Numerous factors can cause stomach disorders. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, the stomach is responsible for storing swallowed food, mixing swallowed food with digestive juices and sending the mixture into the small intestine. The NIH states that some stomach disorders can be treated with over-the-counter medications and lifestyle changes, while other stomach disorders may require medical intervention.
Gastritis
Gastritis is a disorder that can cause stomach problems. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK--a division of the National Institutes of Health--gastritis is a stomach disorder in which the stomach's mucosa or lining is inflamed. Cells in the stomach's lining generate acid, enzymes and mucus, and when the stomach's mucosa is inflamed, smaller amounts of these substances are produced. The NIDDK states that gastritis can be acute, chronic or erosive. Although many people with gastritis may be asymptomatic, some people with acute or chronic gastritis may experience upper abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea and vomiting, which are collectively known as dyspepsia. Symptoms associated with erosive gastritis include bloody vomit, black stools or blood in the stools. According to the NIDDK, chronic gastritis is a risk factor for several other medical conditions, such as peptic ulcer disease, gastric polyps and gastric tumors.
Gastroparesis
MayoClinic.com states that gastroparesis is a disorder in which a person's stomach muscles do not function properly. Stomach muscles that work poorly or not at all fail to empty food from the stomach into the small intestine. Gastroparesis can have numerous negative health consequences, including impaired digestion and nourishment, nausea and vomiting and unstable blood sugar levels. Common signs and symptoms associated with gastroparesis include sensations of fullness after ingesting only a small amount of food, abdominal bloating, gastroesophageal reflex or heartburn, anorexia or loss of appetite and weight loss. According to MayoClinic.com, the exact cause of gastroparesis is unknown and there is no cure, although dietary changes can help a person manage her symptoms.
Menetrier Disease
Menetrier disease is a stomach-related disorder. According to the NIDDK, Menetrier disease involves enlargement of stomach rugae--ridges situated along the inside of the stomach's wall. Rugae enlargement causes giant folds to form in the stomach's lining that release excessive protein-containing mucus. In turn, protein leaks from the blood into the stomach, causing hypoproteinemia, or a reduced amount of protein in the blood. Menetrier disease is also characterized by a reduction in stomach acid, due to the down-regulation of acid-generating parietal cells. Common signs and symptoms associated with Menetrier disease include severe stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, malnutrition, significant weight loss, swelling throughout the body, anemia and diarrhea. According to the NIDDK, a person with Menetrier disease has a greater likelihood of developing stomach cancer.
