Digestive problems affect 62 million people in the United States each year, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These problems run the gamut from upset stomach to colon cancer. Doctors often find it difficult to determine the cause of a particular problem, but heredity and lifestyle factors such as diet, stress, and fatigue often play a role. People with digestive problems should consult a doctor who specializes in gastroenterology.
Bacteria-Induced Peptic Ulcers
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, peptic ulcers are lesions on the inside lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum. The principal cause of peptic ulcers is the presence of a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Another cause may be prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Lifestyle factors such as excessive stress, eating spicy food, smoking, and intemperate use of alcoholic beverages do not cause peptic ulcers, but these factors can make the condition worse.
People may acquire the bacterium from contaminated food or water or from the fecal matter, vomit or saliva of an infected person. The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is abdominal discomfort in the form of a dull or burning pain that comes on mainly when the stomach is empty, such as between meals and at night. In the United States, the triple therapy treatment has become the standard of care for a peptic ulcer caused by H. pylori. This consists of a 14-day treatment with the antibiotic clarithromycin, a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole to reduce stomach acid, and the antibiotics amoxicillin or metronidazole.
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse describes Zollinger-Ellison syndrome as a disease in which tumors, called gastrinomas, form in the duodenum, pancreas or both. This disease occurs most often in men between the ages of 30 and 50. The gastrinomas may be malignant and can metastasize to other parts of the body. In addition, they cause the stomach to secrete excesssive amounts of gastric acid, which leads to duodenal ulcers. Treatment for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome involves the use of a proton pump inhibitor to reduce gastric acid levels and allow the ulcers to heal and surgical removal of the gastrinomas, if this is possible. If the tumors can't be removed surgically or if they have spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy becomes necessary. Chemotherapy drugs include streptozotocin, fluorouracil, and doxorubicin.
Gastroparesis
According to MayoClinic.com, gastroparesis is a digestive system condition characterized by a greatly diminished ability of the stomach muscles to transport food out of the stomach and into the duodenum. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, and a feeling of being full after consuming only a small amount of food. Gastroparesis results from damage to the vagus nerve, which controls stomach muscle contractions. The vagus nerve can be damaged by a disease such as diabetes or by a surgical procedure involving the stomach or small intestine. Treatments include dietary changes, medications, such as metoclopramide, that induce stomach muscle contractions or surgery to bypass the lower portion of the stomach.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Digestive Disorders
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: H. pylori and Peptic Ulcers
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
- MayoClinic.com: Gastroparesis: Definition: Symptoms: Causes: Treatment and Drugs
