GI Conditions
Stomach problems top the list of today's health problems in the United States. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, 95 million Americans are afflicted with some type of digestive trouble in their lifetime, with over 10 million, many hospitalized every year. Gastrology, or gastroenterology (the medical specialty dealing with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of digestive disorders) is an ever-expanding field of medicine. Gastrointestinal, or GI, doctors now play a vital role in maintaining the health of residents of Queens, as well as throughout the entire country. They diagnose and treat millions of patients in the U.S. on a daily basis due to the proliferation of digestive diseases. Here are some of the common gastrological conditions plaguing more Americans than ever before.
Acid reflux
Acid reflux, or 'gastroesophageal reflux disease' (GERD), is a chronic digestive disorder occurring when stomach acid flows back, or refluxes, into the esophagus, and this acid backwash irritates the esophageal lining. Chronic pain caused by continuous acid reflux is often a telltale sign that complications such as ulcers and precancerous conditions are occurring in the esophagus. When the ability to swallow due to GERD begins to weaken, the esophagus becomes progressively compromised, allowing stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus. This is what causes the heartburn that can be so painful, as it interferes more and more with daily life. The irritation that occurs to the esophageal lining causes 'esophagitis,' which is inflammation of the esophagus. Over time, inflammation can cause erosion of the esophagus. This is a very serious medical condition that can produce complications such as bleeding or breathing problems.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, in which the lining of the digestive tract becomes inflamed. Symptoms of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain and cramping; diarrhea, at times severe; bloody stools due to food moving through the digestive tract, causing inflamed tissue to bleed; open sores, or ulcers, on the surface of the intestine that cause pain; and reduced appetite or weight loss. Because the inflammation caused by Crohn's disease can affect appetite, this can also affect digestion and nutrient absorption. Severe cases of Crohn's disease can also cause serious medical problems, including fever, arthritis, eye inflammation, skin disorders, liver or bile duct inflammation, and mouth sores. Crohn's disease can often spread deep into the layers of affected bowel tissue, which can lead to life-threatening complications. Treatments can limit complications and sometimes bring long-term remission. Medical treatments of Crohn's disease usually involve drug therapy or, in more severe cases, can include surgery.
Celiac disease
Also referred to as 'celiac sprue,' celiac disease refers to a digestive disease that causes damage to the small intestine and interferes with absorption of vital nutrients. People suffering from celiac disease are unable to tolerate 'gluten,' which is an adhesive-type mixture of plant proteins in grains such as wheat, barley, corn, and rye. Gluten is used as a substitute for flour, and the word is actually derived from a Greek word that means 'glue.' In the modern American diet, gluten is found in millions of processed foods. It is even used in some medications and vitamins. Because celiac disease prevents nutrients from being absorbed into the body, it can damage the lining of the intestines. This damage, as well as the inability for the body to absorb vital nutrients, can lead to serious autoimmune diseases. Signs you may be suffering from celiac disease include abdominal pain, gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lactose intolerance, and even some less obvious symptoms such as depression, anxiety, hair loss, missed menstrual periods, mouth ulcers, and seizures.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis
These are digestive conditions involving 'diverticula,' which are small pouches that can develop within the walls of the colon, most commonly in the large intestine, or 'sigmoid colon.' The presence of one or more of these pouches or sacs is called 'diverticulosis.' This condition can cause pain or bloating, but many people who suffer from diverticulosis experience no symptoms at all.
When diverticula rupture or become infected, this is called 'diverticulitis.' It is a very serious gastrological condition that can cause abdominal cramping, constipation, diarrhea, and sometimes more serious situations such as colon obstruction, abscess, and even infection of the pelvis and bleeding in the colon. If diverticulitis goes untreated, it can lead to bladder infections and peritonitis, which is a swelling of the membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity. Peritonitis is a very serious illness that requires diagnosis and treatment, or it can lead to permanent damage of this membrane.
Colon cancer
Colon cancer is a malignant tumor occurring in the large intestine, or the lower part of the digestive system. Unlike benign (noncancerous) tumors, malignant tumors invade and destroy nearby tissue. These tumors cause death if undiagnosed or untreated, especially since they can spread to other parts of the body. Because colon cancer most often grows out of benign cell clumps, or polyps, colon cancer screenings are a vital part of regular checkups, especially for people age 50 and over. Routine colon cancer screenings are recommended by GI doctors in Flushing as well as the American Cancer Society. According to the Mayo Clinic, signs of colon cancer include changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or change in stool consistency; persistent abdominal discomfort such as gas or bloating; rectal bleeding or bloody stools; weakness or fatigue; unexplained weight loss; and the feeling that bowels are not emptying completely. However, polyps often have no symptoms, and colon cancer often does not have symptoms in its early stages. Polyps can be spotted on colon cancer screenings, and they can be removed before they become cancerous tumors.
