Digestive system diseases are a group of diseases that occur in multiple places in the digestive system extending from the mouth to the anus. These diseases vary in severity and danger according to their cause and type.
Gastrointestinal diseases are divided into two main types
1. Functional gastrointestinal diseases
Functional gastrointestinal diseases refer to diseases that affect the daily function of the system, slowing down bowel movement and causing many health problems.
Usually, these diseases do not pose a risk if they continue for short periods, so the disorder is transient, but if they continue and recur, they indicate many diseases, some of which are very serious, and it is necessary to conduct in-depth diagnostic tests to find out the reason behind them.
In the following, the most prominent examples of functional gastrointestinal diseases will be mentioned:
Irritable bowel syndrome.
Gastroesophageal reflux.
Food poisoning.
Constipation or diarrhea.
2. Structural diseases of the digestive system
These diseases affect the body as a result of a major change in one of the parts of the digestive system, and the doctor, upon examination, may determine the main cause behind them. Often, these diseases require drug treatment or surgical treatment to adjust the situation and return it as it was previously as much as possible.
The most prominent structural gastrointestinal diseases will be mentioned below
Hemorrhoids.
Benign or malignant colon tumors.
Inflammatory bowel disease.
Diverticular disease.
Infectious colitis.
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn''s disease, a disease of unknown cause.
Ischemic colitis, a disease caused by insufficient blood supply to the colon.
Radiation colitis.
Gallstones.
Fecal incontinence.
Lactose intolerance.
Hirschsprung''s disease.
Abdominal adhesions.
Appendicitis.
pancreatitis.
Intestinal obstruction.
Short bowel syndrome.
Whipple''s disease.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Malabsorption syndromes.
Lever Inflammation.
Skin diseases that are sexually transmitted to the anus, such as: anal warts and herpes.
Symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases
The symptoms of digestive system diseases are very numerous and variable according to the type of disease, but in what follows the most prominent symptoms will be mentioned and explained as much as possible:
1. Symptoms of common digestive diseases
These symptoms were as follows
Abdominal pain and cramps.
Excess gases.
Bloating.
A change in bowel habits, such as: stools that are harder or softer, or defecation that is more urgent than usual.
Alternating constipation and diarrhea.
Burping.
2. Symptoms of skin and gastrointestinal diseases
If the anal area is affected by skin infections, the symptoms that accompany them are as follows:
Severe itching in the area.
The emergence of polyps.
Warts.
Skin peeling.
Bleeding cracks at times.
3. Symptoms of digestive system diseases that require immediate medical consultation
If the following symptoms appear, you must consult a doctor immediately, as they indicate more serious diseases of the digestive system:
The presence of blood in the stool or mixing with it.
Change in normal bowel habits for long periods of time exceeding 10 days.
Stool narrowing.
Severe and recurring abdominal pain on consecutive days.
Weight loss.
Constant fatigue.
Bright stool color.
Darkening of stool color.
Feeling that the bowel has not been completely emptied after passing stool.
Dizziness accompanying these symptoms.
Causes and risk factors of digestive system diseases
The following will explain the most prominent causes of functional and structural digestive system diseases:
1. Causes of functional gastrointestinal diseases
The most prominent causes of these types of diseases are as follows
Follow a low-fiber diet.
Not exercising enough.
Being exposed to routine changes in life, and this happens a lot when traveling.
Eat large amounts of dairy products.
Suffering from anxiety and stress.
Resisting the urge to defecate.
Overuse of antidiarrheal medications that weaken bowel muscle movements over time.
Take antacid medications that contain calcium or aluminum.
Taking some medications, such as: antidepressants, iron pills, and pain medications.
2. Causes of structural diseases of the digestive system
There are many gastrointestinal skeletal diseases whose cause is unknown, but others may result from one of the following:
Exposure to radiation that leads to abnormal divisions in cells of the digestive system, causing tumors.
Exposure to bacterial, viral, or parasitic contaminants.
Exposure to an injury to one of the organs of the system.
Complications of gastrointestinal diseases
The most prominent complications of gastrointestinal diseases are the following
Constant fatigue and inability to carry out daily activities as vigorously as before.
Psychological disorders. This may occur as a result of thinking about illness or as a result of an undesirable change in appearance as a result of weight loss.
Death, as this complication is very rare, but it is common in the case of malignant tumors.
