The digestive system is responsible for breaking food and drink down into essential nutrients and for removing the leftover waste. The digestive system is made up of numerous parts: the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is the name given to the long line of organs that start at the mouth and end at the anus, which includes the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.
A digestive disorder describes any condition in which the digestive system does not function properly. Common digestive disorders include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and diverticulitis, to name a few. Digestive disorders can be described as functional or structural. For functional digestive disorders, the digestive system appears normal but behaves abnormally. For structural digestive disorders, the digestive system both appears and functions abnormally.
The symptoms of digestive disorders include the following:
The causes for digestive disorders vary depending on the specific disorder in question. The causes can include genetics, diet, injury, medications, or structural abnormalities. For example, a potential cause for GERD is a hiatal hernia, a structural abnormality in which the upper part of the stomach pushes upwards through the diaphragm. For many digestive disorders, such as Crohn’s disease, the cause remains unknown.
Factors that increase one’s chances of developing a digestive disorder are shown below:
A gastroenterologist is the type of doctor who diagnoses and treats digestive disorders. When diagnosing a digestive disorder, a gastroenterologist will review the patient’s medical history, discuss all symptoms, and conduct a physical exam. A gastroenterologist will also conduct various tests to assist them in their diagnosis. These tests include the following:
Gastroenterologists often use blood tests and stool tests to help determine a diagnosis.
An endoscopic procedure is a process in which an endoscope is used to view parts of the GI tract. A colonoscopy is a type of endoscopic procedure in which an endoscope is used to view the rectum, colon (part of the large intestine), and ileum (part of the small intestine). An upper GI endoscopy is an endoscopic procedure whose purpose is to view the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum (part of the small intestine). The purpose of an enteroscopy is to view the small intestine.
Imaging techniques (i.e., CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, or X-ray) are also used to view parts of the digestive system.
A biopsy can be taken during an endoscopic procedure and sent to a pathologist for analysis. A biopsy is used for diagnosis of certain digestive disorders, such as celiac disease.
Anyone who suffers from a digestive disorder must maintain a healthy diet as part of his/her treatment. Not only does one have to eat healthy, but one must avoid foods and drinks that trigger symptoms. For example, a person with lactose intolerance must avoid dairy products while a person with celiac disease must avoid gluten.
Other treatment options include the following:
If one is overweight or obese, a doctor may recommend weight loss to treat the digestive disorder.
Medications can treat many of the symptoms of digestive disorders. Examples include anti-nausea medication for nausea, laxatives for constipation, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for heartburn.
In some situations, surgery may be the best treatment option. Examples include a fundoplication to treat GERD and a colectomy to treat diverticulitis.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle lowers one’s risk for developing a digestive disorder. The steps for achieving a healthy lifestyle are listed below:
What does it mean to eat a healthy diet? To combat certain digestive disorders, it is best if one eats smaller, balanced meals that are high in fibre (i.e., whole grains, fruit, and vegetables). Other recommendations can be given by a doctor or dietician.