Americans are suffering with more digestive disorders than ever, and the American diet is a major factor in the prevalence of disease. With all the websites dealing with digestive ailments, Americans are doing more and more self diagnosis of their stomach problems. However, gastrological conditions can be much more complex than simply inputting a symptom or two and having a computer spit out a diagnosis. Because so many of the same symptoms occur from one digestive disease to another, it can be a common misconception to think stomach ailments can be cured with an over-the-counter medication, especially since many of these diseases can lead to serious and life-threatening complications.
Acid reflux
Acid reflux, or 'gastroesophageal reflux disease' (GERD), is a chronic digestive disorder occurring when stomach acid flows back, or refluxes, into the esophagus, and this acid backwash irritates the esophageal lining. Chronic pain caused by continuous acid reflux is often a telltale sign that complications such as ulcers and precancerous conditions are occurring in the esophagus. When the ability to swallow due to GERD begins to weaken, the esophagus becomes progressively compromised, allowing stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus. This is what causes the heartburn that can be so painful, as it interferes more and more with daily life. The irritation that occurs to the esophageal lining causes 'esophagitis,' which is inflammation of the esophagus. Over time, inflammation can cause erosion of the esophagus. This is a very serious medical condition that can produce complications such as bleeding or breathing problems.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, in which the lining of the digestive tract becomes inflamed. Symptoms of Crohn's disease include abdominal pain and cramping; diarrhea, at times severe; bloody stools due to food moving through the digestive tract, causing inflamed tissue to bleed; open sores, or ulcers, on the surface of the intestine that cause pain; and reduced appetite or weight loss. Because the inflammation caused by Crohn's disease can affect appetite, this can also affect digestion and nutrient absorption. Severe cases of Crohn's disease can also cause serious medical problems, including fever, arthritis, eye inflammation, skin disorders, liver or bile duct inflammation, and mouth sores. Crohn's disease can often spread deep into the layers of affected bowel tissue, which can lead to life-threatening complications. Treatments can limit complications and sometimes bring long-term remission. Medical treatments of Crohn's disease usually involve drug therapy or, in more severe cases, can include surgery.
Celiac disease
Also referred to as 'celiac sprue,' celiac disease refers to a digestive disease that causes damage to the small intestine and interferes with absorption of vital nutrients. People suffering from celiac disease are unable to tolerate 'gluten,' which is an adhesive-type mixture of plant proteins in grains such as wheat, barley, corn, and rye. Gluten is used as a substitute for flour, and the word is actually derived from a Greek word that means 'glue.' In the modern American diet, gluten is found in millions of processed foods. It is even used in some medications and vitamins. Because celiac disease prevents nutrients from being absorbed into the body, it can damage the lining of the intestines. This damage, as well as the inability for the body to absorb vital nutrients, can lead to serious autoimmune diseases. Signs you may be suffering from celiac disease include abdominal pain, gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lactose intolerance, and even some less obvious symptoms such as depression, anxiety, hair loss, missed menstrual periods, mouth ulcers, and seizures.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis
These are digestive conditions involving 'diverticula,' which are small pouches that can develop within the walls of the colon, most commonly in the large intestine, or 'sigmoid colon.' The presence of one or more of these pouches or sacs is called 'diverticulosis.' This condition can cause pain or bloating, but many people who suffer from diverticulosis experience no symptoms at all.
When diverticula rupture or become infected, this is called 'diverticulitis.' It is a very serious gastrological condition that can cause abdominal cramping, constipation, diarrhea, and sometimes more serious situations such as colon obstruction, abscess, and even infection of the pelvis and bleeding in the colon. If diverticulitis goes untreated, it can lead to bladder infections and peritonitis, which is a swelling of the membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity. Peritonitis is a very serious illness that requires diagnosis and treatment, or it can lead to permanent damage of this membrane.
Colon cancer
Colon cancer is a malignant tumor occurring in the large intestine, or the lower part of the digestive system. Unlike benign (noncancerous) tumors, malignant tumors invade and destroy nearby tissue. These tumors cause death if undiagnosed or untreated, especially since they can spread to other parts of the body. Because colon cancer most often grows out of benign cell clumps, or polyps, colon cancer screenings are a vital part of regular checkups, especially for people age 50 and over. Routine colon cancer screenings are recommended by GI doctors in Flushing as well as the American Cancer Society. According to the Mayo Clinic, signs of colon cancer include changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or change in stool consistency; persistent abdominal discomfort such as gas or bloating; rectal bleeding or bloody stools; weakness or fatigue; unexplained weight loss; and the feeling that bowels are not emptying completely. However, polyps often have no symptoms, and colon cancer often does not have symptoms in its early stages. Polyps can be spotted on colon cancer screenings, and they can be removed before they become cancerous tumors.
Americans are suffering with more digestive disorders than ever, and the American diet is a major factor in the prevalence of disease. With all the websites dealing with digestive ailments, Americans are doing more and more self diagnosis of their stomach problems. However, gastrological conditions can be much more complex than simply inputting a symptom or two and having a computer spit out a diagnosis. Because so many of the same symptoms occur from one digestive disease to another, it can be a common misconception to think stomach ailments can be cured with an over-the-counter medication, especially since many of these diseases can lead to serious and life-threatening complications.