Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System

Diseases and disorders of the digestive system

The digestive system, encompassing the oesophagus, stomach, and intestines, is susceptible to various diseases and disorders. Some common examples include dental caries, heartburn, stomach ulcers, constipation, flatulence, and cancer.

i. Ulcers

Ulcers are lesions that occur due to the corrosive action of enzymes and acid on the epithelial lining of the stomach and duodenum walls. The protective mucus coating can be compromised by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori.

Causes:

1. Stress, which can stimulate excessive acid production.
2. Certain medications, such as aspirin.
3. Smoking and alcohol consumption.
4. Caffeine intake.

Signs and symptoms:

1. Burning pain in the stomach or the middle of the thorax.
2. Nausea and vomiting.
3. Tiredness and weakness.
4. Blood in vomit or stool (indicating a bleeding ulcer).

Control of ulcers:

1. Implementing stress reduction programs.
2. Eliminating smoking and alcohol consumption.
3. Adopting dietary changes and eating meals regularly.

Treatment of ulcers:

1. Drinking milk.
2. Taking magnesium trisilicate tablets (antacids).
3. Surgery (in severe cases):
   1. Cutting the vagus nerve (vagotomy) to reduce acid secretion.
   2. Gastrectomy (removal of part or all of the stomach and/or duodenum).

ii. Constipation

Constipation is characterized by the infrequent passage of hard faeces.

Causes:

1. Abnormally slow movement of faecal matter through the colon, leading to excessive water absorption and dry, hard faeces.
2. A diet low in fibre (roughages).
3. Failure of sensory cells in the colon to signal the presence of faecal matter.

Control of constipation:

1. Eating a diet rich in high-fibre foods.
2. Drinking plenty of water.

iii. Heartburn

Heartburn is a burning sensation experienced along the alimentary canal or in the chest cavity due to the accumulation of excessive acid in the stomach. Prolonged heartburn can lead to oesophageal ulcers.

Control of heartburn:

1. Drinking milk.
2. Taking antacid tablets to neutralize stomach acid.

iv. Flatulence

Flatulence is a condition caused by excessive gas in the digestive tract, leading to pain and embarrassment.

Causes:

1. Swallowing intestinal gases like oxygen and nitrogen while breathing and eating.
2. Production of gases like methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen through the fermentation of undigested food by bacteria in the intestines.

Minimizing intestinal gas:

1. Eating slowly.
2. Avoiding milk if lactose intolerant.
3. Limiting consumption of gas-inducing foods such as beans, cabbage, and onions.
4. Using antacids.

v. Dental caries

Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, occurs when bacteria destroy the outer part of the tooth.

Development of dental caries:

1. Bacteria present in the mouth combine with acid, saliva, and food debris to form plaque, a sticky substance that forms on teeth within 20 minutes after eating.
2. Bacteria in plaque convert food remains (especially sugars and starches) into acids.
3. These acids dissolve the tooth enamel, creating a cavity.
4. If left untreated, the cavity can reach the pulp cavity and nerve endings, leading to infection and pain.

Causes of dental caries:

1. Lack of hard, abrasive foods in the diet.
2. Excessive consumption of sugary foods, which promote bacterial growth.
3. Lack of calcium in the diet.
4. Lack of vitamin D.
5. General ill health.

vi. Cancer

Cancer can affect various parts of the digestive tract, including:

1. Cancer of the oesophagus.
2. Cancer of the colon.

Causative agents of cancer (common ones):

1. Mutation of genes.
2. Cancer-inducing substances in food that have prolonged contact with the colon lining.

Treatment of cancer:

Chemotherapy: Using drugs to kill cancer cells, often used as a supplement to surgery.

1. Radiation: Bombarding cancerous cells with radioactive particles to eliminate them.
2. Surgery: Physical removal of cancerous cells.

Note: These cancer treatments are not always completely effective and can have side effects, potentially affecting other healthy cells or even inducing other cells to become cancerous.

Control of colon cancer:

• Including high-fibre foods in the diet to reduce the contact time of potential carcinogens with the colon wall.