Gastrointestinal problems are common; they occur when there is an abnormality in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is important to properly treat gastrointestinal problems as they can cause your overall health to decline by lowering appetite. Fortunately, it is possible to detect the presence of gastrointestinal problems as they cause several symptoms.
Here are the five common types of gastrointestinal problems:
Irritable bowel syndrome: Irritable bowel syndrome occurs when the colon muscle contracts more than normal. Stronger contractions, in turn, and lead to various problems such as bloating, diarrhoea, and gas. Hormonal changes are one of the main causes of irritable bowel syndrome. As such, women stand and a higher risk of complication as compared to men. Some of the common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include frequent vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, pain during a bowel movement, and rectal bleeding. Family history of irritable bowel syndrome is one of the main risk factors of the complication. If somebody from your family suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, you stand at a higher risk of experiencing the complication.
Colitis: Colitis is the inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. There are several gastrointestinal problems that can lead to Colitis, including inflammatory bowel disease, microscopic colitis, and allergic reactions. Some of the common symptoms of colitis include cramping, abdominal pain, blood in the stool, and diarrhoea. There are different types of colitis, including atypical colitis, lymphocytic colitis, microscopic colitis, chemical colitis, collagenous colitis, fulminant colitis, infectious colitis, ischemic colitis, diversion colitis, Crohn’s colitis, and ulcerative colitis.
Diverticular disease: Diverticular disease occurs when tiny packets (known as diverticula) form in the lining of the bowel. The tiny packets form when liquid, waste, or gas increase pressure on the sensitive spots on the intestinal walls. One of the main reasons for the diverticular disease to occur is straining bowel movement, especially during constipation. Some of the common symptoms of diverticular disease include tenderness in the lower abdomen, painful cramps in the abdomen, constipation, and diarrhoea. If left untreated, the diverticular disease can lead to several complications such as blockage of the intestine, and infections in the abdomen and abdominal cavity.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when acids in the stomach flow up to the oesophagus. People of all age groups stand at the risk of GERD. However, there are several factors that heighten the risk of complication. Some of the common and biggest risk factors include regular smoking, pregnancy, taking certain medicines such as antidepressants and sedatives. Difficulty when swallowing, respiratory problems, bad breath, and nausea and vomiting are some of the common symptoms of GERD. If left untreated, GERD can lead to a number of complications, including chest congestion, Barret’s oesophagus, oesophagal stricture, and esophagitis.
The department of gastroenterology at multispeciality hospital has some of the best gastrologists in Siliguri. Visit the hospital to get an accurate diagnosis of your gastrointestinal problems
