Digestive health is a broad term that describes how fit one feels due to the consumption of a balanced diet. This results in normal, regular and healthy waste elimination. Regularity is the process by which the body passes food through the digestion process while absorbing nutrients and eliminating wastes.
The body must be able to absorb all the nutrients it needs from the food that passes through the digestive tract. There is a normal period in which this process must be finished to maintain good digestive health. The unabsorbed and indigestible food substances are regarded as waste and must be passed out of the body system on time. Failure to undergo proper regularity may result in short or long term effects.
There are many causes of failure to attain the right regularity. They include stress, heredity, poor eating habits, medication side effect, diseases or natural aging. All these digestive health factors may appear at any age or maybe specific to occur at certain stages in life. They all result in different problems that one can also be aware of in advance and have control over.
Some of the problems that result due to poor digestive health include heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. They result in symptoms such as stomach pain and cramps, gas, diarrhea, constipation and bloating. Studying more on the digestive system may aid in managing these complications.
It is well if noted that the symptoms are themselves not a disease. They are an indication of a digestive health problem within the digestive tract. Many ailments may share signs hence making it difficult to know precisely what is wrong. It is advisable to visit a doctor and let them run tests for various possible illnesses based on the signs.
Among dangerous digestive health, ailments are Crohn’s disease. Its symptoms include abdominal cramps, persistent diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, joint pains, bloody stool, constipation, and rectal bleeding. There may be other more like weight loss and pain when having a pain bowel. Again, one must be careful with the signs as they may be an indication of something else. Anything doubtful should be referred to a physician.
The disease can be dangerous and may cause poor growth in children. Its main complication is an intestinal blockage. The blockage results from inflammation of intestinal walls which creates scar tissues and swelling. Signs at that stage are abdominal pain, vomiting, and a distended stomach. Severe or frequent cases of the inflammation may need surgery.
There are appropriate lab tests for Crohn’s disease that should be run. There are medications to calm the swelling and reduce blockage. Early diagnosis can help prevent, minimize or treat it though there is no known cure for it. This digestive health condition is a major trigger for colon cancer. If diagnosed with Crohn’s, it is best to go for routine colon cancer checks. Early discovery of this cancer is a real lifesaver.
There are several ways through which air is formed in the stomach. The first one is through the activities of bacteria. Some bacteria healthfully live in our stomachs and convert sugars into gas. Carbonated drinks and beverages are also a major source of air in the stomach.
The three major digestive health ways are belching, bloating and flatulence. When one eats, they swallow some air in the process. The air travels into the stomach and stays there. Belching helps release it through the mouth by burping. The air released in this process may have a foul smell and may upset people nearby.
Gas can also be eliminated through the rectum. This is especially when all the food ingested cannot be broken down into nutrients. Starch, sugars and some fibers are of particular interest here. They lead to more gas.
Digestive health research has shown that most people produce around 4 pints of gas in a day. Therefore burping or belching after meals may not mean that one suffers from excessive gas. It is a normal condition in some situations.
Common gas triggers include dairy products, artificial sweeteners, some sugars, and fibers. Drinking through a straw, eating or drinking too fast and chewing gum frequently can be a cause also. A change in diet and lifestyle is an all-time digestive health remedy for these conditions. There are several over the counter medications that can be of help.
Too much gas can be a symptom of certain digestive health conditions such as IBS irritable bowel syndrome or GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease. IBS is a stress-related disorder that causes long term disturbed bowel habits like diarrhea and constipation. It is known to affect younger people mostly but the other age groups are not an exception.
The major cause is stress, poor diets, and infections such as gastroenteritis. This digestive health disease can be said to be an expression of the life of the person suffering from it. Other major causes are relationship related problems like divorce.
Major signs are passing blood, the rapid loss of weight, nausea, backache, bladder irritability indigestion, fever anxiety, and depression. Other signs may include those already mentioned above. One should seek immediate medical attention when they notice these things.
Gastritis is another digestive health condition that needs immediate attention. It is an inflammation, erosion irritation on the stomach lining. It may happen suddenly or gradually. It may be caused by irritation because of excessive consumption of alcohol, stress, chronic vomiting or use of certain medications like aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs.
Other causes are bacterial infection, pernicious anemia, bile influx, and other viral infections. It may lead to stomach ulcers. Lack of treatment results in excessive loss of blood and may increase the risk of cancer.
The main symptoms are stomach upsets abdominal pain and bloating, bloody vomits, indigestion, hiccups, lost appetite and black, tarry stool. There may be other digestive health signs. Diagnosis includes stool and blood tests and upper endoscopy.
Patients should avoid taking hot and spicy meals. Treatment includes taking antacids and other medicines that reduce stomach acid which causes further inflammation. Cases caused by pernicious anemia, vitamin B12 shots should be given. This condition is curable. A qualified physician should be able to administer the right treatment and guidance for your digestive health conditions.
Summary
Article Name – Digestive Health
Description – Digestive health is a broad term that describes how fit one feels due to the consumption of a balanced diet. This results in normal, regular and healthy waste elimination. Regularity is the process by which the body passes food through the digestion process while absorbing nutrients and eliminating wastes.
