The digestive system consists of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus. These organs work together to perform the process of digestion. Digestion breaks down large food particles into smaller...
Endoscopes are small, flexible cameras used for a variety of procedures in medical settings. Endoscopes allow doctors to see parts of the body that they can't see with their eyes. They're particularly effective when placed in naturally occurring...
Acid blockers are a group of drugs which prevent damage to the tissue by reducing the production of stomach acid. The stomach juices become less acidic and, therefore, less painful if they enter the esophagus. If a patient has any symptoms of...
Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux, occurs when stomach acids flow back into the esophagus and cause a burning sensation commonly referred to as heartburn, explains MayoClinic.com. Many people have minor bouts of acid reflux...
The stomach is very acidic because it produces gastric acid. Although most of the time the contents of the stomach are prevented from escaping into the esophagus by a ring of smooth muscle, sometimes this muscle relaxes, allowing the acidic...
Esophageal narrowing can cause malnutrition, breathing problems and death. Throat stretching is a life-saving procedure that can help with this condition. Knowing how the procedure is performed and the benefits it has to offer can help you decide...
The body needs vitamin B-12 to produce healthy red blood cells, metabolize protein and fat, synthesize DNA and maintain proper neurological function. Because the body absorbs only a small percentage of vitamin B-12 from foods and supplements, high...
Avoid high-acidic foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes and juices and those containing caffeine such as coffee, tea and chocolate. Likewise, eat low-fat and high-fiber foods to help increase the rate at which food moves along the...
Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining/gastric mucosa. It is caused by myriad factors, the most important being a bacterial infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) of the stomach gastric mucosa. Other causes include regular...
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can reside in the human stomach and duodenum, which is the upper part of the small intestine. Most people infected with it never experience problems, but in some, it can cause gastritis, peptic ulcers and...
Indigestion, also called dyspepsia, is characterized by burning pain or discomfort in the upper to middle part of your stomach. It can occur while eating or shortly after consuming a meal. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse...
A peptic ulcer is a deep pit that results from damage to the lining of the intestines. Gastric and duodenal ulcers are the two types of peptic ulcers. Peptic ulcers result from excess acid production, infection or destruction of the protected...
Loss of appetite means you don't have the desire to eat, which is not a normal condition, and is called anorexia, according to MedlinePlus. Anorexia is different from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, in which the patient has the desire to eat...
Acid reflux is caused when excess acid backs up into your esophagus, which is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. It often leads to heartburn, a painful or burning sensation in the chest and/or throat caused by a buildup of...
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is caused by the regurgitation of food from the stomach into the esophagus, the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach. Where the stomach meets the esophagus, there is a band of muscle called the lower...
"Gastritis" is a generic term used to describe inflammation of your stomach lining. A variety of conditions can cause gastritis, including alcohol, infections, stress, medications and autoimmune diseases, such as sarcoidosis or pernicious anemia....
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...
Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, is cancer arising from part of the stomach, but mostly the innermost lining, called the mucosa, according to the National Cancer Institute. There were over 20,000 new cases of stomach cancer in 2009 in the United...
While most babies experience acid reflux during their first year -- characterized by spitting up and colicky symptoms -- the vast majority of them outgrow it by the time they're a year old. If your toddler is continuing to experience stomach pain,...
Acid indigestion/heartburn is a chronic digestive problem. According to the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms occur when stomach acid or bile backs out of the stomach into the esophagus. This acid irritates the lining of the esophagus. If a patient...
Heartburn, or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), is caused by the reflux of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. This stomach acid can result in a burning pain as well as other symptoms that can be bothersome. In women, this can be...
An endoscope is an instrument that has a light or camera at the end of it, so the physician can see the inside of an organ or cavity of the body. Endoscopy is the overall medical term for any procedure that uses an endoscope. Different types of...
Carcinoids are classified as growths that fall in a category between benign and malignant, the Carcinoid Tumor Foundation states. Small carcinoids, which grow very slowly and most often begin in the small intestine, affect as many as one in 100...
Gastric carcinoma, also known as stomach or gastric cancer, is the result of genetic mutations that occur over time in the stomach cells, causing them to grow quickly. Patients who eat large amounts of smoked foods, smoke or have chronic stomach...
Your esophagus is the tube that connects your throat and stomach. It plays an important role in digestion, by allowing food to pass into your digestive organs. Numerous conditions can cause irritation, swelling and pain in your esophagus, making...
Patients with gastrinoma should consult with various medical professionals when attempting to identify an individually appropriate treatment protocol. The family physician is the first member of this vital team. Other team members may include a...
Stomach acid reflux causes damage to the lining of the esophagus, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Protonix, generically known as pantoprazole sodium, can heal the damaged tissue from GERD and help prevent episodes of heartburn....
When your toddler was a baby, he almost certainly experienced GER, or gastroesophageal reflux, which is often called acid reflux; most infants do, and it commonly takes the form of spitting up after eating. However, if GER persists past a child's...
Gastroesophageal reflux is not comfortable at any age, but it is especially difficult to deal with in children. A small number of children suffer from gastroesophageal reflux, although it is usually outgrown in later childhood. The most important...
