What are common stomach diseases?
In this section, you will learn about common stomach diseases. Common Stomach diseases, you know are those diseases related to the stomach. The stomach is a J-shaped organ situated left side below the diaphragm in the abdomen. It is specialized for the partial digestion of protein. A specific enzyme named pepsin helps digest protein in the stomach. It has an acidic medium due to the presence of pepsin.
Stomach diseases may be defined as any diseases that alter or affect the normal functioning of the stomach. Examples of stomach diseases are peptic ulcers, stomach cancer, gastroparesis, gastritis, etc. Some stomach diseases are also related to infection e.g. Helicobacter pylori. Symptoms of stomach diseases may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea.
Common stomach diseases
Here we are discussing the symptoms, causes, and treatment of only three stomach diseases.
1. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) happens when stomach acid flows back into the tube connecting the mouth and stomach (esophagus). This can irritate the lining of the esophagus.
Symptoms of GERD may include:
• Regurgitation of food
• Chest pain
• Sensation of a lump in your throat
• Regurgitation of sour liquid
• A burning sensation in the chest (heartburn), particularly after meals, which might be worst at night.
• Chronic cough
• Laryngitis
• New or worsening asthma
• Laryngitis
• Disrupted sleep
Causes
The causes of GERD are as follow:
• Obesity
• Eating certain foods such as citrus fruits, chocolate, mint, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and other fast foods.
• Eating a large meal
Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist.
• Snacking near bedtime.
Treatment
The best treatment for GERD
• Proton pump inhibitors
• Prokinetic agents
• Histamine blockers. Histamine 2 (H2) blockers help to decrease the acid secretion
• Antacids.
GERD foods to avoid
If a person has GERD he should avoid from following food items,
• Garlic and onions
• Fatty (including dairy) foods
• Tomato sauces
• Alcohol, coffee, and carbonated drinks
• Spicy foods
• Chocolate
• Fatty (including dairy) foods
• Fried foods
• Citrus fruits.
2. Stomach Flu.
It is a stomach disease that occurs through contact with an infected person or by drinking polluted water or eating contaminated food. It is also known as Gastroenteritis. If a person is otherwise healthy, he will likely recover without complications. But for adults or infants with a compromised immune system, the disease can be deadly or fatal.
There is no effective treatment for this kind of viral disease, only prevention is key. Besides avoiding contaminated food and polluted water, constant and frequent hand washing is a more effective defense.
Stomach flu Symptoms
Symptoms of stomach flu or Gastroenteritis may be included
• Low-grade fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Occasional muscle aches
• Abdominal cramps and pain as well as headache
• Watery, usually non-bloody diarrhea
• Risk factors
Stomach flu or Gastroenteritis happens throughout the world, suffering people of every age, race, and background.
People who may be more susceptible to gastroenteritis include;
Young children
Children in child care centers are more likely vulnerable because it takes time for a child’s immune system to mature.
Older adults
In nursing homes, older adults, are especially vulnerable. It is because they have a weak immune system and they live in close contact with others who may pass along germs.
Person with a weakened immune system
If the immune system of a person is compromised by HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, or another medical condition — you may be especially at risk.
What Causes stomach flu?
When a person eats contaminated food or drinks polluted water, or if he shares utensils, towels, or food with someone who’s infected he would more likely to suffer from viral gastroenteritis.
Many viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including:
Rotavirus
This is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in children all over the world. They are generally infected when put their fingers or other objects contaminated with the virus into their mouth. Adults infected with rotavirus usually lack symptoms, but can only spread the illness. This is more severe in infants and young babies. In some countries, including the United States, a vaccine against viral gastroenteritis is available and proven to be more effective in preventing the infection.
Noroviruses
Noroviruses attack both children and adults, and the most common cause occurs all over the world. This infection can spread through families and communities. The virus can pass by means of contaminated food or polluted water, although person-to-person transmission also is possible.
How do I get rid of the stomach flu?
Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water.
Ease back into eating.
Get plenty of rest.
Be cautious with medications.
Stomach flu treatment
There is no special medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics aren’t effective against the virus, treatment may include self-care measures.
Lifestyle and home remedies
• Ease back into eating
The sufferer should gradually begin to eat bland, easy-to-digest foods, for example, toast, gelatin, bananas, soda crackers, chicken, and rice. Stop eating if his nausea returns.
• Get plenty of rest
The illness may have made a person weak and tired.
• Be cautious with medications.
Children are not given aspirin, because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare, but potentially fatal disease. Use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) cautiously; it sometimes can cause liver toxicity, particularly in children. The massive use of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), sparingly if at all. They can make the stomach of a person more upset.
• Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water
Try drinking clear soda, and clear noncaffeinated sports drinks.
3. Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids also called piles, are swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum. They are similar to varicose veins. They develop inside the rectum, or under the skin around the anus. There are two types of Hemorrhoids, (1) external and (2) internal.
External hemorrhoids
Such types of hemorrhoids can cause pain
Internal hemorrhoids
Such kinds of hemorrhoids usually don’t cause pain but tend to bleed.
Signs of External hemorrhoids
- Swelling around the anus
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Itching or irritation in the anal region
Signs of Internal hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids lie inside the rectum.
Painless bleeding during bowel movements. A sufferer might examine small amounts of bright red blood on his toilet tissue or in the toilet.
Causes
• Eating a low-fiber diet
• Straining during bowel movements
• Having chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Being pregnant
• Being obese
• Sitting for long periods of time on the toilet
Treatment
• Eating a low-fiber diet
• Straining during bowel movements
• Having chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Being pregnant
• Being obese
• Sitting for long periods of time on the toilet