Digestive disorders

Digestive disorders are very common disease. One of the most popular digestive disease is heartburn, acid reflux or GERD. This is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates (backs up, or refluxes) into the esophagus. The liquid can inflame and damage the lining of the esophagus although this occurs in a minority of patients. Acid is believed to be the most injurious component of the refluxed liquid. Pepsin and bile also may injure the esophagus.
Digestive Disorders are chronic conditions. Once they begin, they usually are life-long.

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain as a heartburn - a burning sensation under the sternum in the chest is a primary symptom . Heartburn often occurs after a meal and worsens at night, when you are lying flat. It is more likely to occur following a heavy meal, or if you bend, lift, or lie down just after eating.
• Regurgitation of food
• Belching
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chronic cough, wheezing
• Sore throat, hoarseness or change in voice, difficulty swallowing

More about Digestive disorders

Causes

When you swallow, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) — a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of your esophagus — relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. Then it closes again.

However, if this valve relaxes abnormally or weakens, stomach acid can flow back up into your esophagus, causing frequent heartburn and disrupting your daily life. The acid backup is worse when you're bent over or lying down.

This constant backwash of acid can irritate the lining of your esophagus, causing it to become inflamed (esophagitis). Over time, the inflammation can erode the esophagus, producing bleeding, or narrow the esophagus, causing difficulty swallowing or even breathing problems. When there's evidence of esophageal irritation or inflammation, you have GERD.

Some factors that can make Digestive Disorders worse include:

• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Hiatal hernia (a condition in which a portion of the stomach protrudes through an opening in the diaphragm where the esophagus normally fits snuggly and passes into the stomach.)
• Recurrent or persistent vomiting
• Nasogastric tubes (these are inserted through the nose and into the stomach for a variety of medical reasons)
• Smoking cigarettes
• Some medications including calcium channel blockers, anticholinergic drugs, iron pills, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , potassium, dopamine, sedatives, bisphosphonates , and beta blockers.
• Lying down soon after eating
  

Risk Factors

Conditions that cause difficulty with digestion can increase the risk. These include:

• Obesity.
• Eating very large meals.
• Hiatal hernia.
• Pregnancy.
• Asthma.
• Diabetes.
• Delayed stomach emptying.
• Connective tissue disorders.
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
  

Diagnosis

Usually a description of your symptoms will be all your doctor needs to establish the diagnosis of heartburn. However, if your symptoms are particularly severe or don't respond to treatment, you may need to undergo other tests:

• Barium X-ray
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) ulcers.
• Ambulatory acid (pH) probe tests.

Treatment Approach

Whether you have mild, moderate or severe heartburn, many treatment options are available. The most common treatments involve medications, but surgical and other procedures also are available.

Over-the-counter remedies
If you experience only occasional, mild heartburn, you may get relief from an over-the-counter (OTC) medication and self-care measures. OTC remedies include:

• Antiacids. Antiacids, such as Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil, Rolaids and Tums, neutralize stomach acid and can provide quick relief.
• H-2-receptor blockers. Over-the-counter H-2-receptor blockers, such as famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine Axid AR or ranitidine (Zantac 75), are available at half the strength of their prescription versions.
• Proton pump inhibitors. These medications block acid production and allow time for damaged esophageal tissue to heal.

Prescription-strength medications
If you have frequent and persistent heartburn, you may have GERD, leading to an inflamed esophagus (esophagitis). GERD usually requires prescription-strength medication. Prescription medications can help reduce and eliminate GERD symptoms, as well as help heal an inflamed esophagus — the result of continual exposure to stomach acid. The main types of prescription drugs are:

• Prescription-strength H-2-receptor blockers - esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix) and rabeprazole (Aciphex).
• Prokinetic agents. These don't reduce acid production. Instead, they help your stomach empty more rapidly and may help tighten the valve between the stomach and the esophagus.
  

Pregnancy

Digestive disorders is quite common during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester
Medications

Digestive disorders Medications

• Aciphex
• Nexium
• Prevacid
• Prilosec
• Protonix