Digestive diseases and disorders

• Prevention


  Measures taken to avoid or reduce the risk of a disease or other undesirable outcome
• Treatment


  The management and care of a patient to combat disease or disorder
• Many digestive ailments or disorders have preventions and treatments
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

  • Acid in the stomach goes to the esophagus
  • Person may feel a burning sensation (heartburn) at the middle of their chest
• Avoiding GERD symptoms


  1. Have small, frequent meals

  2. Avoid trigger foods (chocolates, fried/fatty/spicy foods, citrus fruits, juices, tomato products, coffee, tea, carbonated drinks)

  3. Take over-the-counter medicines (antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors)
• Treating GERD


  Prop up head 6-10 inches above stomach to use gravity to prevent stomach contents from entering esophagus
• Gallstones


  • Hard materials or deposits formed in the gallbladder
  • Caused by too much cholesterol deposits or improper gallbladder emptying
• Treating gallstones


  1. Medications to dissolve gallstones

  2. Cholecystectomy surgery to remove gallbladder
• Bile will naturally find its way to the small intestine even if the gallbladder is removed
• Rare complications after cholecystectomy include post-cholecystectomy syndrome with symptoms of belly pain, heartburn and diarrhea
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)


  • Triggered by foods/drinks (wheat, dairy, citrus, cabbage, beans, carbonated drinks)
  • Triggered by stressors and hormonal changes
  • Can lead to poor quality of life and mood disorders
• Preventing/easing IBS symptoms


  Deal with stressors through counselling, relaxation exercises, mindfulness training, biofeedback
• Appendicitis


  • Inflammation of the appendix
  • Can be caused by obstruction in the appendix lining leading to bacterial multiplication and pus
• Treating appendicitis


  1. Immediate hospital visit

  2. Appendectomy surgery to remove appendix

  3. Drain abscess if present and give antibiotics
• There is no known prevention for appendicitis, but eating fiber-rich foods may help
• Indigestion (dyspepsia)


  Discomfort or pain experienced in the upper abdomen, may be an underlying symptom of other digestive problems