What are Gastrointestinal Diseases?

Gastrointestinal diseases affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract which runs from the mouth to the anus. In Gastrointestinal diseases, you may have digestive issues, discomfort, your bowel may look abnormal and also doesn't work properly.
We all experience digestive problems at some point of our life. Gastrointestinal symptoms vary from very mild to serious. If you’re experiencing the symptoms over and over again or if they cause you significant discomfort, your body could be trying to tell you that you have a digestive condition.

Here are the following diseases associated with Gastrointestinal System-

Constipation
Constipation is generally described as having fewer than three bowel movements a week. Occasional constipation is very common, some people experience chronic constipation that can interfere with their ability to go about their daily tasks. Chronic constipation may also cause people to strain excessively in order to have a bowel movement. Constipation causes you to strain during a bowel movement. It may cause anal problems such as fissures and hemorrhoids. Constipation can sometimes be a sign that you have a more serious medical condition.
It may cause anal problems such as fissures and hemorrhoids. Constipation can sometimes be a sign that you have a more serious medical condition.

Increasing the amount of fiber and water to your diet.

Exercising regularly and increasing the intensity of your exercises as tolerated.

Moving your bowels when you have the urge (resisting the urge causes constipation).

Symptoms

Passing fewer than three stools a week

Having lumpy or hard stools

Straining to have bowel movements

Feeling as though there's a blockage in your rectum that prevents bowel movements

Feeling as though you can't completely empty the stool from your rectum

Needing help to empty your rectum, such as using your hands to press on your abdomen and using a finger to remove stool from your rectum

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
IBS also know as spastic colon, irritable colon, or nervous stomach. It is a functional condition where your colon muscle contracts more or less often than “normal.”

Symptoms of IBS include:

Abdominal pain and cramps.

Excess gas.

Bloating.

Change in bowel habits such as harder, looser, or more urgent stools than normal.

Alternating constipation and diarrhea.

Treatment includes:

Avoiding excessive caffeine.

Increasing fiber in your diet.

Monitoring which foods trigger your IBS (and avoiding these foods).

Minimizing stress or learning different ways to cope with stress.

Taking medicines as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Avoiding dehydration, and hydrating well throughout the day.

Getting high quality rest/sleep.

Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your lower rectum. Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless, but tend to bleed. External hemorrhoids may cause pain. Hemorrhoids (HEM-uh-roids), also called piles, are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins.

Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids usually depend on the type of hemorrhoid.

External hemorrhoids
These are under the skin around your anus. Signs and symptoms might include:

Itching or irritation in your anal region

Pain or discomfort

Swelling around your anus

Bleeding

Internal hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids lie inside the rectum. You usually can't see or feel them, and they rarely cause discomfort. But straining or irritation when passing stool can cause:

Painless bleeding during bowel movements. You might notice small amounts of bright red blood on your toilet tissue or in the toilet.

A hemorrhoid to push through the anal opening (prolapsed or protruding hemorrhoid), resulting in pain and irritation.

Treatment includes:

Improving bowel habits (such as avoiding constipation, not straining during bowel movements and moving your bowels when you have the urge).

Your healthcare provider can use ligating bands to eliminate the vessels.

Your healthcare provider can remove them surgically. Surgery is needed only for a small number of people with very large, painful and persistent hemorrhoids.

Anal fissures
An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anus or anal canal (the opening through which stool passes out of the body). The fissure can be painful and may bleed.
The most common cause of an anal fissure is the passage of very hard stools. The crack in the anal lining exposes the underlying muscles that control the passage of stool through the anus and out of the body. An anal fissure is one of the most painful problems because the exposed muscles become irritated from exposure to stool or air, and leads to intense burning pain, bleeding, or spasm after bowel movements.

Perianal Abscesses
Perianal abscesses, also a structural disease, can occur when the tiny anal glands that open on the inside of your anus become blocked, and the bacteria always present in these glands causes an infection. When pus develops, an abscess forms. Treatment includes draining the abscess, usually under local anesthesia in the healthcare provider’s office.

Anal Fistula
An anal fistula a structural disease – often follows drainage of an abscess and is an abnormal tube-like passageway from the anal canal to a hole in the skin near the opening of your anus. Body wastes traveling through your anal canal are diverted through this tiny channel and out through the skin, causing itching and irritation. Fistulas also cause drainage, pain and bleeding.

Colon polyps and cancer
A colon polyp is a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are harmless. But over time, some colon polyps can develop into colon cancer, which may be fatal when found in its later stages. Anyone can develop colon polyps. You're at higher risk if you're 50 or older, are overweight or a smoker, or have a personal or family history of colon polyps or colon cancer.

Symptoms

Rectal bleeding This can be a sign of colon polyps or cancer or other conditions, such as hemorrhoids or minor tears of the anus.

Change in stool color Blood can show up as red streaks in your stool or make stool appear black. A change in color may also be caused by certain foods, medications or dietary supplements.

Change in bowel habits Constipation or diarrhea that lasts longer than a week may indicate the presence of a larger colon polyp or cancer. However, a number of other conditions also can cause changes in bowel habits.

Pain A large colon polyp can partially obstruct your bowel, leading to crampy abdominal pain.

Iron deficiency anemia Bleeding from polyps can occur slowly over time, without visible blood in your stool. Chronic bleeding robs your body of the iron needed to produce the substance that allows red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body (hemoglobin). The result is iron deficiency anemia, which can make you feel tired and short of breath.

Can gastrointestinal diseases be prevented?
Many diseases of the colon and rectum can be prevented or minimized by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, practicing good bowel habits and getting screened for Gastrointestinal conditions like cancer.
A colonoscopy is recommended for average-risk patients at age 45. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, a colonoscopy may be recommended at a younger age.
Dr Dhaval Mangukiya is one of the best gastro surgeon of Surat and has started his private surgical services in the field of Gastro-Intestinal & Hepato Pancreato Biliary Surgery since January 2013 at Surat as visiting consultant in all major hospitals.

We can help you and your family to restore optimal digestive health. We are conveniently located in SIDS Hospital and Research Center J J Empire Building, Opp Gandhi College. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today!