Gastrointestinal disease affects the gastrointestinal tract and impairs the healthy digestion of your food. The gastrointestinal tract is the passage in your body that runs from the mouth to the anus. Treatment for gastrointestinal disease varies based on the root cause of your disease and the symptoms you present.
As many as 11% of Americans have gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. These diseases can develop due to functional and structural problems within the GI tract. They can also impact the immune system, nutrient absorption, and neurotransmitter production. When gut health is compromised, your overall health, well-being, ability to fight infections, cognitive health, and vitality may diminish, too. Integrative treatments for gastrointestinal diseases can help provide the healing you need.
What is Gastrointestinal Disease?
Gastrointestinal diseases are problems that affect the gastrointestinal or digestive system. This system involves many organs, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines. Its primary role is to break down food into nutrients to provide energy for the body. Doctors broadly categorize gastrointestinal diseases as functional and structural.
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGID)
FGIDs are the most common GI disorders and arise due to digestive system dysfunction. They are also called disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) and can occur anywhere in the GI tract. Some common examples of functional gastrointestinal disorders include-
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder that affects approximately 45 million Americans. It affects the large intestine and causes various digestive symptoms, including abdominal cramping, bloating, excess gas, mucus in the stool, constipation, and diarrhea.
There are various types of IBS. Although the exact cause of IBS is unknown, several things can trigger IBS. Many people who suffer from IBS experience symptoms when they consume certain foods or drinks, such as dairy products, wheat, fruits, and beans. Periods of stress may increase the symptoms of IBS. Finally, researchers believe that hormone fluctuations may cause IBS symptoms.
The risk factors for developing IBS include being under 50 years of age, being female, suffering from a mental health condition, or having family members who have IBS. If left untreated, your quality of life can diminish, leading to mood disorders. The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can become so severe that sufferers often avoid social situations.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
When stomach acids back up in the esophagus, a person may experience acid reflux or heartburn. Acid reflux causes a burning sensation and pain in the center of the chest. This condition typically occurs after eating a meal or during the night. The pain begins at the breastbone and travels upward into the neck and throat. Other symptoms of GERD include bad breath, nausea, pain in the upper chest or back, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and tooth erosion.
Most people experience heartburn occasionally; however, if a person has heartburn more than two times a week, it is considered a chronic digestive issue called GERD. According to the NIH, twenty percent of Americans have GERD. You can often get relief by taking an antacid or standing up and walking around. There are several things you can do to minimize the risk of GERD, including–
Certain foods, such as chocolate, fatty foods, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, peppermint, pepper, tomato, and citrus juices, should be avoided.
Reduce portion size
Stop smoking
Avoid eating two to three hours before bedtime
Elevate the head of your bed 6 inches to minimize the risk of GERD
Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing
Functional Dyspepsia – This results in chronic indigestion and discomfort in the upper abdomen area.
Functional Constipation, Diarrhea, Vomiting, or Abdominal Pain
Structural Gastrointestinal Disorders (SGID)
SGIDs occur when the structure of the GI tract changes. They can occur anywhere in the digestive system. Some common examples of structural gastrointestinal disorders include-
Crohn’s
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes digestive tract inflammation. Because it can affect different areas of the digestive tract, it may affect people differently. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease include systemic inflammation, malnutrition, weight loss, severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fatigue. It may also cause liver, joints, eyes, and skin inflammation. Finally, sufferers may also experience kidney stones and anemia.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects almost a million Americans every year. Unlike Crohn’s disease, which can affect any area of the digestive tract, ulcerative colitis causes the lining of the Colon to become inflamed. Once inflammation occurs, small ulcers form, causing many physical and emotional symptoms. The immune system mistakenly thinks the foods you eat are foreign invaders and begins to attack the large intestine.
Ulcerative colitis causes several symptoms, including urgent bowel movements, painful diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, bloody stools occur, and the doctor requires surgery to remove the Colon due to inflammation and damage. You may also experience weight loss, fatigue, and fever as the condition progresses.
