of another condition. An example might be appendicitis or diverticulitis. Many cases, however, happen after surgery. Abdominal abscesses can be caused by a bacterial infection. The most common bacteria to cause them are ...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Click Image to Enlarge What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an intestinal disorder that causes the following: Crampy pain Gassiness Bloating Changes in bowel habits IBS has inaccurately been called by many names, including the following: Colitis Mucous colitis Spastic colon Spastic bowel Functional bowel disease IBS is a functional disorder because there is no sign of disease when the colon is examined. Because doctors have been unable ...
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose Intolerance What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance is a condition caused by a lack of an enzyme called lactase, which, in turn, causes the body to be unable to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. Lactase is normally produced by cells lining the small intestine where it breaks down lactose into a form that can be absorbed by the blood. A lack of lactase can cause uncomfortable symptoms for some people. Those who exhibit symptoms are said to be lactose intolerant. Th...
Medications and the Digestive System
Medications and the Digestive System Medications taken by mouth can affect the digestive system in a number of different ways. Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, while usually safe and effective, may create harmful effects in some people. Certain medications taken together may interact and cause harmful side effects. In addition, it is important that your doctor know about any allergies, sensitivities, as well as other medical conditions you have before taking a new medication. Persons with f...
Online Resources - Digestive Disorders
Online Resources - Digestive Disorders The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your health care provider. Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. This page contains links to other Internet sites with information about digestive disorders. We hope you find these sites helpful, but ple...
Peritonitis
Peritonitis What is peritonitis? Peritonitis is an infection caused by an inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum. The peritoneum, a thin, clear membrane, normally covers all the abdominal organs and the inside walls of the abdomen. What causes peritonitis? Most often, peritonitis is caused by the introduction of an infection from a perforation of the bowel such as a ruptured appendix or diverticulum. Other sources include perforations of the stomach, intestine, gallb...
Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers (Peptic Ulcers)
Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers (Peptic Ulcers) What is a stomach or duodenal ulcer? About one in 10 Americans develops at least one ulcer during his or her lifetime. An ulcer is an open sore, or lesion, usually found on the skin or mucous membrane areas of the body. Click to Enlarge An ulcer in the lining of the stomach or duodenum is referred to as a peptic ulcer. When the ulcer is in the stomach, it is called a gastric ulcer. When the ulcer is in the duodenum, it is called a duodenal ulcer. What causes g...
Stomach Cancer
Stomach Cancer What is stomach cancer? Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is cancer that starts in any part of the stomach. Click Image to Enlarge The stomach is just one of many organs located in the abdomen, the area of the body between the chest and the pelvis. Among other organs found in the abdomen are the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and colon. It is important to differentiate among these organs, because cancers and other diseases that affect them present different symptoms and are tre...
The Digestive System: An Overview
The Digestive System: An Overview What is digestion? Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients to be absorbed into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process by which food and liquid are broken down into smaller parts so that the body can use them to build and nourish cells, and to provide energy. How does the digestive process work? Digestion involves: The mixing of food. The movement of food through the digestive tract. A chemical breakdown of...
Topic Index - Digestive Disorders
Topic Index - Digestive Disorders Digestive Disorders Home The Digestive System - An Overview Diagnostic Procedures Barium X-Rays (Upper and Lower GI) Medications and the Digestive System Digestive Disorders Appendicitis Barrett's Esophagus Celiac Disease Constipation Crohn's Disease Diarrhea Diverticular Disease Gas in the Digestive Tract Gastritis Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) / Heartburn Gastroparesis Helicobacter Pylori Hemorrhoids Hepatitis Viral Hepatitis Overview Hepatitis A Hepatitis B ...
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis Click Image to Enlarge What is ulcerative colitis? Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which the inner lining of the large intestine (colon or bowel) and rectum become inflamed. Inflammation usually begins in the rectum and lower (sigmoid) intestine and spreads upward to the entire colon. Ulcerative colitis rarely affects the small intestine, except for the lower section, the ileum. The inflammation causes diarrhea, or frequent emptying of the colon. As cells ...
Viral Hepatitis Overview
Viral Hepatitis Overview What is hepatitis? Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that results in liver cell damage and destruction. Click Image to Enlarge Hepatitis can be categorized in two groups: Acute hepatitis Chronic hepatitis There are six main types of the hepatitis virus that have been identified: Hepatitis A. This type of hepatitis is usually spread by fecal-oral contact, or fecal-infected food and water. It may also be spread by blood-borne infection (which is rare). The following is a list...
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