Disorders related to digestive system and food habits

Ulcer

Destruction of the gastric or intestinal mucosal lining of the stomach by hydrochloric acid is a direct cause of peptic ulcer. Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is thought to play an important role in causing both gastric and duodenal ulcers. Helicobacter pylori may be transmitted from person to person through contaminated food and water Injury of the gastric mucosal lining, and weakening of the mucous defenses are also responsible for gastric ulcers. Excess secretion of hydrochloric acid, genetic predisposition, and psychological stress important contributing factors in the formation and worsening of duodenal ulcers. Another major cause of ulcers is the chronic use of anti- inflammatory medications, such as aspirin. Cigarette smoking is also an important cause of ulcer formation and ulcer treatment failure. The stomach defends itself from hydrochloric acid and pepsin by creating a mucus coating (that shields stomach tissue), by producing bicarbonate and by circulating blood to the stomach lining to aid in cell renewal and repair. If any of these functions are impaired it can lead to the formation of an ulcer. Peptic ulcers were formerly thought to be caused by stress, coffee consumption or spicy foods. Now it is clear that about 60% of peptic ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection that can usually be cured. The bacterium (H. pylori) was established as the landing cause of peptic ulcers in the early 1980s. It was also found to cause gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining).

coating of H. pylori weakens the stomach's defenses by thinning the mucous the stomach, making it more susceptible to the damaging effects of acid and pepsin;

inflaming the area; poisoning nearby cells and producing more stomach acid.

Treatment 

Most commonly, ulcers related to H. pylori are treated with a two week course of

treatment called triple therapy, consisting of two antibiotics to kill the bacteria and

either an acid suppressor or stomach-lining shield medication.

Obesity

Obesity refers to an increase in total body fat. Obesity or weight gain occurs when

we eat more calories than our body uses up. If the food we eat provides more calories

than our body needs, the excess is converted to fat. Initially, fat cells increase in size.

When they can no longer expand, they increase in number. If we lose weight, the size of the fat cells decreases, but the number of cells does not.

a. Causes of Obesity: 

Obesity, however, has many causes. The reasons for the imbalance between calorie intake and consumption vary by individual. Age, sex, and genes, psychological makeup, and environmental factors all may contribute.

b. Genes and Environmental factors:

 Having obese relatives does not guarantee

that you will be obese; however, obesity tends to run in families. This is caused both by genes and by shared diet. The most important environmental factor is lifestyle. Your eating habits and activity level are partly learned from the people around you.

Overeating and sedentary habits (inactivity) are the most factors for obesity.

c. Age and Sex: 

People tend to lose muscle and gain fat as they grow older. Their metabolism also slows somewhat. Both of these lower their calorie requirements. Men have more muscle than women, on average. Because muscle burns more calories than other types of tissue, men use more calories than women, even at rest. Thus, women are more likely than men to gain weight with the same calorie intake.

d. Emotions:

 Some people overeat because of depression, hopelessness, anger, boredom, and many other reasons that have nothing to do with hunger. Their feelings influence their eating habits, causing them to overeat.

e. Pregnancy: 

Women tend to weigh an average of 4-6 pounds more after a pregnancy than they did before the pregnancy. This weight gain may contribute to obesity in women.

f. Medical conditions and Medications: 

Certain medical conditions and medications can cause or promote obesity, although these are much less common causes of obesity than overeating and inactivity. Some examples of these are as follows: Hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, Depression.

g. Why Should Care Obesity?

It is the second leading cause of preventable death (after smoking), and is associated with type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidaemia (presence of excess lipids in the blood), coronary artery disease, arthritis, gallstones, psychosocial disability. Certain cancers - colon, rectum and prostate in men, uterus, biliary tract, breast and ovary in women-are more prevalent in the obese.

h. Treatment of Obesity

Successful programs for weight loss reduction and maintenance should be started and followed under the care of a physician and or a nutritionist. A weight-loss program may include:

* Exercise (30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week)

* A low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate, high fiber diet

* Behavior modification to change eating behavior

* Social support

* Medications

 Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person may eat a lot of food at once

and then try to get rid of the food by vomiting, using laxatives , or sometimes over

exercising. People with bulimia are preoccupied with their weight and body image.Bulimia is associated with depression and other psychiatric disorders and shares

symptoms with anorexia nervosa, another major eating disorder. Because many

individuals with bulimia can maintain a normal weight, they are able to keep their

condition a secret for years. If not treated, bulimia can lead to nutritional deficiencies

and even fatal complications.

a. Signs and Symptoms:

Bulimia is often accompanied by the following signs and symptoms:

* Binge eating of high-carbohydrate foods, usually in secret

* Exercising for hours

* Eating until painfully full

* Going to the bathroom during meals

* Body weight that goes up and down

* Constipation, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain

* Dehydration

* Irregular menstruation or lack of menstrual periods in females

* Damaged tooth enamel, bad breath, sore throat or mouth sores

* Depression

b. Treatment:

Psychotherapy is a cornerstone of bulimia treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy,

which teaches you to replace negative thoughts and behaviors with healthy ones, is

often used. Other mind-body and stress-reduction techniques, such as yoga, tai chi,

and meditation, may help you become more aware of your body and form a more

positive body image. It is important for the person with bulimia to be actively

involved in their treatment. Antidepressants are often prescribed for bulimia.

disorder.