Ulcerative colitis affects at any age. If you have a relative with ulcerative colitis, your risk of developing ulcerative colitis increases. Ulcerative colitis can occur in any race or ethnicity. If left unchecked, it can lead to severe complications. You may experience severe bleeding, a perforated Colon, and an increased risk of Colon cancer. Sufferers may also experience severe dehydration, bone loss, liver disease, increased risk of blood clots, and systemic inflammation.
Celiac Disease
Approximately one percent of the American population has celiac disease; however, many researchers believe that up to 80 percent of those with celiac disease either do not know they have it or have received misdiagnoses.
Celiac disease is a food sensitivity of gluten, the protein found in various grains, including wheat, barley, and rye. When a person who has celiac disease eats gluten, their immune system activates and begins attacking the gastrointestinal tract. The immune system gets confused and starts attacking the villi in your small intestines. The villi are finger-like protrusions that help with nutrient absorption. Celiac disease causes several digestive disturbances, including diarrhea, constipation, abdominal bloating, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In addition to these symptoms, celiac sufferers can experience depression, seizures, fatigue, anemia, and bone loss.
A key component of celiac disease treatment is avoiding gluten altogether. Unfortunately, various items contain gluten, including spices, processed foods, beer, sauces, dietary supplements, and medications. Therefore, it is essential to read all labels to help protect your health.
Gallstones
The gallbladder stores bile, a digestive juice, and releases it into the intestines to help digest fats. Gallstones develop when there are hard deposits of bilirubin or cholesterol in the bile. These stones may develop in the bile ducts or the gallbladder and can cause abdominal and flank pain, among other complications. Gallstones affect approximately one million Americans each year; however, many individuals are asymptomatic.
Gallstones can irritate and inflame the gallbladder, causing various symptoms. The most common symptoms include pain in the upper right abdominal area, chest pain, and right shoulder pain. The pain is typically steady and will subside in a few hours. In addition to pain, sufferers can experience nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal distention, fever, chills, loss of appetite, sweating, jaundice, and clay-colored stools. If left untreated, serious complications like infection and tissue damage can occur.
Several things can increase the risk of developing gallstones, including being a female, heavier weight, having a family history of gallstones, age 40, eating a high-fat diet, and having Crohn’s disease or diabetes. Gallstones can range from the size of a grain of salt to as large as a golf ball. Many people are surprised to learn that smaller gallstones typically cause more issues than larger gallstones. Small gallstones can exit the gallbladder and get stuck in the bile ducts. These gallstones can block the bile duct, resulting in infection or pancreatitis. Conversely, larger stones typically remain in the gallbladder.
Rapid weight loss and pregnancy are two common reasons. Other reasons include the gallbladder not emptying correctly, a concentration of bilirubin or cholesterol in your bile, or chronic conditions like blood disorders or cirrhosis of the liver.
Hemorrhoids
Bright red blood on toilet paper following a bowel movement may signal that a person has hemorrhoids. It is a common condition, affecting approximately 75 percent of American adults aged 45 years old or older. Hemorrhoids occur when the blood vessels in the Colon and around the anus become inflamed. It causes rectal bleeding, pain, and itching. The common causes of hemorrhoids are chronic constipation, straining during a bowel movement, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and pregnancy.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is a condition that affects older adults. Approximately half of those diagnosed with diverticulitis are aged 50 and above. Weak spots in the lining of the digestive tract, especially the Colon, form small pouches (diverticula). Diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula becomes infected or inflamed. The symptoms of diverticulitis include fever, chills, nausea, cramping, and pain. Typically, this condition is relieved by following a clear liquid diet and taking antibiotics. Eating a high-fiber diet and avoiding foods with seeds like berries can help prevent a relapse.
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Peptic ulcer disease is when an open sore develops in the upper part of the small intestine or the stomach. It affects around 15 million Americans each year. Typically, a thick layer of mucus protects the digestive tract’s lining. If this layer becomes damaged, stomach acid can damage the tissue, resulting in an open sore.
The symptoms of a peptic ulcer include gnawing pain in the mid to upper abdominal region between meals and at night. Pain that is temporarily relieved when a person ingests an antacid or eats suggests the presence of an ulcer. Heartburn, vomiting, and nausea are also symptoms of a peptic ulcer. In severe cases, abdominal pain, bloody stools, and weight loss can also occur.
