The stomach is part of the gastrointestinal tract and its function is key in processing food into energy to be used by the body. The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) reports that the stomach grinds food into small pieces for food to mix with digestive enzymes. If the stomach does not perform its functions thoroughly and efficiently, there are multiple possible disorders that may result.
Indigestion and Heartburn
One very common disorder of the stomach is indigestion and heartburn. MedlinePlus, an online medical encyclopedia sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, reports that a symptom of indigestion is "tasting the stomach fluid in the back of your mouth;" a symptom of heartburn is a "burning feeling in the chest or throat." These conditions result from the improper closing of the muscle between the esophagus and stomach. Normally the muscle keeps the food and stomach acid in the stomach; if the stomach is not working properly, the stomach contents may leak back up in the esophagus, causing heartburn and indigestion. According to MedlinePlus, if these symptoms occur more than twice a week, this may indicate a chronic problem called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
Gastric Motility Disorders
To move digesting food particles through the digestive tract, the stomach rhythmically contracts, squeezing food from the stomach to the intestines. The IFFGD reports that when the stomach does not move food particles properly out of the stomach, gastric motility disorders may result. According to IFFGD, examples of gastric motility disorders are delayed gastric emptying (gastroparesis), cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), and rapid gastric emptying (dumping syndrome).
The symptoms of gastroparesis include nausea and vomiting, caused by, as the name suggests, improper emptying of the stomach. This disorder can be caused by an obstruction, such as an ulcer or a tumor, or the muscle that pushes the stomach contents through to the intestines is damaged.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) involves periods of severe nausea and vomiting, followed by feelings of perceived wellness. The possible causes of CVS are many and consultation with a doctor is necessary, according to IFFGD, to pinpoint the exact problem.
Dumping syndrome occurs when the stomach empties into the intestines too quickly, and the stomach contents are not digested enough for proper absorption.
Gastritis
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), which is associated with the National Institutes of Health, gastritis is a general syndrome affecting the stomach characterized by inflammation of the lining in the stomach. The NDDIC reports that this generalized inflammation may be caused by drinking too much alcohol, an infection with the bacteria H. pylori, or overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen). Surgery, injury, or severe burns may also cause gastritis. The symptoms of gastritis include pain in the abdomen, upset stomach, belching, bloating, vomiting, a "feeling of fullness" or blood in the stool.
