The stomach is an organ between the esophagus and small intestines. Its function is to grind food into smaller particles and mix it with digestive juices so the food is absorbed when it moves into the small intestines. Some examples of stomach or gastric disorders include delayed gastric emptying, or gastroparesis, rapid gastric emptying, or dumping syndrome, and indigestion.
Symptoms
Some common symptoms of a stomach disorder include diarrhea, constipation, bleeding from the digestive tract, regurgitation, decreased appetite and difficulty swallowing. Abdominal pain is common but often mild symptom. Indigestion covers a wide range of symptoms including dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, feeling full and a lump sensation in the throat.
Causes
Abdominal pain can arise from several causes including infection, inflammation, stomach ulcers, perforation, muscle contractions or a blockage. Indigestion can be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, peptic ulcer disease, cancer or abnormality of the pancreas or bile ducts. Gastritis or inflammation of the stomach lining in most cases is caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. Delayed stomach emptying, or gastroparesis, is typically caused by diabetes. Rapid gastric emptying, or dumping syndrome, occurs when the upper end of the small intestines or jejunum fills too quickly with undigested food from the stomach. It occurs as a result of stomach surgery such as fundoplication or gastric bypass.
Complications
If food lingers in the stomach too long, such as with gastroparesis, and is unable to pass to the small intestine, it can cause bacterial growth from the fermenting food. Food can also harden into solid masses that can cause nausea, vomiting and obstruction in the stomach. Gastroparesis can also make it harder to control glucose levels in diabetics. Chronic gastritis is a risk factor for peptic ulcer disease, gastric polyps and benign and malignant gastric tumors.
Diagnosis
Indigestion diagnosis may be determined by x-rays of the stomach and small intestines. A doctor may also perform blood, breath or stool tests if the type of bacteria that causes peptic ulcer disease if suspected to be the cause of indigestion. An upper endoscopy can be performed as well as upper gastrointestinal series, ultrasound, barium x-ray, gastric emptying studies and biopsies to check for abnormalities.
Treatment
Treatment for management of stomach disorders may involve a combination of lifestyle changes as well as medication. Refraining from smoking and finding ways to reduce stress and getting enough rest may help provide some relief of symptoms. Eating frequent small low-fat meals and avoiding gassy or high fiber foods, caffeine, carbonated beverages and alcohol may also help. Over-the-counter medications to reduce acid production in the stomach such as antacids are also available. Other medications may be prescribed by a physician such as proton pump inhibitors, histamine or H2 blockers, and antibiotics if an infection is suspected.
References
- Merck.com: Symptoms and Diagnosis of Digestive Disorders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Indigestion
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Rapid Gastric Emptying
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Gastritis
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Gastroparesis