Anal Fissures
Anal fissures are small tears that occur at the anus. These tears happen when attempting to pass large or complex stools. Symptoms of anal fissures include experiencing pain during a bowel movement, bloody stools, or a visible crack around the anus, a skin tag or lump near the fissure. Straining and complex bowel movements and constipation commonly cause anal fissures; however, diarrhea or soft stools can also cause them.
Anal fistula
Colon polyps
Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Disease
While there are many different types of gastrointestinal diseases, general signs and symptoms are typical, such as
To choose the correct treatment for gastrointestinal disease, you must first understand the root cause.
When diagnosing these conditions, your practitioner will need your health history, lifestyle habits, and symptoms. These will help determine what further testing will identify the issue. Several tests diagnose GI diseases, examining blood, urine, and stool samples.
Regarding the source of gastrointestinal disease, here are a few potential root causes.
Low Fiber Diet—Plants contain a carbohydrate called fiber that our bodies cannot digest. Fiber is critical for digestive health, helps you feel full, and aids in digesting certain foods. Beneficial bacteria living inside our gut, also known as gut microbiome, feed on fiber.
Stress—Stress affects more than your mental health; it also affects your gut health. Studies show an established link between the GI tract and the brain. They are always in communication, and your gut has more neurons than the spinal cord. Researchers feel stress causes various digestive problems, including inflammation, bloating, and changes in your gut microbiome.
Lack of water—Water helps cleanse the gastrointestinal tract. It softens stool and helps prevent constipation. It also helps your digestive system break down food and absorb nutrients faster and more effectively.
Dairy—Milk and cheese contain fats and proteins that are difficult to digest. Consuming large amounts of dairy can cause bloating, gas, constipation, and abdominal cramps.
Lack of movement—An inactive lifestyle is unsuitable for your overall and digestive health.
Age—Unfortunately, age adds another predisposition for gastrointestinal disorders. As you age, your digestive glands decrease in activity, which affects gut motility and reflux and allows certain digestive conditions to develop.
Genes—Some autoimmune gastrointestinal diseases have a genetic component. In most cases, they predispose you to the disease, meaning environmental factors are needed to trigger it. Examples include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease.
Treatment for Gastrointestinal Disease
Digestive issues are some of the most common yet least talked about health problems experienced by people across America. There is no reason you should suffer in silence.
Digestive problems affect millions of Americans each year. Unfortunately, most people are embarrassed and suffer in silence. If you are experiencing any digestive disorders or have any of the symptoms explained above, our integrative physicians and practitioners specializing in gut health can help. They help find the root cause of your digestive problems and offer customized treatment plans to heal your digestive tract.
Because gastrointestinal diseases are so varied, there are many questions surrounding them. Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding gastrointestinal diseases.
Is gastrointestinal disease curable?
As mentioned before, some gastrointestinal diseases are curable. However, some are not, like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and IBS. However, with integrative treatment for gastrointestinal disease, you can return to a high quality of life and stop living beholden to your symptoms.
How do you treat gastrointestinal diseases at home?
A few examples of integrative treatment for gastrointestinal disease include diet and lifestyle changes like increasing fiber intake, adding probiotics and prebiotics to your diet, exercising regularly, and reducing stress levels.
What are the signs of gastrointestinal disease?
While the signs of gastrointestinal disease vary, here are a few common symptoms that may alert you to something off with your gut: abdominal discomfort, weight loss, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
What foods should you avoid if you have gastrointestinal problems?
If you have a gastrointestinal disease, one way to address the problem is to remove offending foods from your diet. Sometimes, this could mean avoiding dairy or gluten. You should also avoid highly processed foods from your diet.
If you’re interested in learning more about integrative treatment for gastrointestinal disease, contact our team of integrative practitioners. We aim to help you overcome your health challenges and optimize your health.
Rose Wellness offers Holistic, Integrative and Functional Medicine services for treating chronic issues as well as for preventive care. Join us and take control of your health, your most important asset.
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