 Anorexia nervosa => eating disorder 

Anorexia is an emotional disorder that focuses on food, but it is actually an attempt to deal with perfectionism and a desire to control things by strictly regulating food and

weight. People with anorexia have an extreme fear of gaining weight, which causes them to try to maintain a weight far less than normal. They will do almost anything to avoid gaining weight, including starving logues anorexia seldom appears before puberty.It can be a chronic disease, one that you deal with over your lifetime. But treatment can help you develop a healthier lifestyle and avoid anorexia's complications.

a. Signs and Symptoms:

The primary sign of anorexia nervosa is severe weight loss People with anorexia

may try to lose weight by severely limiting how much food they eat. They may also

exercise excessively. Some people may engage in binging and purging, similar to

bulimia. They may vomit after eating or take laxatives. At the same time, the person

may insist that they are overweight.

.

b. Physical Signs

* Excessive weight loss

* Very rare menstrual periods

* Thinning hair dry skin

* Bloated or upset stomach

* Low blood pressure

* Fatigue 

* Abnormal heart rhythms

* Osteoporosis - (Bone disease) 

e. Psychological and Behavioral Signs

Anorexia patients have distorted perception of self (insisting they are overweight when they are thin). Being preoccupied with food thoughts they refuse to eat and also refusing to acknowledge the seriousness of the illness. They suffer from depression and refuse to eat in public. Such patients constantly weigh themselves and do regular excercises.

d. Treatment:

The most successful treatment is a combination of psychotherapy, family therapy, and medication. It is important for the person with anorexia to be actively involved in their treatment.

Food Poisoning 

This type of intestinal condition is characterized by sudden illness caused by eating food or drinking liquids contaminated by a toxin or infectious organism. Poor food

hygiene is a risk factor.

a. Symptoms of Food Poisoning

The symptoms may start hours or days after consuming the contaminated food. Usually the symptoms are confined to the gastrointestinal tract. However, some food poisoning may cause more widespread symptoms. For example, the Clostridium

Botulinum bacterium (Botulism) causes muscle weakness and paralysis, and

Listeriosis may cause flu-like symptoms and lead to meningitis.

b. What Are The Causes of Food Poisoning?

Most cases of food poisoning result from contamination of food or water by

 bacteria, viruses or, less commonly, protozoan parasites. Unhealthy food hygiene can enable these microorganisms to multiply. In some cases of bacterial food poisoning.it is not the presence of the bacteria themselves that cause poisoning but the effect of toxins produced by the bacteria. If infectious organisms are ingested with the food they can multiply in the digestive tract. If the food poisoning is caused by bacterial toxins, they may be produced in the food before it is eaten. Most types of food poisoning cause diarrhea and/or vomiting, often with abdominal pain. The severity of symptoms and the speed at which they develop and the duration of the illness depends on the cause of food poisoning.

Major food Poisoning Agents, :-

1. Staphylococci
2. Escherichia Coli
3.Salmonella
4. Campylobacter

e. Treatment of Food Poisoning

Usually, the symptoms of food poisoning disappear without the need for treatment. If
symptoms are severe or persist for more than 3-4 days, talk to your doctor. If an elderly person or child is affected by food poisoning you need to talk to a doctor immediately. Keep a sample of any remaining food as well as a sample of the patient's feces, which can be tested for the presence of infectious microorganisms. If the cause is non- infectious, such as poisonous mushrooms, you may need to be treated urgently to eliminate the poison from your body. Treatment of food poisoning is usually aimed at preventing dehydration. In severe cases fluids and salts may be administered
intravenously in hospital. Typically, antibotics are prescribed only if specific bacteria have been identified. Patients usually recover quite rapidly from an attack of food poisoning and rarely experience longlasting health consequences. In very rare cases, there is a risk of septicemia if bacteria spread into the blood stream. Both dehydration and septicemia can cause shock-a condition that is sometimes fatal.

 Dyspepsia - (do not a proper digestion) 

Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen that is not associated with a structural
abnormality. Dyspepsia describes recurrent and persistent indigestion that occurs
without an identifiable cause or abnormality of the digestive tract. The condition is
more common in adults, especially men, and may be made worse by stress, obesity,
smoking and a diet high in rich, fatty foods.

a. Symptoms of Dyspepsia

The symptoms of dyspepsia may include pain in the upper abdomen, often made

worse by eating, and nausea, particularly in the morning. Patients with Non-ulcer

Dyspepsia often experience these symptoms several times a week for months.

b. Treatment for Dyspepsia

A blood test may be carried out to check for infection of the stomach lining from the

bacterium H. pylori. Also, upper digestive tract endoscopy or contrast X-Rays may be

carried out to look for abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract.

c. Prevention of Dyspepsia

In order to help reduce both the frequency and severity of bouts of indigestion, follow

these steps:

* Eat small portions of food at regular intervals, without eating too fast or

overfilling your stomach. 

* Avoid eating in the three hours before going to bed to allow your body enough time to digest food.

* Avoid rich, fatty foods such as butter and fried foods.

* Learn to overcome stress, which can often trigger episodes of abdominal

discomfort.

* Ifoverweight, try to reduce weight and avoid tight fitting clothing.

*  If possible, avoid medicines that irritate the digestive tract, such as aspirin

and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.