Lifestyle and dietary habits can affect this balance.
To help maintain this balance and preserve gas-
trointestinal health, gastroenterologists recom-
mend
- Eating foods high in fiber such as fruits, vegeta-
bles, and whole grains and whole grain prod-
ucts. High-fiber foods move quickly through
the gastrointestinal tract and result in residual
bulk that helps keep stools soft, reducing the
risk for conditions such as CONSTIPATION and
HEMORRHOIDS. - Reducing consumption of foods high in fats.
Fats require more steps to digest, slowing
movement through the gastrointestinal tract.
Saturated (animal) fats are associated with an
increased risk for COLORECTAL CANCER. - Limiting consumption of products that contain
CAFFEINEor ALCOHOL, which are frequent causes
of DIARRHEA. - Drinking plenty of noncaffeinated and nonalco-
holic fluids throughout the day. - Chewing food thoroughly before swallowing
and remaining upright after eating.
Gastrointestinal symptoms are the second-lead-
ing reason for visits to the doctor, with diarrhea
being the most common of these symptoms. Many
gastrointestinal ailments are minor, such as INFEC-
TION(GASTRITIS, GASTROENTERITIS, and COLITIS) and
irritations such as DYSPEPSIA. The close proximity of
the lower esophagus and the bottom of the heart
gives rise to the term “heartburn,” an apt descrip-
tor for the burning sensation that occurs when
gastric contents bubble back up into the esopha-
gus. GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISORDER (GERD)
develops when such backwash becomes chronic.
Chronic gastrointestinal conditions such as
CELIAC DISEASE, DIVERTICULAR DISEASE, IRRITABLE
BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS), and INFLAMMATORY BOWEL
DISEASE(IBD) can significantly interfere with QUAL-
ITY OF LIFE. People who have conditions such as
these must work closely with their doctors to
develop effective treatment approaches and man-
age their lifestyles in ways that minimize symp-
toms and support gastrointestinal health.
Cancers are among the most serious gastroin-
testinal conditions and can involve any organ or
structure of the gastrointestinal system. Though
colorectal cancer remains the second-leading
cause of deaths due to cancer in the United States,
it also offers great opportunity for prevention as
well as early detection and treatment. Doctors
now know that detecting and removing intestinal
polyps, fleshy growths that develop in the colon’s
mucosa, via screening COLONOSCOPYeliminates the
foundation for more than 90 percent of colorectal
cancers.HEALTH CONDITIONS OF
THE GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
ACHALASIA ANAL ATRESIA
ANAL FISSURE APPENDICITIS
BARRETT’S ESOPHAGUS BEZOAR
BILIARY ATRESIA BOWEL ATRESIA
CELIAC DISEASE CIRRHOSIS
COLITIS COLORECTAL CANCER
CONSTIPATION Crohn’s disease
CYCLIC VOMITING SYNDROME DIARRHEA
ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA ESOPHAGEAL CANCER
ESOPHAGEAL SPASM ESOPHAGEAL VARICES
ESOPHAGITIS FAMILIAL ADENOMATOUS
FECAL IMPACTION POLYPOSIS(FAP)
FECAL INCONTINENCE GALLBLADDER DISEASE
GASTRITIS GASTROENTERITIS
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING
DISORDER(GERD) HEMORRHOIDS
GASTROPARESIS HEPATIC CYST
HEPATIC ABSCESS HEREDITARY NONPOLYPOSIS
HEPATITIS COLORECTAL CANCER(HNPCC)
HIATAL HERNIA ILEUS
HIRSCHSPRUNG’S DISEASE INFLAMMATORY BOWEL
INTESTINAL ADHESIONS DISEASE(IBD)
INTESTINAL POLYP INTUSSUSCEPTION
LIVER CANCER LIVER DISEASE OF ALCOHOLISM
LIVER FAILURE MALABSORPTION
PANCREATIC CANCER PANCREATITIS
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE PERITONITIS
PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS PRIMARY SCLEROSING
PROCTITIS CHOLIANGITIS
RAPID GASTRIC EMPTYING RECTAL FISTULA
RECTAL PROLAPSE SHORT BOWEL SYNDROME
STEATOHEPATITIS STOMACH CANCER
TOXIC MEGACOLON ulcerative colitis
WHIPPLE’S DISEASE ZOLLINGER-ELLISON SYNDROMEThe Gastrointestinal System 5