According to MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, gallstones are hard, pebble-like deposits, or stones, that form within the gallbladder. These deposits can be small and asymptomatic, or they may be as large as golf...
The gallbladder is a small, elastic sac on the underside of the liver in the right upper abdomen. The liver produces bile, which collects in the gallbladder until it releases into the small intestine. Chemical imbalances in the bile within the...
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ that secretes digestive enzymes through the pancreatic duct. Digestive enzymes mix with bile from the gallbladder to digest food. Acute pancreatitis is most often caused by gallstones that...
The pancreas is a large organ located behind your stomach that produces digestive juices to break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It also secretes insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. According to the Cedars-Sinai Hospital,...
Itchy skin, or pruritus, can occur with a wide variety of medical conditions and be very distressing. Liver diseases with bile obstruction commonly have itching as a symptom, but the reason for itching is not clearly understood. Treatment requires...
Blockage of the small bowel, or small bowel obstruction, is a blockage in the small intestine that impedes the normal passage of fluid and digested material. The blockage is categorized as partial or complete. Most partial small bowel obstructions...
Your small intestine is where you absorb all your vitamins. A blockage or obstruction between your organs and your small intestine will prevent vitamins from being absorbed. If your small intestine is not producing digestive enzymes to break down...
A blockage in the intestinal tract is referred to as an intestinal obstruction. The blockage usually occurs in the small intestine or colon and may be partial or complete. Partial blockages significantly hinder the movement of contents through the...
The normal pancreas aids in digestion by secreting enzymes. It also secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar metabolism. Tumors, benign and malignant, can grow in the pancreas leading to cancer, or possibly cancer can spread to the pancreas...
An intestinal blockage is a partial or complete obstruction of the small or large intestine. In adults, intestinal blockages usually occur as a result of a mechanical issue, such as the formation of a hernia or tumor. In children, however, the...
Colon cancer and small bowel obstruction are two common reasons for surgery in the abdomen. Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. Small bowel obstruction is a blockage...
Gastric bypass surgery reduces the size of the stomach in morbidly obese patients and reroutes the digestive system to block some calorie absorption, according to MayoClinic.com. Patients often complain of constipation in the first three months...
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, abdominal pain may be caused by any of the organs within the abdominal cavity. The location of abdominal pain--the abdominal quadrant in which the...
A bowel obstruction occurs when there is a blockage in your small intestine or colon that prevents contents from moving through. An obstruction of the small intestine, or bowel, can cause painful symptoms and serious complications. Walking might...
According to Macmillan Cancer Support, the bile ducts are a system of tubes connecting the gallbladder and liver to the small intestine. Bile, which is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, aids in the digestion of fats. Bile duct...
Gastric bypass brings many dietary changes. Not only will you eat less after surgery, but you also have to restrict some foods, particularly in the first few months after surgery while your stomach heals. Corn, along with other fibrous vegetables,...
Small bowel obstruction occurs when the intestine loses function as a result of either partial or complete blockage. Postoperative scar tissue causes most bowel obstructions and can happen anywhere from four weeks to many years after surgery. An...
Most babies vomit at one time or another, and some babies vomit a great deal. While most causes of vomiting in infants is self-limiting and benign, vomiting can also indicate a serious medical problem. The type, frequency and amount of vomiting,...
Flaxseed meal is ground up flaxseed that comes from the plant Linum usitatissimum. You can purchase flaxseed meal or create it yourself by processing whole seeds in a spice or coffee grinder. Flaxseed meal provides a wealth of nutrients, including...
Nausea and stomach aches are signs of unrest in the gastrointestinal tract. According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms are not usually signs of serious conditions, but there are some life- threatening conditions that can cause...
Abdominal pain is a common condition that can limit your normal daily activities. A 2000 survey published in the journal "Digestive Diseases and Sciences" by Robert Sandler, M.D., indicated that in the month prior to being interviewed, nearly 41...
The colon, also called the large intestine, removes fluid from food as it passes through the final portion of the digestive tract. At times, a blockage occurs in the colon. Common causes of bowel obstruction in the colon include cancer, scar...
Hiccups are an involuntary reflex caused by sudden spasms of the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. The glottis---a tissue flap that protects the airway during swallowing---snaps shut as the diaphragm spasms,...
Crohn's disease is a condition characterized by an inflammation of the digestive tract. The body's overactive immune response can cause the intestines to swell and thicken over time, leading to bothersome symptoms that commonly include diarrhea...
Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches in the lining of the colon bulge out through weak areas. A pouch is called a diverticulum. The disorder can lead to bleeding, infections, perforations or blockages in the colon. Symptoms and complications...
The gallbladder is a small organ on the right side of the abdomen and under the liver that stores and releases the bile produced by the liver. Bile aids in the proper digestion of fats. Chronic cholecystitis is a condition characterized by the...
Ascites is defined as the accumulation of fluid within the abdominal cavity. Ascites is a complication of health problems such as liver cirrhosis, abdominal trauma, cancer of organs within the abdominal cavity, health conditions that cause...
Cholecystitis is a condition that causes swelling and inflammation in the gallbladder. This condition causes you to experience constant bouts of gallbladder pain due to gallstones. Because cholecystitis is a chronic condition, you may wish to make...
Augmentin is a penicillin antibiotic comprised of two components, amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium. Amoxicillin is a common antibiotic used for a variety of bacterial infections, including ear, upper respiratory, urinary tract and skin...
