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 serie...
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 us...
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 ...
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 digesti...
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 consti...
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 ...
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...
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, not...
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 overvie...
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 o...
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 ...
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...
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 muc...
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 st...
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 lo...
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 t...
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 duod...
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. Th...
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 fun...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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, mi...
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 ga...
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 h...
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 set...
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...
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 sug...
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 eff...
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...
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...
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,...
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 lo...
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. Digesti...
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 D...
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 r...
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...