The digestive tract allows for the body to absorb the nutrients it needs to sustain itself. Sometimes, abnormal tissues can form between the digestive tract and certain organs. In some instances, growths can develop in the intestine, or the muscles in the intestines can't function well enough to digest food. Fortunately, certain human digestive disorders can be treated.
Abdominal Adhesions
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) says abdominal adhesions refer to tissue bands that actually form between stomach tissues and other organs. This can lead to problems, as the organs and tissue remain together and dynamic movement within the digestion tract cannot occur--especially during food digestion.
The NDDIC says abdominal adhesions typically don't cause any symptoms. However, adhesions can cause pelvic or stomach pain. In some cases, abdominal adhesions can lead to obstruction of the intestines and infertility in women. In fact, the adhesions can cause the intestines to twist or pull out of place. Adhesions can also pull the Fallopian tubes out of place and prevent a sperm from fertilizing an egg.
Surgery is the most common cause of abdominal adhesions. Surgeons move the bowel constantly during gastrointestinal surgery, and this can make it prone to adhesion formation. Specifically, tissue incisions, drying out of the bowels during surgery and blood clots can make a person susceptible to abdominal adhesions.
Other causes of abdominal adhesions include stomach or gynecologic infections, radiation treatment and appendicitis.
Treatment is not necessary in patients who don't present with symptoms. However, surgery can be used to break up the adhesions causing infertility and intestinal obstruction.
Colon Polyps
Colon polyps refer to abnormal swellings that occur along the inner lining of the intestines. In fact, they're actually small clusters of cells that are typically harmless but can become cancerous in the future, the Mayo Clinic says. These polyps are typically found in people who are 50 or older.
Sometimes, colon polyps do not present with any symptoms at all. Sometimes, colon polyps can lead to rectal bleeding, bloody stools, diarrhea, constipation, cramping stomach pain or nausea.
Colon polyps can be removed using a snare device during a colonoscopy, a procedure in which a doctor uses a device to look at your intestines using a camera. A wire loop can actually attach to the colon polyp to cut it out. Surgery can also be used to remove the colon polyp if it's too large to remove through a snare. Sometimes, colon polyps are so numerous that the surgeon may opt to remove the entire colon and rectum.
Hirschsprung's Disease
MedlinePlus says Hirschsprung's disease refers to a medical problem in which the muscle contractions in the intestines no longer function. This condition is typically present at birth.
Specific symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease include trouble with bowel movements, vomiting, poor weight gain, the inability to pass stool within the first one to two days after birth and yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). Hirschsprung's disease also causes watery diarrhea, slow growth, constipation and a swollen stomach.
Hirschsprung's disease is due to a lack of nerves in the bowels that are supposed to control the muscle movements of the intestine (peristalsis).
Treatment for Hirschsprung's disease involves relieving the pressure in the bowel with a procedure called a serial rectal irrigation. Then, surgery is performed to remove the rectum and affected colon.
